Jaw Surgery Forums » Post-Surgery and Recovery Questions

Surgery on Friday, nervous, what to expect?

(11 posts)
  • Started 11 months ago by lwarner06
  • Latest reply from akim212
12

  1. lwarner06
    Member

    Hello everyone, I'm new =)
    I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery this Friday. Unfortunately, the procedure I'm having done isn't very common so I haven't been able to find a lot of information on it (anterior maxillary osteotomy). I have full confidence in my surgeon, and feel like I couldn't be in better hands. I had my pre-op with him today and I got really nervous about the aesthetic changes because the procedure he originally planned to do (a lefort I maxillary osteotomy) was going to make my nose appear larger and thin out my upper, and I am quite fond of my full lips and am already self conscience about my nose. After discussing that, I was going to just suck it up and deal with the changes so I went on with the appointment and talked to a nurse about home care. 10 minutes later, my doctor strolls in and takes another look at my teeth and such without really asking, and then offered to do this less common procedure which would keep my lips and nose looking the same. So he's the best! (Sorry for that side story, haha)
    But I'm still nervous because of how rare this procedure is. I couldn't even find much on the web.
    Anyways, I was wondering if anyone could let me know what I'm in for as far as upper jaw surgery goes? How messed up were your sinuses after? Exactly how rough is the first week post-op? Any good smoothie diets I should know of?

    Thank you =)

    Lindsey

    Posted 11 months ago #

  2. xdianao
    Member

    I'm sure everyone who has had any type of surgery will agree that the first week is the worst. I felt so claustrophobic (anti-anxiety meds will be your new best friend) and it was so frustrating not being able to talk.

    My sinuses weren't horrible after surgery. My nose was a bit stuffy due to blood and lord knows what else in there. But the nurses in the hospital will spray tons of saline to clear you out.

    Also if your doctor orders steroids for you to help with swelling, they will make you feel like shit (nausea, depression, just awful). But I guess they do help with swelling.

    But I'm telling you, after a week, it'll be like the clouds have parted. It's like out of no where you just start to feel better. It depends on the person and the surgery and all, but after 2 weeks, you'll probably feel well enough to go out (just to the store real fast or something to get you out of the house).

    After it's all said and done, all the pain is worth it. I'm 10 weeks post op now and I'm still sore and have some pain and some residual swelling, but I couldn't be happier with my results. Definietly make the hell I went through worth it.

    Good luck!!!! and please, just take your pain meds all the time. Don't wait for it to start hurting!!

    Posted 11 months ago #

  3. nickb95
    Member

    Best of luck on friday!!! I know you are probably very nervous but everything will go fine. The first few days are not going to be fun. The swelling can really get to you but luckily you are only having top jaw so hopefully your face wont be as numb as double jaw. I found it annoying that I couldnt blow mynose but hopefully you wont be wired shut and can breathe through your mouth.

    For me, the first three days were not too fun, sleeping was tough but after that initial period, day by day you see results and things do nothing but turn up!

    Upper and lower jaw surgery for an underbite May 26th 2011.
    http://www.youtube.com/user/nick95b?feature=mhee
    Posted 11 months ago #

  4. daniel
    Member

    Hi Lindsey
    I'm 2nd day post-op now (and back home :-) ) and many people describe these days as really bad. Well, don't worry too much :-) Already I notice improvement like no more blood in the mouth, better sleep, no pain after drinking. My nose is ok and not blocked (I brought a salt-water spray as well as a bottle of rhinomer with me but as xdianao says they probably have everything in the hospital). However some side-cavity of the nose got filled with messy stuff and I don't know yet whether the doc plans to do anything about it.
    As you're looking for recipes: make sure you have a vanilla-carb-protein powder and milk with enough fat in it. you can then add banana or (frozen) berries or pretty much anything because vanilla goes with anything.
    Things like fresh orange juice contain too much acid at first, you might have to reduce acidity with additional water. But vegetable-juice and soups are good too: tomato-juice, carrott-juice, ...
    I'm already feeling well enough to go down to the shop today. People will stare because of the swelling, but I don't care.
    Best advice: apply lip-care immediately after surgery and keep using it all the time :-) Of course, everything may be different with your type of surgery ;) what exactly is an anterior maxillary surgery? I understand anterior but still can't imagine what it means surgery-wise...
    good luck - and post pics!

    34-old male, Switzerland, both jaws, chin reduction, correction of overbite and segmental osteotomie, surgery on June 7th 2011

    see http://kieferop.blogspot.com for more! (in german)
    Posted 11 months ago #

  5. Gordon
    Member

    Hey Lindsey.

    The pros have already covered everything you need to know. Just remember to drink plenty of fluids right away, 2L is recommended and it really helps your body stay hydrated and flush out your body. Also, icing is most important 48 hours post surgery so remember to keep the ice on everywhere, top jaw as much as you can.

    Either way you'll probably be sleeping/on meds so it'll be a blur! It was fun for me.

    Double Jaw Surgery + Genioplasty + Septoplasty on May 9, 2011
    I'm blogging at: http://doublejawfix.blogspot.com/
    Posted 11 months ago #

  6. daniel
    Member

    one more thing... ;) you can add peanut butter to your drinks if you don't get enough calories otherwise... or if you just like it :)

    Posted 11 months ago #

  7. lwarner06
    Member

    Thanks everyone for your feedback. Still nervous (I guess that's unavoidable), but feeling a bit better about everything. =)

    Daniel, the procedure I'm having done is similar to a lefort I, but only the section of my jaw where my front sixth teeth are will be cut rather than my entire upper jaw. Both the lefort and the anterior maxillary osteotomy involve bringing that section of my jaw down to close my bite. With the lefort it's brought down and back, while with the anterior osteotomy it's brought down and then slightly rotated to close my bite completely. This will minimize changes to my lips and nose, which I'm quite happy about!

    Again, thanks everyone for the comforting words =)

    Posted 11 months ago #

  8. nickb95
    Member

    No problem :) Best of luck tomorrow! Post back when youre ready!

    Posted 11 months ago #

  9. daniel
    Member

    ah, I get it. it's what my surgeon called a segmental osteotomie - I had that done too, additionally to the bimax. I hope you'll have a lot less annoyances than with the full bimax surgery :-)

    Posted 11 months ago #

  10. lwarner06
    Member

    Eight days post-op, and I look and feel great! I didn't swell up badly at all, my sister actually swelled up worse from just getting her wisdom teeth pulled. I already look like myself again except for a little bruising and a tad bit of swelling that's really only noticeable to me. Still getting used to my bite, it's weird but it looks great. I wish I could blow my nose though, that's driving me crazy. I've already lost ten pounds, eek, but I'm starting to eat more than smoothies now.

    Posted 11 months ago #

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