Friday, April 30, 2010

Before/After



Here it is. The moment you've all been waiting for. The qualitative analysis of before/after photos. I have to say, looking at these I realize how lucky I am and how well things turned out. Everyday I'm in awe of my new biting capabilities and I'm glad my face didn't completely change because of it. I mean of course I look different but I'm still definitely me, only better!

10 comments:

kell said...

i was trying to decide which shot i like the best but i just can't baby, they're all awesome! i love that your smile is bigger, brighter and has has much "ding" as the chainsaw's ;) congrats love!!!

Anonymous said...

Your results are awesome and you look great. I would encourage you though, if you haven't already, to get a sleep study done. I am recommending you consider a sleep study, just to ensure that the surgery you had, addressed the size of your airway. I am not an oral surgeon or an orthodontist, so I may be off base, but I
have been learning a lot about sleep apnea (and I had braces and orthognathic surgery recently), and have learned that when orthognathic surgery is done for
reasons other than a sleep disorder, that sometimes the airway dimension can be diminished, and leave one at risk for sleep apnea. At a minimum, a sleep study may indicate, if your jaws could benefit from a bit more advancement (worst case), cpap treatment, medication, airway surgery (eg deviated septum, turbinates, adenoids, tonsils, soft palate are typical airway sites that create breathing obstruction), or an oral appliance at night. Your post op profile and bite photos made me wonder about the sleep apnea issue. You are young, and athletic, and you look ecstatic (with good reason) in your post op photos. You deserve a long, happy and healthy life, and the last thing you need, is sleep apnea. I apologize for getting on the sleep apnea soapbox, and have been going back and forth about leaving this comment on your blog (especially because I am not an ortho or max fax surgeon--and because I could be so overfocussed on sleep apnea, that I look for apnea in others, when it is fact not there). It's just that I have been reading your blog for over a year, and care about you having the best possible outcome, especially after all your effort. I also have felt guilty in other situations when I have noticed an area of concern, and then not spoken up, only learning later, that my cowardly stance adversely affected someone I cared about. Congratulations on finishing your treatment, and for serving as an inspiration in my own orthognathic surgery journal. Best, Alexandra

Anonymous said...

Hi it's Alex again:
I just shared my earlier comment with my partner, and he told me I should mind my own business, and preview my comments....because in the last line of my
earlier comment, I should have written "JOURNEY" and not "journal." So, I am feeling rather mortified at this point, and apologize if I have offended you (my email is not working properly, and that is why have left an anonymous message). Many blessings and happiness to you.
Alexandra

chris k said...

Alex,
Thank you for your concern. Very early in my process my ENT did inform me that I do have a deviated septum and enlarged turbinates that I will likely have surgery for at some point (maybe in a year or two.) I had a sleep study done at the same time which showed that I did not technically have sleep apnea (my results showed waking an average of 8 times per hour with the minimum to be diagnosed being 10 times/hour.) And I can empirically say that I have been getting MUCH better sleep since both surgeries (the SARPE seeming more of the reason though) with less snoring and feeling better in the mornings. So I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear but I will be in touch with my ENT to follow up and thank you again for your readership and concern.

Anne Ehlers said...

Wow, this is absolutely amazing. I can hardly wrap my brain around it. I'm so happy for you! Congratulations!

I had a dream about San Diego last night. Wish I could come visit.

Take care,
Anne

PS: My sleep study showed that I wake up 27 times an hour :) I now sleep with what I refer to as my iron lung.

stephanie said...

What fantastic results, surgery buddy! :) I, too, am amazed EVERY DAY at my biting abilities. This surgery was rough, but so worth it!

Congrats :)

ttrombecky said...

Yup...you look mahvelous dahlink!! What a journey you've been on, and I'm proud of you.

Rex N Effex said...

Hi,

I read your blog from time to time, but never leave a comment. I wanted to let you know that your blog helped me get through my own SARPE surgery, back in July 2008. Your journey has been truly amazing to witness. Thank you so very much for sharing and allowing us to be a part of it. Your after shots look amazing! I can't believe that I'm actually going to be getting my "after" shots in 10 days! It's gone by so fast, only 1 1/2 years and I'm actually done! One question (not sure if you're actually going to answer it), but did you get a traditional retainer or the clear ones? I was hoping to be able to get the clear ones, but my ortho advised against it stating that the clear ones (I think they are Essex Retainers) do not provide any palatal support... oh well. At least the braces are coming off, so that's half the battle. Besides, if I really want to down the road I can always switch to a clear retainer. I say this now, but not sure how true it is, but I want to be buried with my retainers in my mouth, given how much money I've spent on this whole ordeal!

Anyway... congrats on the end of your journey and thanks again for taking the time and energy to write your blog. It really did get me through some tough spots, especially those "this is never going to end" moments. It was great to know that I was not the only one going through this little adventure of getting braces when your adult. Good luck with your next adventure!

Kristy Eng said...

wow i do have to say what am improvement, they really did a GREAT job! U look fab!

Timothy said...

Hi Chris! What an improvement! I'm so happy for you, man. Five years ago, I, too was wearing braces. But seeing my before and after shots made me forget all the pain of wearing braces. I'm just glad that when we moved here in Florida, I've found the perfect Dentists St Petersburg clinic, which my girlfriend, Laika suggested. They have great facilities and the St Petersburg dentist who looks after my teeth is just amazing. Well, Thanks for sharing your photos. Very inspiring, man!