I’ve made it through the bad part and I’m healing now. Everyone asked what I had done. I don’t really know the technical names to give out. I know the procedure on my upper jaw was called a Lefort, although I think more specifically it was considered a Lefort II. I don’t really know what that means though. They took my upper jaw, cut up into the inside gum-line and separated it from just below my nose. After separating it, they broke it into two pieces by cutting along the length of my upper palette, placed a brace on the inside of my mouth to widen it, and then shaved away 8mm of bone towards my back two molars to flatten the entire palette. I have 4 titanium plates holding the outside of my bone together so it can heal. The two pieces are held together by this really uncomfortable plastic brace that is glued around my teeth. It makes it very hard to talk or eat chunky foods.
I can’t eat anything that requires chewing for 6 weeks. I can however eat mushy things like beans and even some well-cooked pasta. Soda has been my friend. I used to not even like soda but I couldn’t survive on fruit juices alone. Well, soda and instant breakfasts.I intially lost 10lbs in just a few days. They kept coming off though and at my lowest a week after the surgery I weighed 135, down from 150 the day of surgery. This morning I was 138, so hopefully I’ll slowly gain everything back. It will be hard with the fact that I really dislike eating at the moment.
The bottom jaw surgery was a bit simpler, basically they cut down into my inside gum again, cut out my chin, and then brought it forward. This was strictly a cosmetic thing. I didn’t have to do this but when it came down to it I figured I’d just do everything that was suggested and get it all over with.I’m happy I did it so far. No real problems. Still hurts, but that’s to be expected. We’ll see how I am in another week.
Edit (1/24/08): Here are some before and after pictures and captions to give you an idea of the process:
Pre-surgery:
What I imagined things would look like after:
Immediately after surgery:
3 months after surgery (still a bit of swelling):
2 years after surgery (no swelling left):
My sister knows someone who had this surgery. It made him more handsome. Damn, J, you more handsome? Love, your Tia
I have read this entry a couple of times and why initial responses have been “Wow!” this is major jaw/mouth surgery. It is more extensive than I would have imagined. 42 days ouch!
Glad to here that you are recovering well and gradually.
1st comment of 2006. It is also an anniversary of sorts that is, I have been reading and commenting on J’s blog for one year. I’m glad that I discovered it!
Any chance of an update on how things are going? I think this week is week #4. Just curious.
hey bro, 25 days post op here for almost the same thing. I’m diggin the protein shakes right now.
Yahoo has a great jaw surgery support site.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthognathicsurgerysupport/?yguid=209304797
Take it easy..
I’m totally healed now, with a little soreness here and there. Thanks for the link to the site, I’m sure people googling this surgery will like it, too.
Hi,
Thank you so much for telling your surgery story. I am so afraid to do it. I am 50 years old. I have no chin. My jaw goes in . I cry when I look in the mirrior. I
hi, i had a lefort too, but my case is different i look uglier than before. imagine that. i am so disperate. i need help!
[...] a really large version. If you’ve somehow found this entry through a web search, please see this weblog entry for additional surgery information. Isn’t it [...]
My hubby just had this done yesterday, I’m looking around for info and tips. He’s doing pretty good but I’m afraid I’m not giving him enough to eat. So far it’s Carnation Instant Breakfast, soup, and Jell-o… Anything you can think of I should keep an eye out/be prepared for? Thanks!
Hey, I didn’t know this procedure existed until ‘Googling’ “jaw surgery”. I thought my only option was “Jaw Augmentation”. I have an inverted chin and it causes my mouth to droop downwards, as well as making it stick out, making me look a bit ‘monkey-ish’.
It’s really depressing. I went through a stage of serious ‘Body Dismorphia’ where I would avoid going out in public at all costs. I’m still highly self conscious of my side-profile, but I’ve since managed to (gradually) overcome the most serious stages of “BD”. I don’t cry when I look at myself in the mirror, but most of the time it still makes me feel quite depressed and causes me to have suicidal thoughts…And I can’t be happy with the way I look without flexing my jaw to make my chin stick out but there’s only so many times you can do that before realising your just kidding yourself.
That’s it, I’m making some calls tomorrow. I can’t wait to get this surgery done!
I’m 10 months post op, and I had both the top and bottom cut up like jason. I’m still soooooo sooo swollen! My jawline looks wicked but i’m still quite swollen around my mouth and nose. It’s honestly pretty depressing for me. It still has that ‘poof’ effect.
I take the maximum amountof ibuprofen everyday to reduce the inflammation the best I can.
Would anyone else have any advice on this one? I’m desperate for it to heal faster!
I don’t have any advice Sarah, but if it’s any consolation I had the surgery 1 year ago and I still have poofiness…so you aren’t alone! :p I guess I just gotta give it some time, it is trauma to your face after all. I heard somewhere that changes can continue to take place up to 20 months afterward, if by then I am still swollen I will talk to my doctor.
Jason -
I just found your blog. My son, age 21, just had the same upper jaw surgery 4 weeks ago. He’s healing nicely but his mouth has that Planet of the Apes look. I’m worried about his appearance but haven’t said anything to him. Did you experience that and how long did it take to subside?
Wow! Nice, in that last pic you look a little like Jude Law! I’m not so scared anymore.
Thankyou for this, gosh it was 4 years ago and all the way across the pond, in, i guess…America. Anyway i’m going to have the surgery and am soooo scared that i may get nerve damage or some horrible thing. I go to cambrdige so i’ll have to do it out of Uni term. Thanks though…v. comforting
Wait i just read the comments….poofiness? even after 1 year? Bloody hell, give me some advice chaps…
Fazia, I don’t think there is much of a risk for nerve damage. I mean, worst case scenario (and most likely I think) is that you won’t really feel like you look like yourself anymore. And maybe that is a good thing or maybe it isn’t, it depends on what you’re looking for. I remember looking and being like, “is this really me??”
And in response to Lee above (sorry for the delay) it took nearly 4 months before I started to look/feel normal again in the face. Give it some time to stop swelling. I was told by many that it would take a year to go away completely and that was definitely true in my case.
Jason,
I’ve been following your blog for a few months now. I had my tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and uvulectomy and I wrote about it on your blog. It went great.
I’m just curious. This surgery that you are talking about here with the Jaw. Why did you get this done? Is it because of the sleep apnea? as a follow up to your first surgery?
I look forward to your reply.
CC
The lefort surgery was a completely different issue. I had this done due to an overbite and some jaw issues that could only be fixed by surgery. I knew by about age 14 this would need to be done so there was plenty of time to be prepared properly. While both surgeries helped me breathe better due to various alterations, I never had anything close to an actual diagnosis of sleep apnea.
is a bad way? i like the way i look – i don’t won’t a round face or anything
Who did your surgery? I need a LeFort 3. This is where the cuts are made in a LeFort 3 type surgery.
http://tinyurl.com/n8pqlq
I need a 6mm advancement. It has finally gotten to the point where it hurts my neck to talk and swallow because there is no room in my upper maxillary area. A mandibular set back is not an option since it will only exacerbate the problems I have by reducing the room I have in my mouth, throat and airway.
I need this but it scares me and I cannot find a doctor I feel comfortable doing this with. To do this you have to be the type of doctor that has a go for it type mentality but with strong brakes ( a lot of careful planning and willingness to back out if it is too much of a risk).
My surgery was done by Dr. Michael K. Schwartz of The Maryland Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Thanks for asking and good luck!
Hi, I just had my upper and lower jaw surgery a month ago and most of my swelling has gone down excep my left chin….did u experience uneven swelling when u had ur surgery done??
Hi there,
I had this surgery done in two phases in 2001. I was 16 years old. It was a major change and my xrays look pretty akin to yours, even down to the chin plate. However, now its 2010 and unfortunately, I have to have additional work done to my teeth. I was wondering how you are doing after a few years? Like you, it took months to look like me again and years before I felt that everything was “normal” again. I did lose most of the sensation in my lower lip from surgery, but that’s not a huge loss.
Hope all is well!