LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

hi, ive had braces for a good couple of years and that had fixed my teeth and my bite functions fine.. i've been told my bite and teeth function fine by a consultant...

heres the problem... braces kind of changed my face shape and i dont like it... i have problems with my jaws now.. tmj (jaws clicking, face muscles hurt etc), i have sleep apnoea. i have trouble breathing sometimes when i sleep, and i get lots of headaches.. ive been told i have myofacial pain n i have back pain, and neck pain

so i want cosmetic surgery but dont know what to go for... what i think is i have weak lower jaw, jutting chin (chin too far forward), the upper jaw grew too much, receding lower jaw, disproportional lower face... ive gone to blogs and been told a genio is all i would need tog et the result i want, but im not sure if thats enough i want to go all the way... so should i look into extensive jaw surgery upper/lower/both , rhinoplasty, genioplasty.. .. i want wider upper jaw for higher cheekbones , and i show teeth more when smiling, more balanced profile, and hump on nose to be removed.. plz help me out with this

http://oi43.tinypic.com/2b14t1.jpg

this sounds very much like some kind of orthognathic work by an oro-maxillo-facial surgeon (OMFS) may help you with both the cosmetic and the functional issues you are having. unfortunately, i do not perform that kind of procedure so you need to find a good OMFS to explore the possibility of those options.

which hospital would/should you choose?
one hospital has 3 surgeons in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
another hospital has 8 surgeons in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

what does that say about them??? also one surgeon works in both hospitals.. i want an expierinced surgeon obviously, which hospital is likely to have that??? and which hospital is likely to be better equipped????

those are questions i really cannot answer. i think you should not worry about the hospital but the surgeon. find the surgeon with the best reputation and word of mouth.
best,
s.

well one of surgeon works in both hospitals, so he must be good.. theyre both private hospitals btw....

which one is more likely to have better aftercare?? the one with 8 surgeons or 4?? and do i tell my surgeon everything i think thats wrong with my jaw etc...

im confused about.. this pic do i ahve oversized lower jaw or small mandible?? (small lower jaw)??

http://oi39.tinypic.com/dw9kjs.jpg

again, it should not be the group that matters but the individual surgeon who is operating on you that does.

dr. lam wrote:again, it should not be the group that matters but the individual surgeon who is operating on you that does.

ok im waiting for referral now.. but i have another question

ok well the left side of my nose feels fine, the inside muscle .. but when i touch the right side of my nose.. (inside nasal - sorry to be blunt).. i feel as though its broken , its angular... i.e. im comparing to a lets jsut say pen, well say you have a pen thats normal striahgt.. bu then theres another pen thats broken. but the pen is still working.. thats how my right nose and left nose is?? is my nose broken and can it be straightened??

i can't tell without evaluating you but if it is not causing a functional problem or a cosmetic problem, i do not see a reason why it should matter or merit fixing.

i've seen a pshychistrist and im depressed... a lot... would a surgeon operate on me, ????

i think only when your depression begins to clear and you are of a clear mind that it would be safer to operate on you but that subtlety must be established by talking with your psychiatrist and your potential surgeon.

dr. lam wrote:i think only when your depression begins to clear and you are of a clear mind that it would be safer to operate on you but that subtlety must be established by talking with your psychiatrist and your potential surgeon.

hi

if a patient is depressed and referred to see a maxillofacial surgeon, can they still say if they are a good candidate for jaw surgery?

before they would have surgery, they would be wearing braces, and being treated for their depression

this is a really tough question to answer without seeing and evaluating you in person. there are levels of depression and reasons for depression. if someone truly has body dysmorphic disorder (read Katharine A. Phillips' book The Broken Mirror) then it may be unwise to operate on him or her until the problem is at least on the mend. if someone is depressed and they are using plastic surgery to fix it, it may be a bad idea especially if someone goes into debt to pay for it. it only can make matters worse. i like what my mentor said, "Happiness comes from within." In other words, no degree of plastic surgery can make someone happy. Although it can help someone feel better about themselves and have more confidence it cannot substitute for an unhappiness that is deep-seated or has other causative factors. Please collaborate with your psychiatrist to help guide you and your potential surgeon on what would be the best course of action and when to engage it.
best,
s.

if u push ur lower jaw forward for xrays, and get an underbite/overbite... are u a good candidate for jaw surgery.. or shouldn't u be pushing ur lower jaw forward anyway

that is a question that must be asked to a surgeon who does that kind of surgery. again, i do not.

my last question before i get referred.. when u go 4 a dental xray and bite down on that thingy should u bite down on ur back teeth or just bite down anyhow