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Deciding to undergo jaw surgery is no small matter. Patients must consider not just the correction of issues, recovery time, and expenses, but also the fact that it will alter their original appearance. That's why, no matter how many outpatient visits they've had, patients often schedule one more appointment before the surgery. This gives them a chance to express their thoughts fully, and it frequently leads to unexpected positive outcomes.
Take the case of Miss Emma, who had mandibular prognathism combined with misalignment—a common condition requiring orthognathic surgery. Before her procedure, she came in for another outpatient consultation. I expected it to be a routine preoperative check, but when I asked if there was anything specific she wanted to focus on, she expressed deep concern about chin asymmetry, feeling it made her look unattractive. I had noticed it in her X-rays, but she hadn't thought it was obvious or that others would notice. Luckily, she brought it up beforehand, so we adjusted the surgical plan to address the chin shape, improving both the bite and symmetry.
Sometimes I wonder if patients truly perceive those subtle asymmetries in their faces. More often than not, the answer is yes.