The 1 Year Update

Has it really been a year?! It addles my brain to think back a year ago today. I was not the happiest of campers last November 25th. There was a lot of discomfort. Today, of course is the complete opposite. I’m proud to say, that out of this full year of recovery, the first day was the only bad day. Every day thereafter I could feel significant improvement. I adapted to the liquid/mushy diet, I gained all the weight I lost back, and every day I could feel more and more sensation come back in my face.

Looking back at how quickly I got back to my regular life is pretty fascinating. The surgeon broke and manipulated both my upper and lower jaw, yet within 5 months I could chew normally again! My hip healed from the bone graft pretty quickly too! I was completely mobile within a month. The body sure knows what it’s doing!

I still have all the plates and screws in my face. The surgeon said that unless they work loose somehow (which does happen apparently), they’ll be in for the rest of my life. I can feel the ones on either side of my nose; it’s kinda odd, but I’m used to it now.

The scar on my hip from the bone graft has also healed quite nicely. I’ve had no problems with it at all. It’s about 2 ½ inches long.

I have absolutely no regrets about the surgery; I’m extremely happy with the results. The whole recovery experience was a valuable one too. I learned a lot about myself; specifically, how to keep my attitude in check. Accepting that my body was in healing mode and doing everything I could, both mentally and physically, made a huge difference. Writing this blog has also been a great therapy tool. Seeing where I was, verses where I am now fills me with a massive sense of accomplishment. It was not an easy thing to go through! It’s also wonderful that people who are thinking about getting the surgery have messaged me here, or have come to me for advice. It feels good giving back!

This has been quite the year for me. There have been lots of changes; all of them good! First the surgery, then my big move away from home. I have a new gig in the Rockies that I’m quite enjoying. Life is better than ever! Looking back now I feel as though the whole recovery was just a minor inconvenience.



Someone suggested I should make a pros and cons list, so here it is:

Pros of My Jaw Surgery: -improved bite

-improved digestion

-improved speech (enunciation in particular)

-90% symmetrical smile

-confidence booster

Cons of My Jaw Surgery:

-not even a con, but I have SLIGHT numbness in my chin. I barely even notice it though

Once again I’d like to thank my family for making this happen, and the wonderful teams at Island Oral Facial & Implant Surgery and Bellamy Orthodontics for their support throughout the entire process.

Thank you all for following my recovery journey! If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message. Even though this will be my last post for at least another 4 years, I will be keeping an eye on here!

Finally, I’d like to share the poem I wrote several months ago. I feel as though it’s a fitting end here and sums up the whole experience pretty well. :)

Here’s a story about my jaw

The time when it had a big flaw

The lower was further out than it needed to be

The upper was aback and on a slant, you see





Then the oral surgeon came in

And said with a grin

“I can fix this, Jack, but it may numb your chin’

Weighing the odds, I said “alright”

In hopes of fixing my poor bite





When it came time to go under the knife

I was moderately afraid for my life

But before I could weep

I was put right asleep

Someone had turned out the lights





When I woke up, 6 hours had past

It felt like 6 minutes; I was aghast

There was (apparently) some stretching of the lips

And a bone graft from my hip

Thank goodness for that IV drip!





In the following days

I was eating many purees

A pile of mush on my plate

For 8 long weeks, that is what I ate

Then the surgeon finally said: “you can masticate!”





So now there’s a new smile for me

For all the world to see

And a jaw that does chewing right

Now that this story of malocclusion has its conclusion

I bid thee all a good bite