It has been 5 months since I had my braces put on and I cannot believe the difference they have made! I seriously did not think my teeth were that crooked to begin with but now that they are so straight I have no idea how I didn't notice it before. It still sucks being 21 and having braces but I just keep reminding myself that this is the price I pay for having a jaw that works. That is what I tell people too when they ask about the surgery and tell them about the recovery process. Just "Yeah it will be uncomfortable but at least my jaw will work like its supposed to!"
One tip I have about the braces though is get the clear brackets. Especially if you are an adult, they really do make a difference. They are less noticeable in pictures and it is slightly less embarrassing, but get used to making weird faces in public while trying to gracefully pick something out of your teeth with your tongue.
All of my friends and family have been really supportive and my school is being awesome about helping me out during the recovery. My surgery is officially scheduled for August 19th which is two weeks before I go back to Lesley for the fall semester of my senior year. According to all the blogs and my surgeon, I will still be eating with a syringe at that point and I won't be able to eat anything through a straw for another 4 weeks after that, and then 4-6 weeks after that I can finally eat soft solid foods again. All of that meaning I won't be able to use my meal plan money in the dining hall. Luckily enough for me, Lesley has medical accommodations that allow me to order groceries through the school and they will be delivered to me so I can blend all my meals in the comfort of my dorm room (not bragging but I finally got a single! okay bragging a little). Not only that, they are allowing me to have a few extra excused absences for medical reasons and post-op appointments.
As gruesome as all of that sounds and how much I am so NOT looking forward to being a swollen chipmunk for up to 6 months post surgery, I am really really really excited to gain a little more confidence because of it, and to not be so self conscious about being in pictures or meeting new people. Right now I always feel like I have to apologize for my face, like "Sorry I know its weird but my face is asymmetrical could you pretend I'm not socially awkward about that? Thanks"
