Wow. Haven't really been on SJ that much, so idk what happened... How come you had to have the surgery? And I wish you a speedy recovery

Hmm where to start.

When I was younger, I had braces twice. My teeth shifted back even after I wore retainers and all that jazz and I just didn't really know why. So I went back to a new orthodontist (hopefully for the last time) after failing twice with the first one (who is an ass and I would never recommend him), he immediately pointed out that my upper jaw growing in too far was responsible for them shifting back to not being straight. Apparently, it causes problems when the jaws try to compensate for the problem. I also found out that was the reason for my constant mouth breathing since my lips couldn't naturally touch together. Mouth breathing is really bad for your gums and could cause a lot of problems, including my teeth falling out later in life. I was also reading it can actually cause migraines and dizzy spells, so while the surgery wasn't between life and death, it was imperative to keep my mouth healthy.

Insurance covered everything except my genioplasty (chin extension), since that was purely cosmetic. I had a weak chin and I was told that the transformation wouldn't really be complete. For as much as the jaw portion was functional, it is also cosmetic and generally enhances one's appearance. Sometimes, insurance companies won't cover it because they feel it is for cosmetic purposes only.

So, that's the bulk of the story as to why I had it.

I just hit the 2 week mark yesterday. About two more weeks and my rubber bands are gone and I can move on to a "non-chewing" diet, which is better than a liquid diet. I'll actually be able to eat shit like mashed potatoes. CAN'T WAIT! I have anywhere between 27-41 more days until I can eat solid foods again. I'm totally looking forward to that day.