Let me just start by saying that my recovery has really made me appreciate the way God designed the human body to heal all by itself... it really is incredible the way we are designed!
It's been 5 weeks and I feel almost all back to normal! Feeling is around 80% back. There are still some pins and needles behind my nose every once in a while, but nothing major. The swelling has almost all gone down too...I know there is still some swelling under my lip, but I would say for the most part, it will not make any dramatic difference when it does all go down.
Overall, I am so happy I had the surgery and would definitely do it all over again. I haven't had ONE migraine since I had the surgery which is HUGE to me...and I am very hopeful that they are gone for good! I can NOT wait to start using my new bite too! I have my 6 week followup next Wednesday and get to find out if I can start chewing!!!! I'm VERY exicited!!!
Here are some side-by-side before & afters...pretty neat to see how much a couple millimeters can change your face.
And here is a silly picture that shows you how wide I can open my mouth now!!! A few weeks ago I couldn't even get a full sized spoon in my mouth!!
Looking good Sarah! What's the first thing you want to chew??
ReplyDeletethanks Anita! Might sound gross...but MEAT! A burger, a steak, a chicken wing, anything!! I am so tired of smoothies and smashed up fish!! haha
ReplyDeletei will make you a steak wrapped burger covered in hot wing sauce with SO MUCH BACON
ReplyDeleteHey I am having a leforte one with surgical splint soon. How painful was it? What do you think the major change in your face was? Thanks-Hannah
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah!
DeleteHonestly, the pain wasn't all that bad. They cut through a lot of nerves in the jaw area during the surgery, so I was actually numb around my nose, and on the roof of my mouth after surgery. It's a year later, and I just now have all my feeling back because it takes a long time for all of the nerves to heal. It is just really uncomfortable to be so swollen, and I had a nosebleed the first couple days, so that was no fun. Most important in staying comfortable for me, was wearing my jaw bra, pretty much 24/7 the first couple days, and making sure there was always ice in it...even if it meant changing it at 2 in the morning. So make sure you have one of those babies!
As far as the change in my face, the surgery changed my entire profile, and I like my nose much better now. It just balanced my face out, it didn't change it drastically. My upper jaw was brought down a couple millimeters, so before when I used to open my mouth relaxed, you couldn't really see my teeth (that always bothered me), and now you can. I used to smile and use my tongue to push my bottom lip out because my top teeth were back and my lips just kind of disappeared when I smiled. Now...I just smile...haha!!
I would do the whole thing over again in a heartbeat :)
Let me know when you surgery is! I'd love to see before and afters! I'm so glad I did the blog, because its really easy to forget everything you've been through, so think about doing one if you aren't already!
Wish you all the best in your journey!
-Sarah
Had my lefort one 12 days ago!! Look like Miss Piggy's sister- how long before swelling goes down?? Pain has been fine! Fatigue and lack of calories is killing me:( My nose looks more turned up- my OS says that will soften as the swelling goes down. You look great! How long did it take for you to start feeling like your old self. I have some numbness mostly under my eyes beside my nose.
DeleteHi Hannah! I guess it's been about 2 months since your surgery, so hopefully the swelling has gone considerably down and you are beginning to eat some solid foods. I remember how exciting that was!! It took at least 6 months for the swelling to go ALL the way down, I mean 100%. Unfortunately, I still have some numbness in my gums and a tiny bit around my nose, but a small price to pay in my opinion. I would still do it all over again :) Hope you are recovering well!
DeleteThank u for this blog. My son is in day 4 post surgery. Im ready to see a grin. I am thankful for your detailed pics and info. You were beautiful before and again now. So glad you love it. And yes Gods creation of the body is amazing.
ReplyDeleteSarah!!!!! my surgery will take place on the 28 Jan 2014, I feel so afraid after watching the dvd my doctor gave me, but still I want to go throw with it, you are a great inspiration for me. You look very self confident and I think that is one of my reasons for going ahead with the surgery. thanks allot.
ReplyDeleteSonja,
ReplyDeleteLet me know how your surgery goes! I am so happy if documenting my journey could help put you at ease in any way :) I promise that this summer you'll look back and be SO happy you did it!
Hello.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your blog.
I had a lefort one procedure and a sliding genioplasty on the 8th January. 4 weeks ago now.
The swelling has reduced considerably but I still eat soft foots like
Porridge. I look awful. I can't stop crying. My top lip has disappeared and I cannot move the bottom lip at all. I a shying away from everyone. I dearest and nearest I won't let near me. I look awful. I wanted to be prettier but now I feel so ashamed.
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ReplyDeleteMy son just had his surgery about 8 weeks ago. Its been an emotional summer for him and me. He is the strongest kid I know and this surgery was very profound and has been mentally hard for him. He loves the outcome and looks like a different kid but he worries that its going set back and he's worried about going to school. Any advice or guidance to help him though this?
ReplyDeleteAwesome result, I got braces like yours last week and they don’t hurt at all, but just feels like there’s something in my teeth.
ReplyDeleteLove your results! Was the nose just a pleasant secondary effect of the jaw moving? Also was your top jaw moved forward at all or only down?
ReplyDeleteHi! Yes, my upper jaw was broken into 3 pieces- widened, and moved forward and down, so my profile definitely changed. The surgery didn’t move my nose, that was in the right spot all along...haha. But by moving my upper jaw where it should be it made my profile look different. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Delete-Sarah