Hello everyone still reading this.
I am genuinely surprised that people are still reading my blog and emailing me asking me about my surgery. I haven't been checking the chat box email and I was shocked by the number of questions. Apologies to this I didn't get to respond over the years.
I thought I should do a final update now - after 7 years my recovery should be "completed". So I'm here to do a final wrap up / Q&A based on the questions I have been getting
Q: Do I still feel numb on my left profile?
A: Tongue and Chin.
Unfortunately my damaged nerves didn't recover fully post-op. While I have already regained all sensitivity around my face, only a small portion bottom left chin is still around 10%(?) numb? I can still feel it if I touch it or scratch it just not as satisfying if that side of my chin is itch as I'll never be able to get rid of it. Another thing is I can't feel light touch around that area (e.g. if I eat sloppily and soup dripped down my left chin / rice landed on that area, I cant feel those) T.T
In exchange for my normal bite now I have to sometimes embarrass myself in public when I eat or be extremely cautious when I am eating (must constantly wipe my mouth) haha!! But worth it!
My left tongue (near the left, on the side, is about 2% numb?). It doesnt really bother me now I've learnt to keep my tongue "properly" so I don't bite on it.
Q: How did I choose my surgeon / hospital?
A: I didn't. I was so desperate back then to get the surgery I told my orthodontist to refer me to a public hospital. He basically has a list of surgeons that he can refer you to, both public and private hospitals. I would say just go for the consultation with the surgeon first and see if you can vibe with him or trust him. Do some research online and maybe you'll bump into similar blogs like mine and see their work and honest review. You can also ask both your orthodontist to show you before and after surgery pix from the surgeon.
Q: How did I manage to claim my surgery expenses with insurance?
A: No idea how it worked but I do know that quite upfront insurance agencies will deny your claims cos they consider this as cosmetic surgery. However, I did speak to my surgeon and I told him I wna claim insurance. Not sure if it was the way he wrote it or what (tbh idk what he wrote) but I only know he categorized my jaw as "deformed" and he said there is no guarantee but I can try and it got approved! No questions asked.
Just a tip(?), I'm not sure if this is the reason for the way he wrote it but during the consultation I did share with him I couldn't bite or chew properly because of my jaw. I think you will have to geng a little bit if you are perfectly fine with eating and say you can't bite well for them to write it for you. Can't expect a doctor to "lie" for you also haha. Don't come at me if it doesn't work!!
Q: Did I regret this surgery?
A: No!! But if I can turn back the time, I would have asked the surgeon to also shave off my jaw bones so I can have v shaped face hahaahahaa!!! Please do it since it is already cut opened!
Also, I wouldn't have pestered my orthodontist to remove my braces asap cos my teeth did shift which caused my jaw to shift a little since I wasn't fully healed. Just drag your time in between appts so you can keep your braces in longer. This is soooo important. T_T I even considered doing braces again but I couldn't now cos there are screws at the top and bottom of my jaw so the orthodontist said it prolly isn't gna be as ideal. I think from start to finish the day I put on my braces, till surgery done plus remove braces was about 1.5 years? or lesser? I can't exactly rmb. Usually people put on braces for 2 years first then go for surgery then remove their braces after 6 months - 1 year. But I just couldn't stand my brace face.
I don't know what else to update anymore but y'all can leave me a message at the side if you have anymore questions!!
Hope this blog helps and all the best if you are about to go for your surgery!! It will be over before you know it hehe!!
Adios!