Surgery or live with it?

theg81der

Hi!

Question for you - if you had a facial defect that surgery would make you look normal would you do it? Lets say you had added risk with surgery would you?

mood

What is it and how obvious is it? It would be good to see a picture. Obviously not of yourself but if you do a google search you might find a similar 'facial defect' as you put it.

tan11ie

Depends how risky the op was!

ballsymchugh

there's a guy in dublin called eddie cotter, he's a specialist dentist that deals with cancer patients in reconstructing their faces using prostheses. some of his work is absolutely amazing, using special latex type material that can even go red when you pinch it, so surgery isn't always necessary if the risk is too much.

theg81der

Ok this is so embarrasing for me but here is an example that is very similar to me. I was persuing the option of the other full surgery but I am to much of a surgery risk, I would have to under go the op under local and sedation - which is fine as far as I`m concerned.

Thanks ballsymchugh for the recommend its so hard to get recommends and then your going in blind.

ballsymchugh

ah, take this to dental issues, it's orthodontist/oral surgeon speciality.
have seen the job done by a surgeon in cork. i'm afraid if you've left it till after your growth spurt then surgery is really your only option to correct it, but it's a pretty common procedure for some surgeons.

theg81der

ballsymchugh wrote: »

ah, take this to dental issues, it's orthodontist/oral surgeon speciality.
have seen the job done by a surgeon in cork. i'm afraid if you've left it till after your growth spurt then surgery is really your only option to correct it, but it's a pretty common procedure for some surgeons.

No I could get a chin implant thats my only option so not a dental issue. I want other girls opinion on whether they would get it fixed.

ballsymchugh

theg81der wrote: »

No I could get a chin implant thats my only option so not a dental issue. I want other girls opinion on whether they would get it fixed.

which photo are you more like? the left or the right?
either way, if you get a chin implant, it would be better to have it done by an oral surgeon, which is a dental speciality.
a maxillo facial surgeon is even more qualified for these things.

theg81der

ballsymchugh wrote: »

which photo are you more like? the left or the right?
either way, if you get a chin implant, it would be better to have it done by an oral surgeon, which is a dental speciality.
a maxillo facial surgeon is even more qualified for these things.

The left the right one is the after for that girl. I don`t want dental advice and I know its a maxillo facial surgeon I need. I literally just want to know appearance-wise would other girls do it and risk it or deal with it as is.

pow wow

Based on those two pictures I probably wouldn't, but then it's not about me and I know when you feel yourself something looks 'wrong' all the reassurance in the world doesn't help.

What are the major risks that would be associated with getting it corrected if you don't mind me asking? If it were death or major disfigurement that might sway the responses!

theg81der

pow wow wrote: »

Based on those two pictures I probably wouldn't, but then it's not about me and I know when you feel yourself something looks 'wrong' all the reassurance in the world doesn't help.

What are the major risks that would be associated with getting it corrected if you don't mind me asking? If it were death or major disfigurement that might sway the responses!

My health isn`t fabulous thats why they wouldn`t do full op. I initially had my wisdom tooth out under general and basically they couldn`t get me breathing among other issues. I`m still having problems from surgery a year ago. And I`m not going to be doing it now its a if I get my health on track thing.

It really bothers me, I feel deformed and its getting worse as I get older. I just don`t want to waste what time I have hating my appearance.

honerbright

theg81der wrote: »

. I literally just want to know appearance-wise would other girls do it and risk it or deal with it as is.

I have something similar also to the picture you posted above.
Would you get it 'fixed' purely for cosmetic reasons or does the way you look cause you problems and make you feel uncomfortable/abnormal/down and get in the way of your own happiness?
Personally, I don't think it makes you look abnormal (I certainly don't think I do), as you said in your first post but if it is causing you to feel down on yourself, then that would be a reason to consider it, but is up to you and it's very personal choice and you need to think about it yourself and if it would make you happier/change your way of life and be worth the risk.

spinandscribble

Personally, I'm of the persuasion if something bothers you and you can fix it, then you might as well as long as financially you can afford it and the risk to your health isn't high. If you were to also post and say your boobs/cheeks/nose need work too then I'd vote against it.

moonflower

Going by the girl in the picture you posted I wouldn't bother tbh. Wearing your hair long and a little contouring with makeup would probably help if you feel uncomfortable and don't want to go under the knife.

I don't think I'd ever like to get cosmetic surgery, imo people's 'flaws' are what make them unique. If everyone looked 'perfect' it'd be fairly boring.

ballsymchugh

theg81der wrote: »

The left the right one is the after for that girl. I don`t want dental advice and I know its a maxillo facial surgeon I need. I literally just want to know appearance-wise would other girls do it and risk it or deal with it as is.

sorry, i was just clarifying, the recommendation for the prosthodontist wouldn't be much use to you there after all, while the oral surgeon would.

Ok, I don't want to make you feel like I'm dismissing your issue with your appearance; I understand that it must be something that really bothers you and I don't want to belittle that.

But...

I wouldn't call that a "defect". I think you see it as worse than it is. To be honest it took me quite a while to notice the difference in the pics in your attachment, and then to figure out which one you thought had something "wrong" with it.

If you have a problem affecting your life and you think you can fix it, then fix it. There's no need to go around harbouring bad feelings about how you look. But personally I wouldn't see it as something worthy of surgery for myself.

Novella

I had an accident when I was child in which I broke my jaw, my nose and knocked out all of my top, front teeth. Due to this, my second set of top teeth grew horrifically and I'm not exaggerating at all - they were awful. Also, I was left with a misaligned jaw.

I did have years of dental treatment and now, thankfully, I have beautiful, straight teeth. However, although I was offered surgery to correct my jaw, I refused.

From the moment the surgery was first suggested, I was adamant it wasn't something I wanted. I'm fine with the way I look. I don't think I'm the prettiest girl out there, I have days where I look in the mirror and wish I was someone else, but overall, I'm happy and content with how I look.

I think that's probably what you should base your decision on. Are you comfortable in your own skin at the moment? Do you constantly dwell on your appearance? Are the risks of the operation worth it to you? What difference would the surgery make to your life? Is it something you'd wanna do for you, 'cause imo, doing it because you worry about what other people think etc., isn't right.

cjmcork

This is the surgeon in Cork that you'd most likely need to see

ballsymchugh

cjmcork wrote: »

This is the surgeon in Cork that you'd most likely need to see

i've seen him do his magic, and he's pretty good. mark diamond in belfast also makes oral surgery look pretty easy.

theg81der

Well the worst of it is that I carry a huge amount of weight around my neck as a result and even when I was a size 10 it was still terrible so I just think how much weight would I have to lose before it goes away. And I have a really gummy smile aswell.
I look at my wedding pictures and I just feel like balling crying, I had explained to the photographer that I hated photos and not to expect me to smile and not to take me from the side but he didn`t listen.
I have had to make a concious effort lately to try to get into pictures with family just because there are so few pictures of me.
I end out crying when I go shopping no matter what size I am because the all around mirrors show it so bad and I end out saying whats the point and putting clothes back.
I feel terrible for being so vain I know theres people with serious facial deformities but I just wish I looked normal.

Larianne

If its making you that miserable and you spend a lot of time thinking about it, I'd look into it.

ballsymchugh

theg81der wrote: »

Well the worst of it is that I carry a huge amount of weight around my neck as a result and even when I was a size 10 it was still terrible so I just think how much weight would I have to lose before it goes away. And I have a really gummy smile aswell.
I look at my wedding pictures and I just feel like balling crying, I had explained to the photographer that I hated photos and not to expect me to smile and not to take me from the side but he didn`t listen.
I have had to make a concious effort lately to try to get into pictures with family just because there are so few pictures of me.
I end out crying when I go shopping no matter what size I am because the all around mirrors show it so bad and I end out saying whats the point and putting clothes back.
I feel terrible for being so vain I know theres people with serious facial deformities but I just wish I looked normal.

i wouldn't think it's being too vain. you'd be surprised the amount of people that get work like that done and the effect even a small change in their facial profile will make to their lives.

theg81der

ballsymchugh wrote: »

i wouldn't think it's being too vain. you'd be surprised the amount of people that get work like that done and the effect even a small change in their facial profile will make to their lives.

Thanks for that, other people always say your fine as you are but its not there face.

ballsymchugh

theg81der wrote: »

Thanks for that, other people always say your fine as you are but its not there face.

have you considered a collagen filler first, to give you a really good idea on it? i've seen people getting their cheekbones enhanced with it, and it goes after a few months.

theg81der

ballsymchugh wrote: »

have you considered a collagen filler first, to give you a really good idea on it? i've seen people getting their cheekbones enhanced with it, and it goes after a few months.

Kinda freaked out by it where does it go? what if I react to it or ..... I don`t know it just sound so scary to me. I was planning on seeing if theres a way of seeing if you react to silicon before I get it in, like allergy testing or something.

mojesius

Hi OP. Just giving you a personal account here.

When I was in my teens, my dentist referred me to a maxillofacial clinic (St. James) because I had an underbite, which sounds opposite to your problem pretty much!! My teeth were pretty bad too so I had extensive orthodontal treatment for years. I got it all paid for by the EHB (now HSE) because it would have had a detrimental effect on my oral health when I was older. Nonetheless, I'd have gone private if I had to.

However, the decision was mine at the end of the day and I was constantly reminded of this. I was taunted for years because of my underbite when I was a child and was extremely self-concsious about it so was always adamant that I was getting the surgery.

I finally got it done when I was 21 (waiting lists!) and I have not regretted it. The difference it has made to my confidence and my outlook is paramount, so if your facial appearance is having an effect on you in this way, look into possible treatments.

However, I have to warn you that facial surgery is tough, even if your procedure may not be as extensive as mine was. I was on a liquid diet for three months, I had a bone graft taken from my hip, my upper jaw was broken and the bruising and swelling in my face took the guts of a year to go away completely. The healing period will be rough on you and you'll probably be shocked when you see yourself all swollen and black after the procedure.

But day by day, you'll slowly see the changes in the shape of your face. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do!

ballsymchugh

theg81der wrote: »

Kinda freaked out by it where does it go? what if I react to it or ..... I don`t know it just sound so scary to me. I was planning on seeing if theres a way of seeing if you react to silicon before I get it in, like allergy testing or something.

most fillers nowadays are made up of the exact same stuff your body is. it's just like bulking up a space with biological stuff. your body is constantly rebuilding and all that jazz, and this stuff just gets caught up in that and breaks down.
ok i'm putting it very simply, but that's basically how it goes.

shinikins

Gosh, Novella, you could be writing about my childhood! I was offered maxillofacial surgery to correct an overbite in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, and seriously looked into it. For me the con's outweighed the pro's, and mojesius has pretty much said everything there is to say on the operation-its a serious operation. I couldn't justify going through with it as I really don't have a problem with the way my profile looks, and I think the Professor in the Dental Hospital was using me as a bit of a guinea pig(I'm told the students still study my files :eek:) so it was a no for me.


Listen, at the end of the day its your decision, and if its playing on your mind as much as you say it is then I think you should look into doing something, whether that be cosmetic or maxillo facial surgery. God knows I spent years dreading meeting new people because of how self concious I was about my appearance. It had a terrible effect on my confidence so I can kind of relate to how you are feeling. It can't hurt to find out more!

bluecatmorgana

If I was in good health and it was really getting me down then yes I would do it.

Pythia

I would definitely get it done. I sometimes notice this look in people and think it really does them a dis-service. You should do whatever you can to make yourself happy.