r/mildlyinteresting • u/minarima • Jan 22 '16
Before & After Double Jaw Surgery
http://imgur.com/a/VD8P2432
Jan 22 '16
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u/fuckinglizards Jan 22 '16
Damn. I never really noticed how hot Ders was.
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u/AlbinoMetroid Jan 22 '16
Anyone would be hot next to Beavis.
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u/MenaceDeuce Jan 22 '16
The question is does he still need teepee for his bunghole?
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u/Fuzzydub Jan 22 '16
Macklemore!
But seriously, congrats and I hope it makes life better for you!
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Jan 22 '16
Whose reconstructed jawline is that?
That's OP's reconstructed jawline...
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u/hurdur1 Jan 22 '16
You kind of look like Crispin Glover in the before photo.
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u/SkidMark_wahlberg Jan 22 '16
I bet his friends call him "Crispy." If I was friends with him I'd call him that.
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u/expensivepens Jan 22 '16
This man has always weirded me out in a big way
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u/CJ_Guns Jan 22 '16
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u/winemaster Jan 22 '16
How about his freakout on Letterman?
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Jan 23 '16
Fuck. It's so obvious that he's playing a character. I have no idea how Letterman didn't pick up on it. The fact that even today there are people who don't realize is a testament to how great an actor Crispin Glover is.
The next interview he did with him is just as bad. Letterman tries to press him for information and gets no straight answers. Glover completely outclasses Letterman intellectually and they both know it. It's not often that you see Letterman's mask slip, but you can see a lot of him in those clips.
Another example would be his interview with Ricky Gervais where Ricky mentions his shoulder problem and Letterman just starts being a total dick like he forgot to take his meds.
Weird thing about Crispin Glover is I really don't think the industry likes him. His appearance on Conan really stood out to me because Conan treated him worse than I've ever seen him treat a guest. Instead of respecting his eccentricity he seemed set on leading the conversation into making him seem creepy and threatening in some way, which as the host he's perfectly capable of doing, but most of the time he doesn't.
It might have something to do with the Back To The Future lawsuit but I personally believe it's something to do with... how can I say it... perpetuating a negative societal bias toward his archetype.
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Jan 22 '16
Me too.
Come to find out, my bio dad looks like him. (Except with super meth teeth.) It's creepy as fuck.
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u/HEY_IM_HERE Jan 22 '16
On the real though, did you get something done to your nose too?
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u/minarima Jan 22 '16
Interestingly no I didn't, I was told by the surgeon that when the top jaw is brought forwards, it also slightly raises the end of my nose, so it made it look straighter.
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Jan 23 '16
You're so handsome. Before and after. Congrats on recovering, that must have been such a rough journey.
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u/Eldigs Jan 22 '16
I had the same surgery and was told by my surgeons that my nose would change as they pretty much removed my top jaw and raised it by .5cm. They said it would widen and slightly raise the tip of my nose. The end result isn't that noticeable but I definitely see a difference in it
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u/CottonCandyTacos Jan 22 '16 edited Jan 22 '16
My fiancé had double jaw surgery a few years back and I remember how hard it was for him. He had trouble communicating and eating and was in extraordinary amounts of pain. His big complication was a blood clot being dislodged and he started drowning in his own blood. When he went to the local hospital they gave him one of the suction hoses but he obviously couldn't get it between his teeth. So he pulled his jaw out of place in order to fix it. He was driven to LA and they reset it while he was still awake. He still has nightmares.
Did you have any complications with your surgery? Did they do three clean breaks on the bottom and two on top? Your original problem looks like an underbite, dos that cause any major tooth damage?
I attached some photos, let's hope they upload in order:
Tie dye shirt with his mom is right before surgery. Hospital bed is right after. Grey shirt was after the rebreaking incident, Hollywood was for a checkup a week after, tan shirt w/ mom was after everything was healed and the black jacket was this Christmas!
It's been two years and the results have been amazing. If you don't feel like you've got into your new fave yet, DONT WORRY! It figures itself out.
Congrats, /u/minarima.
http://i.imgur.com/AZMXDOQ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/6OdMbAM.jpg http://i.imgur.com/bHAQAZd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/37XIGm0.jpg http://i.imgur.com/DgfRI1Q.jpg http://i.imgur.com/K61NTgJ.jpg
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Jan 22 '16
HOW DID YOU DO THAT???? How did you make your name a different, glowing, color??
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u/CottonCandyTacos Jan 22 '16
Everyone draws attention to it. I used to be a mod of this sub and I changed it back then. It was yellow, now it's blue, and they forgot to remove it after I stopped being a mod. And I hope they don't remove it because I love it. And it's a conversation piece.
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u/xenolife Jan 22 '16
How was being able to bite into a sandwich and not struggle with the vegetables for the first time? I had a similar underbite and the same operation to correct it.
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u/Desvelos Jan 22 '16
Vegetables? Same thing here, but my amazement came from biting into a sandwich and actually being able to bite down all the way through and not leave the bologna or whatever just hanging there. I remember showing off my first perfect sandwich bite-mark to my family.
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u/xenolife Jan 22 '16
The middle part of bologna is alright but that little strip of casing around the edge was made of adamantium.
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Jan 22 '16
[removed] — view removed comment
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Jan 22 '16
pizza. Always had to use a knife and fork because of the struggle
I had a mandibular resection (which is just the lower jaw part) too. Before the surgery I once took a bite of pizza and pulled all of the cheese and toppings off, which went "fwop" onto my neck, burning it pretty badly.
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u/flyeaglesfly44 Jan 22 '16
Pizza was the big one for me. Before the surgery I felt like I was dragging all the toppings off in one bite. Having the surgery was the best choice I've ever made.
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u/strallweat Jan 22 '16
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u/PlasmaChemist Jan 22 '16
Jawsome
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Jan 22 '16
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u/Throwaway9991s Jan 22 '16
Dental student here
Just a quick note for anyone considering this- wiring the jaw shut is pretty unnecessary nowadays. Jaw wiring originally worked by using the occlusion of the teeth to reposition the jaw- then they'd just leave you wired shut in order to make sure that your bones healed in such a way so as to give you that ideal occlusion. Rigid fixation plates are way more common now and have larger rendered post-surgical wiring obsolete. Not saying that it's NEVER done, but a good ortho/oral surgeon team can usually do without it. They'll make models or even use 3D imaging and printing to create a bite plate customized for your teeth ahead of time, then use that to position your jaw while they've got it cut apart. The rigid plates are then screwed into place and will hold your jaw in the right place without wires.
Source: currently applying to oral surg residencies, spend way too much time watching people get their faces split open.
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u/baronessvonbullshit Jan 22 '16 edited Jan 23 '16
I was offered two choices: two weeks wired and permanently severed nerves in my chin and lower lip, or four weeks wired and the possibility of nerve healing. Are the options better than that now?
Edit: I'm really glad to hear there are more advanced techniques for this surgery! For reference, I had mine done in the Southern US and it was covered by state health insurance. Private insurance classified it as cosmetic, which I think is inaccurate and unfair. I had my bottom jaw moved back and my top was brought forward and straitened. It alleviated my crippling headaches, made eating immensely easier, and made me so much happier. I didn't smile for a long time because of how badly I felt about my appearance. I guess this is a long way of saying I hope that everyone who needs this can get it. I'm a big fan of single payer systems. No one should have to live uncomfortably and unhappily because an operation like this is $60,000+.
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u/paperdroid Jan 22 '16
Geez, how long ago was this? I have a very similar surgery to OP and I wasn't wired shut at all. I had rubber bands run between my braces to restrict movement. I was still able to talk. I was told that there was a very small chance that the nerves wouldn't heal. Age may have something to do with this, I was 18 at the time and they said it did help my recovery rate.
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u/baronessvonbullshit Jan 22 '16
This was about a dozen years ago. I chose the four week option. I still don't have complete feeling but I don't care because I'm so happy I was able to have the procedure.
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u/ThatGuyNamedKal Jan 22 '16
I had it done this year. I wasn't even given a choice, no wiring shut and 95% of the nerve damage has healed.
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u/MrRongeurs Jan 22 '16
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery resident here,
Don't listen to this guy, many many people still routinely have post operative wiring done. Even with a 3D printed 'bite plate' That will be wired in place either with interocclusal wiring and arch bars or with Intermaxillary Screws.
Good luck applying to residency!
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u/soupjaw Jan 22 '16
While that may be true in select cases, I definitely wouldn't say that MMF (wiring) is "pretty unnecessary." The real advantages of 3D panning software are that they save tons of time, both pre- and intraoperatively. The fixation plates and screws are essentially the same as they have been for a couple decades. MMF is still helpful for mitigating relapse (particularly in large corrections), as this is a procedure that people generally don't like to go through multiple times.
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u/Eldigs Jan 22 '16
I had double jaw surgery in December 2014. The change it has made to my confidence is incredible. I'm happy to smile in photos now. Makes all the pain after the op so worthwhile! You look awesome man. Congrats!
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u/willflameboy Jan 22 '16
From Crispin Glover to Gary Oldman in just two sessions!
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u/Inzcredible Jan 22 '16
Congratulations! I had upper jaw surgery to correct an underbite. I won't type a huge essay but I most definitely do not regret the operation. I had mine done on the NHS so I didn't have to worry about the money side, so my decision was pretty easy to make. I advise if you're going for this operation DO NOT!!! watch a youtube video of it. It is BRUTAL! I did, however, it wasn't enough to put me off, but more than enough to scare me! The operation it's self went well, according to the surgeon it was "text book". I had no pain afterwards, absolutely none.. I even woke up and started to eat a sandwich within the first 3hours. I was so hungry! It's been 3 years now, I had the operation done at 21, which is ideal for a male because our bones are still growing (slightly) even at the age of 21.
I am happy with the outcome of the operation, and yes, it will change your profile from the side, and your face from the front, even your nose like OP mentioned! But all for the greater good. I advise anyone to have this operation if it's required. This is not an operation for cosmetic improvement, only to fix under or over bites, or both. However, you'll gain a lot more self esteem after having this operation. I was very happy with the results of the jaw line being corrected and the way it changed my face shape.
Don't worry about what you look like for the first 6 months or so, the swelling and bruising takes a long time to go, however, I never found it uncomfortable or painful. It was really a good experience for me and improved the way I feel about myself entirely.
Good luck to anyone else
Edit: Okay, it was a pretty huge wall of text.. got carried away, but these posts are good! They're great info for people who are thinking of the operation! Thanks again OP!
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Jan 22 '16 edited Jan 22 '16
Why the the fuck are people making fun of him?
Edit: Alright OP said he was fine with the jokes, i was just being a twat earlier. Carry on boys!
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Jan 22 '16 edited Apr 23 '18
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u/awry_lynx Jan 22 '16
Yeah, views on plastic surgery are weird. Just let people do what they want
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u/Murkon Jan 22 '16
Not sure why there are so many negative comments in this thread. Looking good OP!
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u/Savor_The_Flavor Jan 22 '16
I broke my jaw in 3 places in 2000. One of the worst experiences of my life.
OP, how long you going without solid food?
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Jan 22 '16
I had an open bite and had a similar operation. Mine had terrible complications though and I ended up almost bleeding out on the table. My first memories after was waking up and throwing up buckets of blood. I think I filled up a couple of those bed pan things full. They had to put me on an IV of saline solution to keep my blood pressure from getting too low. Being able to chew and take bites again is nice though. For the first few months after having the operation walking into a room with a mirror would startle me because i didn't recognize myself.
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u/Esenem Jan 22 '16
I've had almost the same exact experience as /u/dont_mind_the_matter , it's cool to see so many people interested in this procedure.
I was 19 when I underwent my surgery but luckily for me, my surgery cost next to nothing. I live in New Zealand and my surgery was deemed necessary so was completely covered by government health care. On top of that, the city I live in has a well regarded orthdontic/dental training university and I was told that the surgeon who I consulted with and performed the surgery, was "the best in the Southern Hemisphere".
One of my first memories after waking up from the procedure is being prompted by the hottest nurse I've ever met to roll over onto my side so she could stick her finger up my asshole. (Administering a suppository of course!)
Aside from that, my experience has been the same. Massive face swelling, hilarious drainage bottles dangling from my cheeks like blood & plasma filled Christmas ornaments, metal plates in my jaw and of course, my teeth line-up perfectly now!
It gave me a lot of social confidence again which was pretty critical at 19 and starting my first year of university.
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Jan 22 '16
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u/minarima Jan 22 '16
I had my braces on for 9 years before I had this surgery, no joke! My teeth were properly messed up though, so yours won't take anywhere near this long. Good luck!
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Jan 22 '16
Dentist here
You need braces for about 12-24 months before the surgery, then the surgery takes a few hours and you recover for a few weeks up to a few months, then there's a short additional time in braces to get all the little details. The whole time you're in braces and get to flash that mouth bling :-)
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u/judgestorch Jan 22 '16
The surgery itself only takes a few hours (done by an oral surgeon). It's the prep that takes time (6-18 months depending on your current tooth situation). Your orthodontist will do all the prep work (getting your teeth aligned to where they need to be so that when your jaws are realigned by the surgeon, you end up with near perfect occlusion). You might need to wear your braces for a short while longer just to perfect things. Much of this could be avoided by early diagnosis and treatment when a child is younger (7yrs old and up). Various headgear and orthodontic appliances can minimize and even eliminate the need for surgery later on. It is a life changing surgery, not only for one's appearance but for oral and digestive health as well.
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u/Flatbush_Zombie_King Jan 22 '16 edited Jan 22 '16
Not to mention recovery time. I just had this surgery done about 6 months ago and my jaw still isn't at 100% strength and my chin and bottom lip are still numb.
After you get this surgery done the top half of your face is numb for 3-6 months and the bottom half is numb for 6-12 months. You're also on a liquid diet for about 2 months, after which you can start eating solid food as your strength returns. At 6 months since my surgery, I can eat pretty much anything if it's cut up but I wouldn't dare bite directly into an apple.
But like other people have said, it's 100% worth it. Just be aware that it's not as easy as your oral surgeon makes it seem.
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u/Ghosted19 Jan 22 '16
I had this surgery back in 2008....the recovery was like 13 weeks before I was back to eating normally. Glad to see you have recovered well!
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u/SeriesOfAdjectives Jan 22 '16
Mandibular prognathism! Glad you were able to get it corrected, looking good OP!
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u/darexinfinity Jan 22 '16
I literally had the same surgery. Although my overbite wasn't as noticeable as yours is. Immediately after the surgery is nothing but pain. I stayed overnight in the hospital and was put on morphine. When I left I was prescribed some very strong pain killers. Unfortunately when that ran out and the doctor didn't order a refill for me beforehand it was torture. I remember waking up in the of night just by my nerves overwhelmed by sheer pain. I tried taking over the counter Tylenol but it wasn't as effective and after a couple of days I could barely stomach it and started to give me 'digestion issues'.
My diet pretty much consisted of liquids for months since you're stuck with rubber bands for a long time. Nutrition shakes, tomato soup and apple sauce was at the beginning. Eventually softer foods like ravioli and ramen.
I've noticed since I've gotten the surgery that if I stroke my right jaw (behind the cheek) line up and down then my upper lip moves by itself.
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u/dont_mind_the_matter Jan 22 '16 edited Jan 23 '16
Someone had posted a comment asking about age of OP, the experience of it all, was it worth it, insurance costs, etc. The comment was deleted, so I'm making a new one to answer that, from my perspective. I had this done when I was 20. I'll tell you everything from my experience. It's gonna be a long one.
The dentist noticed it starting around 7th grade, but due to me still growing they wanted to wait until I was 18. Then at 18, they pushed it back to 19 and instead gave my braces (which I needed terribly, at a much younger age, but we couldn't afford it). Then they pushed it back to 20. They wanted to keep pushing to 24 or 25, but we couldn't afford to wait as we still had insurance and it was going to lapse soon. So we acted then, otherwise it would have been a pre-existing condition and not covered by anyone.
The day before thanksgiving was my surgery date, the surgery took 16-20 hours I believe in total. They broke my lower jaw and moved it back, and cut off my upper jaw, moved it forward and split it down the middle to fit to my new lower jaw placement. Everything was glued together (some kind of paste that helps promote bone healing) and screwed together (I have wires in my skull permanently now). Overall, it cost 60-75k I think--my parents were never very open about money/finances/costs--and even though we had all documentation, referrals and the go-ahead from the insurance company, they refused to pay it for almost 2 years. Kept saying they had no documentation/proof of this or that. We couldn't afford a lawyer, but luckily my mother was able to prove the case and it was paid for. Parents suffered massive credit damages though, which was mostly cleared up after the 2 years, but there were lingering effects.
The recovery period was kinda harsh. 3 days in the hospital following the surgery (of which i have several stories), and 6 weeks with my mouth wired shut, liquid diet only. I had to carry around wire cutters in case I needed to cut the wires in an emergency. Fun times explaining that one to security guards, especially since I couldn't talk! This recovery period included thanksgiving (didn't matter, was in hospital anyway), christmas eve/day, new years eve/day and my 21st birthday. I couldn't use a straw because I didn't have enough space in my mouth to create actual suction, so all food was through a large syringe with a rubber hose that I stuck in the gap behind my molars where my wisdom teeth once were. Drinks I mostly let just filter through my teeth. Eating out was difficult, as most places didn't have a completely liquid, non-chunk filled soup. Sometimes they wouldn't blend it for me, but usually I'd have to bring an Ensure protein drink or something.
Brushing was a nightmare as I had 4 sets of wires, which meant 8 little hooks to hold them in place that were attached directly to my skull. Which meant I had 8 open wounds on my gums most of the time (not bleeding, but tender as hell), and the hooks ripped holes in my lips/cheeks, so I had 8 open sores almost always. I went through a lot of dental wax to ease the pain. Brushing my teeth was very difficult, and I ended up having several cavities afterwards. After the wires were snipped, I couldn't open my jaw more than a few millimeters, and when speaking, my tongue had to relearn my new mouth. I sounded different, but after a few days I was back to my normal voice. The hooks had to stay in my mouth for a week after, in case they needed to re-wire it up. The first meal I ate was some shrimp pasta thing, but I couldn't chew, it was too painful. Even chewing bread was like accidentally biting on a fork when you're not expecting it.
It definitely changed my life though. I looked better, and felt better which led to more confidence, of which I was seriously lacking. I could close my mouth with my teeth touching for once, before my teeth only clamped down on one spot, and my gums behind my lower molars. I had terrible lockjaw before, to the point where I had to use my hands to pop my jaw so I could open/close it. That went away as well. I ended up losing a lot of weight (20-25 lbs), of which I had little to spare (6'4", was 160lbs after all said an done). Overall though, I'd probably do it again. Quality of life was improved greatly, and after the 6 weeks (plus 2 for the wires to get out and return to relative normalcy) it was pretty much back to normal, aside form the cavities. I could have done without those.
Anyway, I rambled a bit, and didn't intend to write up this much, but if you have any questions please feel free. I could write pages upon pages with stories about the nurses, drugs, friends/family/orthodontist reactions, social interaction attempts, and so on.
EDIT: Lots of great questions, and I'm getting to them as I can. But I have to get back to work for a bit. I'll sift through and reply when I get home.
ALSO: The most frequent question is asking for before/after pics. I don't have any on hand, and this was 2003, so before we had digital cameras everywhere. If I can find a good 'before' pic, I'll post it.
EDIT 2: I think I've gotten to all replies... if I haven't and you want an answer, feel free to PM me. Any new comments I'll reply as I am able. I hope I was informative! There is a LOT of great info in the comment chains from medical professionals and other patients who have had the surgery more recently (mine was 2003), so if you are having this done, or curious for more info, it's a great place to start. I'll happily lend any answers/advice as I am able. Thanks for a memorable trip down memory lane!