Category: My jaw surgery

9 weeks post-op…they’re off!!!

I thought I was going in to get the surgical lugs and metal wires removed but…

Dr. decided everything was close enough, and took it all off!

I’ve got Invisalign (Vivera?) retainers now, barely visible and sometimes I forget I’m wearing them. Dr. was able to remove the braces now because the retainers also do minor corrective work.

It’s been a long journey. It’s completely worth it. My bite is awesome. Things like very crunchy fruits, peanuts, etc. are still off limits. I still have issues with jaw strength but it’s slowly getting better.

June 2013 – braces
August 2013 – no more wisdom teeth
October 2014 – lefort 1
November 2014 – no more bands
December 29th, 2014 – no more braces!

I could have done the surgery as early as June, but I was lazy…

So that’s that! Checkups and cosmetic work next.

It’s been 2 months since the surgery, and so far it’s been much more manageable than the first month. I saw my orthodontist last month and my jaw needed to open more before getting any other work done.

There really isn’t anything else to report on. I’ve been on my own and haven’t been back to the orthodontist or my surgeon. Life is mostly back to normal and I can eat almost as many things as I could eat while in braces, except hard or crunchy things like fruits.

One thing that stood out for me this month was that I could eat a burrito without having to shove the entire thing in my mouth. I was able to use my front teeth to tear it apart (gently) for the first time in a very long time.

There’s still a lot of numbness in my upper gums but that’s to be expected. It doesn’t really affect any day to day activities. A month ago I could open my mouth about 1 finger wide, now it’s more than 3, which is a good sign that things are still healing.

I’m due to the orthodontist on the 29th so we’ll see what happens then.

Today is one month since the surgery!

I can come off of a liquid diet an move to soft foods, but I’ll probably still take it easy the next couple of weeks. At least this means I can have soft doughnuts and mac and cheese, and heavier soups. Probably not cheeseburgers yet. Cut up cheeseburgers, maybe. I’ll go see my orthodontist soon and see if I still have to wear the bands and the lugs, or get those off and go back to regular braces.

There’s still a little swelling in my cheeks, and I don’t yet have all the feeling back around my mouth and lips. The incision area right below my nose still hurts a little bit, but only if I try to smile real hard. I can’t open my jaw all the way yet – it’s not painful, I just…can’t. It will work itself out over time, it’s left over from the swelling.

I haven’t sneezed for 4 weeks, isn’t that odd?

3 weeks post-op and I don’t have a good title for this post, because really nothing has happened recently. The bands are still on. I still have a liquid diet. I drink soup out of a cup. Spoons are still very difficult. So far it’s been

• ensure/boost
• cream of chicken (and variations, herbed, etc.)
• tomato soup (and variations, basil, smoked bacon flavor, etc.)
• blended chili (just a little) – my bands always break after trying to “eat” this
• creamy poblano queso soup
• chipotle tomato (super spicy, don’t recommend for < 2 weeks post op)
• melty water ice
• melty mini haagen-dazs ice cream
• cold smoothies/shakes (wawa is good for this – you can add protein to them!)
• blended black bean cilantro soup
• beer

I can smile a bit more,  the incision above my gums hurts less. I haven’t taken any pain meds, although after a day of talking heavily with friends my mouth really hurt that night and the day after. However there’s no jaw pain.

I’ve still got some numbness in my face around my nose on the right side. Which is probably why it’s a little droopy there.

I can’t wait to have a doughnut.

Got out of the house to go get a haircut.

And blended chili is great. Just a little bit, just to get the major chunks out. Cook it then you can drink it out of a cup.  My teeth can open just a little bit with the bands to get it through.

It’s a bit messy, but whatever. Something different than smoothies/ensure/boost/soup. I’m going to have fun with the waterpik tonight, though.

Not much has changed. Still have the bands. Bands break, I replace them. Some pain went away in the upper right of my face, where it was also more swollen than the rest of my face at one point.  Less pain when I move my face muscles too. Today was the first day without any painkillers. Overall swelling is down more.

I still don’t have some feeling in my upper lip, and it does still hurt to smile from the incision/stitches, so this is all you get!

I’m working from home for the foreseeable future.