No More Braces! I'm all done, finally.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Surgeon's pictures pre/post-op
Radiographs
Wow, it has been a LONG time since i've updated this page. Thought some people might be interested in radiographs of before and after.
Here are the before radiographs:

About 5 months after surgery. The bone has already filled in quite a bit.

Below are the radiographs taken the day after surgery. My mandible was advanced 7mm and then stabilized with titanium plates and screws. My chin was also advanced and stabilized with a titanium plate and screws as well. Some titanium "ties" were also placed for stabilization during the surgery. These will remain in my jaw forever unless any infection occurs.

About 5 months after surgery. The bone has already filled in quite a bit.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Then and now
Saturday, September 22, 2007
One week after surgery


Sunday, September 16, 2007
Day 3

So I have been told that the third day is the worst, and I hope that is the truth. I don't think the skin on my face could stretch any more. Here is an attempt at a smile. From the side you can see how swollen my neck is.

Here are some beautiful flowers my dad brought me all the way from Ecuador. Thanks daddy. Nick is enjoying taking pictures of them, as I am not as willing a subject.

Friday, September 14, 2007
home from the hospital
Doc says tomorrow should be a little more swollen, then start to go down about day 3 or 4. Can't wait.
Came home from the hospital today. Feeling “better”. Last night was awful, a mix of sleeping and waking up from the pain. My pain management has been better today though and I am able to get up and walk around. Having finishing finals the morning before the surgery (finished at 9, surgery at noon) I was very cooperative with the deep breathing exercises, rolling my ankles and walking around- since both my finals (pathology & microbiology) dealt a lot with blood clotting, bacterial infections etc. I’m oober paranoid.
Nick has been a great. He blends my food, wipes my mouth and keeps me “laughing”, more like a gurgling sound at this point. I have rubber bands on my teeth now (and they will remain there for ~8 weeks so that my jaw doesn’t relapse), but I can mumble fairly audibly and Nick is very patient. He is also doing a great job as my personal photographer, so that I have lots of pictures to post on this blog.
No feeling in my chin yet, but my lower lip hurts so I'm thinking that's a good sign.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
In the hospital
(nick writing) Kari is doing well. As I am writing this she is sleeping in her hospital room. She asked that I take a few pictures so that she, and you, could see the/her progress.
(back to Kari) this is how I eat now (and for the next 6-8 weeks). Lots of fun since I can't feel my bottom lip very well, it all runs down my face (very
My new favorite phrase:
"how many millileters would you like for lunch?"
Friday, September 7, 2007
Coming up



After sliding the mandible forward, a plate and screws are used to hold everything in place while the bone re-grows to fill in the empty space. The plate and screws are left in place - and no, it won't set off the metal detectors at the airport (I asked).
The second half
The first half

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