About me

I’m Emma, i’m 21 years old, living in the UK, and have had a class ll malocclusion (a misalignment of teeth) which required jaw surgery following orthodontic treatment to fix.

I underwent double jaw surgery (mandibular advancement and maxillary impaction) and chin (genioplasty) on the 28th March 2013. In simple terms, my top jaw was moved upwards, my bottom jaw was moved forwards and I was given a chin.

I’ve decided to try out blogging so that my friends and family can check out my progress, and so that people undergoing the same or similar treatment have truthful opinions of the ups and downs from somebody who has experienced jaw surgery first hand! It’s also a good way for me to look back and remember this journey in years to come. I know speaking from own experience, as my surgery grew closer and I started to worry, I trailed other peoples blogs and websites for advice and helpful tips that will get me through, to tell me what would be happening to me, to tell me what to expect and most importantly, to tell me that I was going to be ok!

Surgery, in honesty, was nothing like I expected, and I can truthfully say that I wasn't prepared for it. Only 2-weeks post-op, the restricted movement of my mouth and lack of decent food is a challenge in itself, without the battle of brushing, sleeping and just daily life ontop of that. The fears and worries that I experience everyday is something that nobody can prepare you for, but there is comfort when you know there is a whole community of people who have undergone similar things - telling you that everything you're feeling and everything you're experiencing is normal. 

So here is my journey...

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting this blog. I am in braces preparing for jaw surgery. I am in a state of excitement and anxiety. I know my quality of life is going to go through the roof, so I am staying positive. Reading blogs about the surgery definitely helps to know what to expect and if what you are going through is "normal" for this type of surgery. After all, it is a bit scary knowing you are going to have to have your jaw sawed in half and the rest of the ordeal that goes with it. Your surgery looks great. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

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  2. Emma, thank you so much for posting. I'm also in braces and will have mandibular advancement surgery in the next 3-6 months. I'm much older (53) but this is my second time with braces and even the first time I was treated I was told I needed surgery but I was too afraid of the pain and the cost. My insurance has already approved so I'm moving forward now. I'm so glad you and others have posted such good and useful information. Yes, I'm scared but your story is truly inspiring and you're beautiful!

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  3. Hi,did you have to pay for your braces? I live in the UK and just wondering if the NHS can fund this treatment even over the age of 21. I have a very similar side profile to yours before your surgery and suffer from tmj and really want to change my quality of life by getting this surgery done. However at the moment, I have been told to just use a mouthguard. Did you request for surgery and braces?

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    1. Hi! Sorry to jump on this post! I am 19 (almost 20) and undergoing double jaw surgery in September. I have an Open Bite and TMJ. I currently have braces and have had them for a good two and a bit years. My whole process is funded by the NHS. Just speak to an orthodontist :)

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