maxillofacial surgery went wrong now they say I need to wear headgear?

[upton]

I had maxillofacial surgery on dec 8th. They moved my bottom jaw forward quite a bit and straightened it out and also brought forward my top jaw. I had quite a few problems the first week with diet and a possible allergic reaction to the medication. But thats all worked itself out now. Also during the surgery on the left bottom side of my jaw they managed to leave behind a small metal bracket in one of the incisions that will have to be removed later on. I have not been having a good recovery so far, my weight and diet is now fixed, im gaining the weight back. I lost about 30 pounds.
Now I find out the left side of my bottom jaw is off by Millimeters its moved back and needs to be brought forward. They had two choices one is a revision surgery on my bottom jaw or to wear a headbrace and hope they can fix it orthodonticly. They decided to go with the headbrace and try and bring it forward, there words were "will give it a shot..."
My question here is I looked into headbraces and it seems most people have to wear them for 6-18 months but i was told since my jaw is all ready cut and not yet healed seeing as its only been 4 weeks since my surgery that this time should be alot faster. So im wondering has anyone heard of this before or know a time line? I cant find any information on this ever happening before to anyone online. I'm basically wondering what are the steps here and is it better to just tell them I want revision surgery.... Thanks for the help, Im really regretting ever doing this in the first place.

If it helps im 22 so most of my growing should be finished.

[mikeg]

Wow thats a tough call. I would hate to go through the surgery again, but as long as their is no cost to you, I would have them do it. The headgear "chancing" that it will work just wouldn't fly with me. Especially if it is a quick surgical fix.

Are you still in braces now?

[upton]

Yea im still in braces, and will be for a another year after this... I have a consultation today at 130 pm to explain the headgear and my options. That's what I'm thinking though, if the headgear isn't a guarantee and it takes longer than a month to 2 months tops, to correct my jaw I'm just going to tell them I want surgery, I'll lose the month of healing I've gone through so far though. But like you said its quicker and has better chances to turn out right.
Maybe this headgear thing will be able to correct my jaw in a month and than its better to go with that since I wont have to start the healing period all over again....

Does anyone know though if revision surgery increases the likelihood of side effects? I cant see it being good to go through the surgery twice in only a months time.
Also has anyone heard of this before/had this happen? like my above question anyone with knowledge of the process? Or just anyone thats gone through revision surgery, with tips or advice...

Sorry about posting the original topic on the wrong board!

[upton]

Update

I have been looking all over for anyone that has gone through this before and have had no luck... So i figure I would update this to possibly serve as help for someone else.

So instead of getting surgery for a second time on my bottom jaw, (the jaw its self was slightly back from where it should be on the left side by just over a millimeter or so, the right side lines up fine) they gave me the option of wearing a head brace.
Basically the idea here is since i was still healing from my first surgery and my bones have yet to fuse together, I can wear a brace (they become ineffective after your bones stop growing usually when you turn 14-15) so since they were still mending the brace slowly pulls the jaw forward to help allign the jaw. Its about a 2 week process and if its successful further orthodontic help will in essence straighten out your jaw but the goal here is to line it up properly again without going through surgery.

So if your ever faced with revision surgery and you have braces currently and will be keeping them for awhile after this method can save you from possibly having to go through that second surgery. I figure 2 weeks with a head brace beats having to go through surgery all over again any day....