Lilypichu, a Korean-American Twitch streamer, YouTuber, and Internet personality, had jaw surgery to improve her voice. She has a unique angelic voice that has brought more and more people to her social media accounts.
Her parents encouraged her to follow her dreams and became her biggest supporters. However, she faced a lot of struggles in her childhood. She was bullied and had self-esteem issues.
What is jaw surgery?
Jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) is an oral and maxillofacial surgical procedure that repositions your upper and lower jaws to improve their function. This can correct dental problems, reduce or eliminate pain, and improve chewing, breathing, and speech.
Orthognathic surgery is appropriate for patients who have a severe overbite, underbite, cross bite, or other problems that cannot be corrected with orthodontics alone. It may also be a solution for patients with temporomandibular joint disorders and other facial skeletal issues.
During this type of surgery, your surgeon separates the rear (joint) part of your lower jaw from the front portion that supports your teeth and moves them forward or backward to reposition your lower jaw for better bite alignment. Tiny surgical plates and screws are used to hold your jaws in their new position.
Your orthodontist and oral and maxillofacial surgeon will work together to determine if jaw surgery is an effective treatment for your specific needs. They will discuss your goals and expectations and work with you to ensure that you achieve the best results possible.
How is jaw surgery performed?
In order to correct jaw problems, oral surgeons use orthognathic surgery (also known as jaw surgery), sometimes called “corrective jaw surgery.” It is performed to address a wide range of conditions, including malocclusions. This type of surgery can improve chewing, speech and breathing.
A protruded upper jaw can be corrected with a maxillary osteotomy, which involves making an incision inside the mouth and moving the bone to reduce it. A lower jaw can be corrected with a mandibular osteotomy, which involves making an incision in the back of the jaw.
Surgical plates, screws and wires are used to secure the jaw in its new position. Patients may also have rubber bands placed in their mouths to help them adjust to their new bite.
After surgery, patients may experience swelling and stiffness in their face and jaw. These symptoms are normal and should resolve over time. Occasionally, a patient might experience numbness in their top or bottom lip. This usually dissipates within a few weeks or months.
What are the risks of jaw surgery?
Jaw surgery is an effective treatment for a number of conditions, including severe overbite, underbite, cross bite or open bite. Correcting these problems through orthognathic surgery can help improve a patient’s overall quality of life by improving their smile, chewing efficiency and the way they speak.
Complications are rare with this type of surgery. The most common risk is numbness or tingling in the cheeks and lower lip, which may remain after surgery, particularly with sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO).
This numbness is caused by bruising to the facial nerves after surgery. However, it usually goes away after four to six weeks and is a sign that the swelling is subsiding.
Other risks include vascular compromise, loss of tooth vitality or development of periodontal defects. These complications are more likely to occur if an osteotomy is performed incorrectly, if a maxillary sinus is disrupted or if a bad fracture of the zygomatic arch occurs. Relapse is also possible, but this risk is minimal and often preventable with additional bone grafts.
What are the benefits of jaw surgery?
Jaw surgery can improve your quality of life by addressing health concerns such as jaw pain, misaligned jaws, asymmetry or abnormalities after trauma or disease. It can also improve your facial appearance and help you feel more confident in your smile.
Orthognathic or corrective jaw surgery is a surgical procedure that is performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. It aims to improve the alignment of your teeth and jaws (the chin, nose and lips).
Your orthodontist will prepare your teeth for this surgery. This will include wearing braces for a year before your surgery, during your surgery and for up to a year afterward.
A specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon will assess your facial structure and plan the surgery using 3D computer technology. This helps reduce operating time, minimise operative complications and improves surgical accuracy.