The Worst Thing About All of This Is….
Lots of you readers who have jaw surgeries coming up like to ask me, “So, what was the hardest part of all? The surgery was really terrible, right?”
My answer? THE BRACES.
Poor Ugly Betty. So smart, but why the purple braces?
You’re largely not present for the surgery (ok, your body - and jaw - are there, but the part of you that feels pain, fear, and anxiety is in not), whereas the braces are a constant sensory and visual reminder OF THEMSELVES.
America Ferrera, lovely, not ugly, in real life MINUS BRACES!
Luckily, a year of two of braces never killed anybody, or even caused any irreparable character damage.
One thing, though, after your surgery is all over and done with, and you look normal / great, nobody feels bad for you anymore! People will see your braces and see only an adult with braces - not an adult who’s undergone major reconstructive jaw surgery, dealt with family and friends, and returned to a normal, working life.
And, in the end, that’s exactly what you are, so you can’t blame ‘em.
I have my second-to-last (I think) orthodontist appointment tomorrow, but even one more adjustment, and six more weeks of teeth-chunks, seems like too much.
Here’s to hoping for straighter teeth, quicker!
Hi Susan,
I am really surprised when I read your story regarding your jaw surgery.
Everyone seems to stay at the hospital for a few days following the surgery and the swellings are so bad - like really really bad (not to forget how painful and bloody the recovery process would be).. but yours were different. You didn’t swell that bad (in fact nothing bad at all- you were just like having one or two teeth extracted)- even after only 8 hours post-op and you were not wearing a bandage all over your face.
Was this a miracle happening to you or the surgeon’s expertise that really could make this happen?
I am thinking about having a jaw surgery to correct my underbite but the painful recovery process really holds me on. If your surgeon could create such a way-more-painless-and-less-swelling recovering process, I would like to have him to do the work on me.
Thanks for sharing.