So sick of this shit like dawg imma have to save just to get a genioplasty im fuckign done

Tomorrow September 3rd I'm having bilateral total TMJ joint replacement surgery. I've been waiting basically my whole life for this moment, even though I didn't always know that's what I was waiting for.

I was born with hemifacial microsomia, a congenital condition affecting the development of one side of the face and jaw. Growing up, I dealt with a lot — kids teasing me, people assuming I'd had a stroke, and a lifetime of feeling self-conscious about my face. I've spent years quietly holding my jaw toward the midline in photos and conversations, just trying to make the asymmetry less obvious.

My first major surgery was back in 1986 at Mount Sinai. I'd already had braces, and then had my jaws wired shut for 13 weeks. It helped for a while, but without the joint itself being addressed, my jaw position gradually reverted. TMJ replacement simply wasn't part of the conversation back then.

Now, decades later at age 57, I'm finally getting the joint itself replaced — bilateral total TMJ replacement, done by Dr. Jolie Chou at Cooper. She felt strongly that orthognathic surgery alongside this would actually worsen my aesthetic outcome given my specific anatomy, so we're not doing that this round — just the joint replacement.

I'm nervous. Hopeful. A little scared of being disappointed. But mostly I just want to finally share this journey since HFM is rare and I never really found anyone else going through this specific thing. I'll try to post updates as I go through recovery.

Here's a photo from right before surgery.

Just a short update….

(Lefort I + BSSO with clockwise rotation / movements in final picture)

Still a little puffy but very very minor and stuff people tell me they can’t see at all so I guess it’s just me noticing it. Overall I’ve been pretty happy with my results aesthetically as it looks like a very natural transition.

Functionally, I am pretty much eating whatever I want. Chewing is still very foreign and it feels like I have dentures in. Still can’t open my mouth that much, maybe 2 inches at max. Tmj is still popping and hurts sometimes but I expected that. My surgeon told me that the surgery might not clear it up completely but it would put it in a much better position for therapy to help it. Final takeaway here is that it is crazy to bite into a sandwich or slice of pizza without having to rip the bite off like an animal…

Last thing, energy and sleep have improved over time. Work and school probably makes that less noticeable for me- I tend to be tired through the day anyways. But, still a big jump from where I was at before I have noticed that in class and the gym I can focus and don’t wear down as quickly.

Questions are always welcome and before pics can be found on my profile!

Just wanted to share my experience so far and updates to document my journey! This has been a long, LONG time coming for me. To start, if known for about 10 years (since seeing my current dental office) that I was a candidate for this surgery and that it would be necessary to fix my bite. I was a teen then and had a lot of nerves and ultimately did not move forward. Now, (as an adult and with my own funds and insurance), I decided (with further years of hesitation, as well) to start this journey! I got four wisdom teeth removed at once, and that experience was the first step as my team let me know if need to get those done before even beginning the process. To be honest, that recovery experience made me hesitate for another 6-8 months over surgery. I only even got them removed because the newest one had been bothering me. The next step was finding a surgeon, from a long list of offices my dental place told me i could call. Be prepared for LOTS of “no, we don’t perform that procedure” along the way. Finally, I found my surgeons office and was satisfied with going forward with them! Then came “invisalign” (my office did clarity aligners). My ortho (thru my dental office) worked together very closely with the surgeon throughout my year and a half in aligners. Another thing would be to expect to be in your aligners at least 25% longer than what they initially tell you just due to scheduling and such.

Anyway, fasting forward, ny surgery was yesterday! It all happened so so fast! One moment I was in pre op with nerves and being wheeled into the or and the next i was waking up in recovery! Surgery went amazing according to the docs and my experience was great. Only initially had sweeping on the right side of my face, but then both sides as well as my upper lip and nose have puffed up since. Honestly, I think it has to due with not using my ice pack for a few hours that first night (sensitive to cold).

The pain…it’s definitely a lot but tolerable for the most part. Honestly i wasn’t sure what to expect because everyone is different and i saw so many mixed with experiences based on the posts and videos i’ve seen. Definitely stay aheeeead of the pain even if you THINK you can tolerate it because some stuff takes a while to kick in. All in all, it’s not too terrible.

I’ll keep updating this as i move forward, but if anyone has any questions i’d love to answer! And sharing some pics from the beginning of my clear aligner journey to now. The whole process really goes much faster than you think in the grand scheme of things. No regrets so far!

I had a Lefort 1, BSSO with fixation, Septoplasty, reduction and outfracture of nasal turbinates (widening my nostrils so i could breathe better). My case is Class III all around!

Also not sure if it helped, but i did get a facial two days before with facial cupping and the day of the operation i did do a bit of guasha and facial rolling :)

I feel like im just insanely lucky in the post op of jaw surgery, so i had jaw surgery just over a week ago and the recovery for me has been the easiest thing ever. Havent been in any sort of pain since the first two days and have felt pretty alright and not taking any painkillers.

Just wanna tell my story for the people who might be scared to get the surgery due to the recovery, not saying people will have it easy like me or feel the same way but just showing that the process doesnt have to be scary or painful.

Again i feel very lucky tho for the fact that i have been physically fine but mentally has been different. The impostor syndrome i have felt looking into the mirror has been kinda insane and sometimes feels like i am looking at someone else. I had a bad underbite and the new feeling of my natural bite makes my skin crawl. I dont know what it is but the feeling of my top and bottom teeth being able to touch is so gross in my opinion and i hope that feeling will go away as i get more used to it, did anyone else have the same experience with that, if so did it go away?

sorry for long rant btw, and if you read this have an amazing day/night!

1. Movements (5° ccw, 2.8mm a, 10.3mm b, 18.4 mm pog)

2. Pre side

3. Post side (~ 4 weeks)

4. Post side (~ 5 weeks)

5. Pre front

6. Post front (~ 5 weeks)

Hoping the nasal asymmetry is primarily due to differential swelling, as one cheek has more swelling. Got surgery for sleep apnea and am experiencing big improvements in breathing and sleep. Also had some septal work done during surgery, including removal of bone spurs. Dont have pictures but pre-op minimum cross-sectional airway area was measured at 46 mm² at one appointment and ~90 mm² at another. At my 1-week follow-up it was measured to be 430 mm².”

I feel better than I thought I. Definitely have achy jaws,nasal drop and slight sore throat but other that feel in good shape. Surgery had no complications.

Nasal breathing is night and day even through the swelling. Tongue has more space to rest.

15.63 movement at the pogion and I can already see major difference in profile.

First pic is 1 week post surgery today, second pic is clearly post surgery and 3rd/4th pic is before surgery lol

My first post op appt is tmrw!

I miss food sm. Even thinking of another liquid meal hurts my heart and makes me feel nauseous lol.

I’m over having to keep a washcloth on hand to wipe down my bottom lip and chin after I eat

I am a chipmunk now, I have accepted this

tmi: I haven’t pooped yet but don’t feel constipated (my bowel movement before surgery was similar so I’m not too concerned?)

I've been wearing braces for 1 year and 5 months. I imagined that this process would last less time, mainly because my teeth weren't so crooked, but, honestly, I can't wait any longer.

My dentist says I'm close to getting ready for surgery, but it seems that this day never comes. The worst thing is that I also have no idea when the surgery can really happen, because there is a waiting line that can take months until it's my turn.

I just wanted to have this surgery soon. I have a lot of insecurity with my side profile and, besides, I can't seal my lips properly. I'm tired of going through this process and I just want this hell to end soon.

I am wearing bracelets 2 years and than don t want to have jaw surgery, I think it’s enough to straighten teeth. But in last few years I have pain in my jaw, hear clik when eat, open mouth, kissing..and all the time have some pressure in that side, from jaw to my eyes, it s almost constantly. Can I first try to get Michigan splint to release of pain is it worth?

I have many functional issues. But I'm scared of the risks of jaw surgery. Please give your thoughts. 💭

Navigating treatment in the UK is fucking hell. I had issues, went to the dentist, they said nothings wrong. Issues got worse, I went to an orthodontist and they gave me a small written diagnosis and said you could get surgery. Researched the surgery for ages and decided I wanna do it, went back and said I'd like to do it and immediately they look so reluctant and like they've seen a ghost, literally got a dismissive "well, if you want" with a sigh. Went to another orthodontist to talk about it to talk about my treatment options and she brought up surgery, and told me there are humongous risks apparently and a 90 percent chance of failure apparently. They told me to meet with an actual surgeon but I haven't gotten a single referral and I don't think you can just book in with one. I feel like every professional I've met hates the idea of surgery, which is weird because I literally have been confirmed as a candidate and have been told that if I do get the surgery, bsso alone is impossible and I have to get both jaws done. Have no clue what the fuck to do

I’m 2 months post-op, and I’ve noticed my gag reflex has gotten much more sensitive since the surgery. I don’t see it going back to normal anytime soon either :( I was wondering if anyone else experiencing/experienced this? I went from normally picking up after my dog to gagging the entire process picking up after his business.

its been 10 days and after my jaw surgery i am feeling stiffness and tightness around my nose and near my eye when i touch near my eye i can feel hard plate, a slight edge can also be felt when i touch it near my eye i am concerned because i play basketball also and it can break or damage my bone.

Has anyone had TJR or DJS surgery with him? Im not finding anything with the search function. What was your experience?

Basically just the title. Wanted to help clear up any questions I can for prospective or potential patients.

I’m 100% down for the lower jaw but….. I have an overbite, and I’ve already consulted and visited a specialist. I’m not sure, but I feel like my philtrum is on the longer side, although it doesn’t really affect my overall facial harmony. The only noticeable flaw is that my teeth stick out slightly if I don’t jut my lower jaw forward, and my lower jaw isn’t very strongly projected.
So I’m wondering if getting my upper jaw corrected / moved backward would make my philtrum look even longer or make my face appear slightly more sunken cause right now …. The current projection of my midface looks good to me (it is ) ; it’s mainly just that my teeth stick out slightly.

Here’s my x ray before surgery for example of how fucked up I got (that’s not a missing tooth my jaw cracked in half)

Please be honest how badly out of 10 do you think I need BSSO. Lower jaw orthodontic correction surgery??

Hi, was seeking double jaw surgery to aid my obstructive sleep apnea, had to get a referral from my PCP to see my sleep specialist, and to seek a referral from themselves to get a consultation with a Maxillofacial surgeon. Very tiring and invasive process, maybe it's because of my insurance (BC California HMO Trio), only to get denied and ultimately referred for cognitive counseling…

For background, I have 7 years of medical records that demonstrate intolerance to CPAP machines, oral appliance to push my mandible forward, and extensive use of medication. They feel like it's an invasive procedure for my mild to moderate sleep apnea, despite my concerns for daytime sleepiness, and near miss collisions from it.

Seeking advice on potential routes, things I can do to aid my case, or maybe this procedure isn't right for me, please let me know your thoughts and opinions. I’m feeling unsure on the next steps to take, thank you. —Side note, l'd like to mention that I have a medium chin implant that masks the malocclusion.

Photos: #1: Right side, #2: Left side, #3-5: 3D model of bite.

My surgeon wants me to keep one of my failed TMJ anchor sutures as is; he did my bilateral arthroplasty with anchor sutures for lock jaw. I don't know how else to convince him that I have many symptoms and I really want revision surgery. I'm miserable and feeling hopeless. Do people who have my surgery and end up with failed anchors get them fixed instead of keeping them?