Tuesday, October 14, 2008

THE FINAL PRODUCT!!





awkward smile to show all the teeth!

































SO the process started January 16th with braces... mandibular advancement surgery was May 16th.... today is October 14th. I am absolutely thrilled with everything. Its great to finally be done with it all, but in the end, I'm glad I did it. I would love to answer any questions that any one has who may come upon this blog. Everyone has a different experience, so its good to talk to any one that you can. I wish everyone else quick recoveries and great outcomes! Let me know if you have any questions and just leave a comment so I can get back to you :)

A special thanks to all you bloggers who helped me through the process. It was a great support!

14 comments:

Katherine said...

Leah,
You look amazing! Your joy really comes through the photograph. And when I saw your new profile, wow, you look better than the textbook examples.

I've been busy prepping for my own surgery on Thursday (16th) & plan to reread your postings on numbness and such while I'm resting. Thanks for sharing your journey with us strangers. It's made this orthognathic process less strange. :)

cookieyum said...

You have a beautiful smile, congrats! I have a question... In your older blogs, you mention you felt like you had a overbite after surgery. Well my daughter Kelley had surgery in July and she still has an overbite, how did yours get corrected?
Mo-Mo

cookieyum said...

Yeah, I think Kelley over analyzes her bite also. I think it takes awhile to adjust from having an underbite to a regular bite. Did you have any issues with your nose? Kelley doesnt like how hers is looking, but the DR.s say it takes a year to settle down.
Thanks.
Mo-Mo

ummul said...

Leah, congratulations! Your smile is very beautiful now. Look, that's the new you!

Leah, I await the time I like you now, I can give a beautiful smile.

:-)

Greg said...

I'm also 20 and probably going to have the procedure done. When they were talking about all the jaw surgery it kinda freaked me out, but seeing as though your quite happy with everything it's good to know, and i most likely will go through with it. Was there any big complications you had going through it at all? Any bad side affects or anything like that? By the way the final product looks great.

Leah said...

Greg,
the only bad permanent side effect I have it some numbness on the inside of my right cheek, and about a quarter-sized area on either side of the corners of my mouth. Those areas are not completely numb, just less sensitive with some weird sensations when touched. My surgeon had told me that they would go away (this was right after surgery), but they haven't changed. But its really not a problem. My recovery went really smoothly, but some people do have more severe complications. Just be sure to do your research and be aware of what COULD happen. But hopefully, your procedure will go as well as mine did as far as recovery goes :) Let me know if you have any more questions!

JackieG125 said...

I had the same thing you had and I am on day 13. I feel great though me and you seem to have has the same experience. I am coughing a little now and im not sure why because im not sick. I just can't wait to have my full smile back. I was kind of worried, but after seeing your most recent picture I guess it just takes time to get your muscles working right again. My only complaint is numbness in my chin and bottom lip. Hoping I get it back, but I guess its way too soon to expect anything. Anyway, thanks for posting your blogs. Helped me through my whole experience.

SinxDesigns said...

That is a fantastic result and a great looking profile picture. I'm glad that all the inconvenience and pain was worth it in the end.

Rita said...

Hey Leah, you look great! I only hope my surgery goes this well. I am scheduled for April 7th. I was wondering if you took extra vitamins before and after your surgery? What about something for the swelling? I want to have a smooth recovery. I think this is my biggest concern. I need to go back to work after three weeks if possible. Thanks for your help. I am sure your blog will help me a lot. I am starting to read it today. Thanks. : )

Lucy said...

Your teeth look really great. I have a 13 yr old daughter who is in braces right now. We are trying to decide if we should use the MARA appliance now and possibly avoid surgery later. Her orthodontist tells us if the MARA does not work then the surgery will be complicated by using it. But the MARA may work. My daughter is terrified about the surgery idea. Any thoughts?

ANu said...

Hey Leah,
I on a similar path( mandibular advancement surgery)..Reading your blog has answered a lot of questions I had ...Just got my braces...my oral surgeon said I would be ready for surgery next June and need to get my wisdom teeth pulled out 6 months before the surgery.I had a question for you...did the procedure add length to your face?? My ortho said it will but not a whole not...since the jaw will be moved downward and forward...was the change very noticeable for you?

Unknown said...

your end result looks great. I had the same done plus a genioplasty about 5 weeks ago and I still have swelling. Do you have any pictures about 2-3 months post surgery?

Unknown said...

I have learn so many things on your even on jaw pain which is now I am suffering. I will make this to be my reference.

Wendy said...

You look so great!!!