First hair appointment post-op

So today was a pretty exciting day for me, my first hair appointment post-op! Let me tell you, I have dreamed of this day for years!
Everytime I went to the hairdressers with my underbite I would constantly be on edge, hating having my hair tied back. Having my hair up exposed my long face to everyone and it was my idea of a nightmare, for that reason I dreaded hairdresser visits.
Looking back on it now it really was so sad that I felt that way. My experience in the hairdressers  today was so relaxing and happy that it made me realise just how bad my anxiety during the appointments was. For the first time in years I wasnt sick with nerves watching the hairdresser cut my hair in case he went too short and my underbite would be more prominent.
Before the operation I relied so heavily on my hair to frame my face and make my elongated face less noticeable.
This surgery is truly life changing. My aunt told me today she noticed I was considerably happier, and I am!

In other news, a few days ago I managed a t
hree course meal in a restaurant when we went out to celebrate Mum's birthday, another pretty size-able milestone! :) I had soup, fish and a chocolate fondant. Was quite proud of myself!

I'm going to my orthodontist on Wednesday and then to my surgeon on Thursday so I will update with news then!
Also going to a music festival next weekend which I'm quite excited about! Things are looking up :)

Before and Afters

The side profile to me is the greatest difference. I can't get over the difference between the space between my nose and mouth! That after picture was taken last week so I'm a little less swollen than that now :)

1 month post op! My First Time "Socializing" :)

So sorry about the delay in posting lately. We have a heatwave over here which for Ireland is like having all your Christmases come at once, so I haven't been online!

So much has happened since my last post.

I decided to go to my cousin's 1950's themed 21st on Saturday and I'm so happy that I did. I was a little nervous about people's reactions plus the fact that I'm still quite swollen but I felt it would be good for me to get out there and start living! That's me in the red.
People were really nice about it and said I looked great! I obviously couldnt eat any of the party food but I threw some of the cake into my blender along with some ice cream and it was delish :)

That was a very important milestone for me and I think it's so important to just get out there as soon as possible and let people see the "new you".

Today is June 8th so it's been a month and 4 days since my surgery and I've never felt better. I'm now eating soft foods. No more mush! There are no words to describe my happiness!
I take out my elastics when I eat now which is much easier. Time is going so quickly! If I'm being honest I can manage most foods, I cant quite chew but I can move my teeth up and down.

I had an appointment with my surgeon this week and he said I looked great. I also went to my orthodontist who couldnt get over my recovery. He said in two weeks time he will remove my surgical wires and begin work on my teeth, yay!
I'm still swollen but nothing compared with what I was like! I can go out in public without feeling as self-conscious about the swelling now.

As far as numbness goes I'm only numb on the left side of my chin and bottom lip and the right side of the roof of my mouth, so strange! Everywhere else is completely back to normal thankfully!

16 Days Post-Op

It's been 2 weeks and 2 days since the operation. The second week has gone a bit slower if I'm being honest. Food has a big part to play in the time dragging! But you really do realise how much unnecessary food you reach for during the day when you're not able to eat it! I still find myself reaching for cereal at night or craving a slice of toast.

I've lost a total of a stone in this process but I'm maintaining my weight now. I still allow myself treats such as custard and milkshakes. My mother made a coffee cake the other day and everyone in my family were making no secret of the fact that it was delicious. I got a slice, threw it in my blender along with some Ben n' Jerry's and milk and whizzed it together. It was gorgeous :)

Desserts are quite important to keep your weight up but I wouldn't recommend too much sugar as it wouldn't be the best for healing. Also because you're not fully able to brush your teeth yet you dont want them beginning to rot!

Took this picture after a long day travelling to the hospital and back. Your energy levels can get quite low at times which I'm still trying to get used to!

In terms of pain there is none. The only discomfort I'm feeling is pressure in my teeth due to the tight elastics, but I only feel this at night and it's quite bearable. My bottom teeth also feel quite sensitive. I stopped taking my painkillers 2 days ago which I'm delighted about because I really dont like them.

The swelling has gone down quite a bit since last week although it tends to flare up when I do too much talking and especially laughing! Mum doesn't want my friends to come over anymore as they're making me laugh too much! Ice packs are good for when your face swells.

I went to my surgeon today for my second visit post-op. I was hoping he would put looser elastics on but instead he put even tighter ones and doesn't need to see me until the 4th of June. Am quite disappointed as it's my cousins 21st next week and I was hoping to have looser elastics by then. 

Have to keep reminding myself to be patient. There's no point in trying to rush healing!

He said my mouth was nice and clean. I rinse my mouth with saline solution after every meal. It's very easy to be lazy with this part but its so important to prevent unnecessary infection of the stitches.

I also use a baby toothbrush which my surgeon gave to me to brush around the outside of my teeth.  

He told me to start applying Bio Oil to my face to help bring down the soft tissues that were brought up my face during the surgery which I'm going to start tonight. 

My First Attempt at a Smile

God I dont even remember the last time I smiled at a camera. This feels so strange! I'm gonna have to start genuinely practicing. My lips are still kind of numb and my elastics are quite tight so it's very difficult to smile but here's my first attempt. Not gonna lie, it feels great :)

First Visit to Orthodontist and Surgeon Post-Op.

Today I went to see both my orthodontist and surgeon. When I arrived at my ortho the receptionist asked me had I the operation done 2 or 3 weeks ago! They couldnt get over how good I looked 9 days post-op. My ortho was delighted with my results. He said they were even better than he ever thought they were gonna be. He deals with lots of cases like mine so is able to see through the swelling. He said my results are going to be fantastic and that I'm gonna have to be "locked up" :P
He didnt do anything he just wanted to have a quick look for himself. I have to go back in 2 weeks.

My surgeon was very happy with my healing. He said my stitches were nice and clean which I was relieved about as the one above my top lip was hurting me. He said that was very normal and that most people experience pain with that particular one as it can be quite tight. I was very lucky I had my appointments today as when I was brushing my teeth this morning my elastic band snapped.
I got a new set of tighter elastics put onto my braces which I was confused about as I thought they got looser with every visit. These ones are very tight, my teeth feel like they're being crushed against each other. I was told to make an appointment for next Thursday. Getting the elastics on hurt quite a bit as he had to stretch open my mouth which cause my tender stitch to stretch even more :(

I then went to visit my cousins on the way home and they couldnt get over my results. Getting such positive feedback really is so rewarding and makes the recovery feel so much more worth it. Having said that the recovery really is much easier now that I've gotten through the first week. I have a lot more energy and am not in as much pain.

Today was also the first time I tied my hair up for a full day outside in over 7 years. Words cant express how great it felt, even with a swollen hamster face :D

Preperation for Before and After Surgery

There are many things you're gonna want to stock up on before undergoing jaw surgery. It's vital to be as organised as you can beforehand so that you can sit back and recover to the best of your ability.

• Arnica - In the weeks leading up to the surgery I began taking Arnica pills to help with the potential bruising and swelling. It is a natural plant so there's nothing to worry about. These I can vouch for as the only bruising that appeared on my face was a slight one under my eye which was gone in a day. Even though my swelling was pretty bad, it has definitely been subsiding since day 6.
• The second my bandages came off I began using Arnica cream on my face which I applied twice a day. 

• Manuka Honey - After the surgery your throat is going to be tender because of the tube they insert down it to aid breathing. As soon as your given a cup of tea after the procedure, spoon some of this into it. It soothes and promotes healing. I recommend getting Manuka 50+ even though it is quite expensive.
• One of my stitches was hurting me so I applied some manuka onto it. It worked wonders! 

• Lip Balm - Can't stress it's importance enough. I forgot to apply it religiously in the weeks leading up to the surgery and my lips were so swollen and dry afterwards. We found an excellent lip repair cream called La Roche-Posay Ceralip in a pharmacy. Its especially for lips that have undergone 'trauma' and I found it extremely effective. 

• Ice Packs - My hospital were pretty terrible for ensuring I always had an ice pack. Even if you feel you're annoying the nurses keep asking for them, the more you ice after the surgery, they less severe you'll swell.

• Cotton Buds - I found to be extremely effective for cleaning out the stitches in my mouth. Dip them into warm salt water and gently clean in and around the stitches. 

• iPod - Might be obvious for some but an iPod filled with relaxing soothing music was vital to calm me in the hospital and ensure I got a few hours sleep. I recommend composers like Hans Zimmer and Yan Tiersen.

• Books/Kindle - I thought that I would be too exhausted and weak to read much in the hospital but I was actually very alert and was able to read quite a bit. Make sure you have a light-hearted, easy read picked out for your hospital stay. I put Game of Thrones aside as it was much too heavy for it. Instead I downloaded a humorous book that was able to give me a few laughs.

• Showering - I read somewhere that you should avoid showering as the pressure from the water can hurt the healing bones. I had to gently wash my hair when I got home from the hospital though as I couldnt relax with 'hospital grime' all over me. I waited 7 days until I washed my hair again though to give my bones the best chance of healing. I know it sounds disgusting but just keep your hair tied up and take a bath every evening. It's actually good for your hair to get a chance to produce natural oils :)