What Would You Do?

So maybe this is a random place for me to be asking this, but I'm curious as to what people would do, and I want to hear from people who don't know me and so have less of an emotional factor (towards me) in their response.

I have always been really insecure about my profile. I had problems with a large overbite and an underdeveloped lower jaw when I was younger, and I went through years of headgear, braces, rubber bands, springs, etc etc to try to fix it. While my teeth now align properly, my lower jaw never... I guess grew fully. I'd always assumed that this is just how I look and there was nothing I can do.

My dad recently informed me that not only is my jaw still underdeveloped, but that some of my orthodontics treatment was a bit botched, and didn't help. (I initially started with a student orthodontist then switched to one who had been out of school for years, btw). My second orthodontist informed my dad of the situation and told him that if was a source of insecurity for me later in life, he might want to consider getting me plastic surgery to correct it.

So I'm at the point where my parents are presenting me with a choice: Get the surgery or accept that my jaw was slightly messed up.

I'm not saying that this poll will dictate my decision, but I am curious to know how people who don't know me as well view the situation.


THE QUESTION: If your looks were somehow changed via a botched orthodontics job (or any other cosmetic or medical procedure), would you get plastic surgery to correct it? (Assume it's a source of insecurity) less

It may also effect the way you chew your food, and over time, it could effect the alignment of your teeth and whole mouth and cause chronic pain, if not treated, so if it is affordable, I would think this is a medical necessity.

I would suggest an ora-facial surgeon at a University Medical Center. NOT a "Community Hospital" and NO MORE students! At a University Teaching Hospital, residents will do a lot of the work, but it is all reviewed and often the difficult surgical work done by a Board Certified Oro-Facial surgeon.

IMO, Community Hospitals don't have the staff or the experience to do things as important as facial surgery.

Good luck. I hope you get good results. If you get a good, board certified, well trained doctor with a LOT of experience (have him show you his book of patients, so you can see his work. Also, make sure he has done this procedure many many times.)

There is more to wanting this surgery than "vanity." Your facial structure is important to your health, so I would say, if you have the time for healing (and really, you don't NOT have the time, if you want results) and your parents can afford the procedure (it should be covered by insurance, but sometimes it isn't) then go for it.

May I ask? Have you been diagnosed with Pierre Robin Syndrome? What you describe is very close to this condition, and if it is considered "Medical" and not just "Cosmetic" your surgery will most likely be covered by insurance. See a good oro-facial surgeon at a Uni Teaching Hospital, and get a diagnosis and see what happens. less