1 Year Post Op, Before & After Photo 3

Before Braces Vs. One Year Post-Op.

Five Months!

Five months post-op today! Before and after photos compared to about a year ago. There's still some numbness in my right chin, and lower right lip, but not much. Maybe 5%?

Mary had asked me in one of her comments if people treat me differently (after the change in my appearance). Good question! I had to think about it for a while. Hmm....No I can't say that people treat me differently, other than that perhaps strangers seem to approach me more often, with random small talks, at ice cream parlors, grocery stores, et cetera. The biggest change took place within my own mind. I feel less self-conscious and more self-confident. I no longer feel the need to conceal my profile and put my best face forward, so to speak. It feels so great to look normal, to know that my teeth and jaws fall exactly where they should (no more edge-on-edge bite!). Sure, the whole ordeal cost a lot of money. But the confidence it brings me is priceless.

Old Photo

Came across an old photo (the one on the left) taken last summer. The photo on the right was taken about a month ago - in other words, about four months after the surgery. I think these two photos are about a year apart. Erin - see how I had a pointy/long chin very similar to yours? I'm no expert.... but I imagine your face will look rounder and more balanced post surgery, just like mine. Good luck! :)

Before and After: 3 Months!

Three-month mark!! It's been three months since my jaw surgery. Click on the photos above to enlarge them. The photo on the left was dated September 2005, pre-braces. The photo on the right was taken yesterday, at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, B.C., Canada (which is, by the way, a beautiful place with lots of flowers. I snapped a photo of a random cute kid walking by).

They say time flies. But honestly, it feels longer than three months! Almost a distant memory. When a colleague asked me the other day how my jaws were feeling, it took me a split second to realize what he meant. :) My diet has gone back to almost normal, as well - still can't do the tougher meats or apples or carrots yet, but all in due time. My chin still feels numb on the right side...and my lower right lip, too. But each week the feelings return a little, so that's good!

Before and After: Umbrella

December 2005 in Victoria, B.C., vs. April 2007 in New York. Click on the photos above to enlarge them.

Why I Did It - Medical, Not Cosmetic

As more friends of mine read my blog, I'm starting to get questions and comments such as "wow you made yourself look different". Yes, that is true. But I do want to clarify that while an improved physical appearance is certainly one of the benefits, it was not the primary reason why I decided to get orthognathic surgery.

In my medical chart, they'd stated that I had "...significant skeletal deformity. Class III.". What does that mean? In laymen's terms, it means that my upper jaw had a retrusion and my lower jaw had a protrusion (see photos of my natural bite above), which negatively impacted speech as well as chewing functionalities. I had a serious malocclusion, and excessive wear and tear on my teeth because the contact surfaces were abnormal. Over the years I'd noticed my lower teeth slowly advancing forward, to the point that it formed a gap between my upper and lower front teeth.

I'd asked my orthodontist and surgeon what would happen if I chose NOT to proceed with any treatment at all. They said my bite would continue to worsen, and my chewing less effective. Clear speech would become more of a struggle. Also, my jaw joint pains would likely become more frequent and severe (I used to get jaw joint pains whenever I felt tired).

So folks, these were the MEDICAL reasons why I chose surgery, and why they'd labeled me a Skeletal Deformity Class III. I'm glad these problems would go away now that surgery has been completed. And if I happen to look different as a result - icing on the cake! :)

God, all I can think about now is FOOD. :)

Support Group

I'd completely forgotten I'd joined this Yahoo Group for Orthognathic surgery patients and their families. It's very much alive, active, and informative. Check it out at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthognathicsurgerysupport/.