Because I am new here i should probably introduce myself. My name is Zach, I'm Canadian and turned 19 in October. Excuse me while i vent a bit, haha.
I have taken it upon myself, with my parents support to get surgery on my jaw. I'm not really sure about the specifics but I have an offset underbite that has bugged me for years (It has gotten to the point where I can stick my tongue through the bite). It causes me to be extremely self conscious, but aside from aesthetics also may be causing a bit of the sleep apnea that i have (i weigh about 135 pounds, am very skinny, and always have been but my mother and grandmother both have sleep apnea so it is most likely genetics. I also have problems chewing and keeping my jaw closed which affects how I interact with people on a daily basis. I thought enough is enough and I don't want to regret not getting the surgery ten years from now.
I actually recently had surgery on my ears, pinning them back and I healed relatively quickly from it, as well as wisdom teeth surgery. I felt little to no pain after the first night so I'm hoping that this surgery will be no different (I will probably be wrong though).
I have talked to the surgeon who would perform it and he said that there are two options, moving my upper jaw forward, or moving my lower jaw forward slightly to help with breathing and then the upper jaw even more then the first option. Which do you think is better? Does moving the upper jaw cause less nerve problems then moving the lower jaw?
Also, my Dads fiancee (my parents have been divorced since 2000) has had major lower jaw surgery roughly 15 years ago. She said she had the most excrutiating pain during it and totally recommended against getting the surgery whatsoever which of course has had a negative effect on my dad. I'm hoping the surgery process has improved since then but she also said she has little to no feeling in her lower lip because of the surgery. My mom is definitely supporting me with the cost and stuff and I will most likely help with that but I really hope my Dad will come around and support me through it because I know its a long process.
I have already started the braces (got them in August) but they are really nothing new to me as I have had braces before (at 10 years old) because I had really screwed up teeth. The underbite seems to be growing due to the braces and I hope to get the surgery next summer. I am sort of leaning all of my cards on the surgery and am stopping school for a semester because of it. I just hope its worth it. But I know it will be! :D
