I'm still super happy I got my jaw surgery and I never regret it for even one second - one of the best decisions I've ever made. For those of you who ask - and i do still answer all of your emails and comments! - I never have any pain or weird clicking in my jaw. The numbness is all gone except for one spot in my chin thats a little ticklish, but thats it. My bite has shifted slightly since I got the surgery, but its still fine and I don't have any problems with it. I definitely still wear my retainer from the orthodontist every single night, and that helps keeps my teeth nice and straight. :) And for those of you who wonder, I got my jaw surgery done at the Mayo Clinic by the amazing Dr. Rieck. I definitely recommend the hospital and him!
As always, feel free to email and comment! I love talking to other people who need/have/had jaw surgery. :) Thanks for reading!
Rebecca
Rebecca, your blog is very informative and inspirational! I just had my jaw surgery 1.5 weeks ago on 8/27/2013, and coming across your blog has really helped me progress through these difficult days. Thank you so much, you are a true success story, your smile is absolutely beautiful and radiant! I'll be happy to recover half as well as you have.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteI am going to get my jaw operation in a couple of years and I was wondering if you could go to sleep while the operation was happening
Yes, absolutely. They will do full anesthesia... I don't think that's an option actually.
DeleteI have a 17 year old nephew who is having wisdom teeth removed and I read cold therapy really helps. I found a face wrap with hot/cold gel packs that looks like a raw steak. Is that gross?? or would that be a bit of welcome humor to a young man post surgery???
ReplyDeletehahahaha i have no idea... made me laugh though. :P
DeleteHey Rebecca, you look marvellous. I am 1 year past my lower jaw surgery and still numb on my chin. Did your chin become less numb post-1 year?
ReplyDeleteWell thank you! I have not had any changes - good, bad, or otherwise - in my chin since the 1 year mark. Its a little tingly sometimes, usually when i'm extra tired, but thats it. My surgeon told me that the 1 year mark was a pretty good point to see how you would be permanently, and for me that was true. Hopefully your chin doesnt bother you too much!
DeleteYour blog has been incredibly helpful in my recovery, I'm now 28 days post op and recovering at a daily rate similar to yours after my op in the UK (It's strange to think how the operation has a universal recovery rate). You look incredible now and I can't wait until I have recovered to hopefully have the same outcome. How long was it before you could open your mouth fully again, and how long did your puffy cheeks last?
ReplyDeleteThank you! and thanks for reading! :) the puffiness went down the most after about 3 months, but after the 1st month i didnt look as much like an orangutan anymore. :P As far as fully opening my mouth... i admit i dont remember this specifically, but i want to say around 6 months? It comes back so gradually you dont even notice then one day everything seems normal.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experiences with this. What kind of insurance did you have?I'm thinking of having surgery myself and am not sure that my insurer would cover it.
Thanks.
my insurance was through Blue Cross at the time, i'm afraid i can't say which specific policy - and obviously a lot of changes have taken place recently as well. Best way to find out is call around!
DeleteHey there Rebecca so happy for you.Great results.I wanted to ask you do you have any kind of pain in the jaw even after the surgery?Because i got my surgery done in the month of june 2013 and i have been having pain in my jaw since last month.I wonder wether thats common or is it only with me?! I dont have any sweeling it has all gone down but i am experiencing the pain i used to before i got the surgery done along with headaches.I wanna know wether you are or have been through this kind of pain even after the surgery or not?
ReplyDeleteWell you're only a couple months into it, so some discomfort is normal. I do not have any pain now, but i'm 3 years post surgery. I'd recommend an appointment with your surgeon or at least orthdontist to figure out whats going on if you think the pain is severe and not going away.
DeleteYou look great! I have a similar problem with my bite and want jaw surgery to correct it. I'm mostly concerned about talking to my parents about it and getting insurance to cover it, but I have a few questions if you wouldn't mind emailing me! (ajlarson20139@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story. After a terrible car accident, I survived & can walk thanks to neck surgery. I was left with a broken jaw on one side and condyle bone damage on the other side, which makes my jaw chronically dislocate. I have been through so many procedures and I am finally in the prep for surgery with in a few months. My question is did you use a dynasplint to help with opening your jaw?
ReplyDeletewow thats crazy! I'm glad you're okay! I hope the surgery heals your jaw and you dont have to deal with that anymore. But to answer your question, no - i did not use a dynasplint. I got my range of motion back naturally as my jaw healed and strengthened.
DeleteRebecca, when you say Dr. Rieck, do you mean Dr. Kevin Rieck? He used to be at Mayo and I believe he has moved.
ReplyDeleteOh really? I was not aware of that. Must be a recent move then? His bio is still on mayo's website as faculty.. http://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/rieck-kevin-l-d-d-s-m-d/BIO-00026703 I'll admit i haven't contacted him in over a year though so I'll have to follow up on that.
DeletePlease do. I am curious if it is the same Dr. Rieck now practicing in my town, and if so....I am very inclined to contact him to consult about my jaw. Thank you very much for the prompt reply!
Deletewell...if this website is accurate, this is definitely my Dr. Rieck http://www.bryanhealth.com/body.cfm?id=135&action=detail&ref=705
DeleteIf you go to him, tell him I said hi and i'm very upset he moved. :( lol
Great post! Been reading a lot about different experiences with this. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca, can you send your email address, I am planning to have this surgery and I have a lot of questions,
ReplyDeletewhat is the cost of surgery ?
thanks so much in advance
my email address is purplelizard692@hotmail.com - make sure you read this blog post though on the cost! http://survivingjawsurgery.blogspot.com/2010/09/day-29-cost-of-jaw-surgery.html
DeleteHi Rebecca, I appreciate your reply
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,I got braces like 2 weeks ago and they told me,as well as they've told me before,that I need jaw surgery because I have an underbite so I'm thinking of getting it but I'm very nervous that my face will look weird afterwards,I'm 15 and I'm getting it in 3 years,when I'm 18,do you have any tips for me?
ReplyDeleteHey Rebecca
ReplyDeleteI am 10 months post-op
But I still have some swelling on my right side of the face relative to the left and on my upper lip.
How long did it take you to completely go back to normal in terms of appearance? How long until there was no swelling left at all in any part of the face?
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You are a really lucky girl. I got surgery done on my upper and lower jaws. I have a dystesia on my bottom lip. The sting is horrendous and this has been two years. had I known the pain was going to be worse then before surgery I would have said no.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story! I'm not sure if you check this, but I am having the same surgery combined with sinus surgery in the next few months. I'm curious about what type of exercise you were able to do and how quickly after surgery? I have a three year old and we are really active and that's what I am most concerned about. I love running and hot yoga and we spend a ton of time outside. I know that a lot of blogs say that you can start back as soon as it feels okay, but there isn't really anyone who comments on how long that is? they told me no heavy lifting for 6-8 weeks and I'm worried about that as well! Ah! Thanks for posting your honest results, my face shape is very similar to yours as is my problem of only touching on the very back teeth. Hope my results are similar!
Nice Post!
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