The surgery Rachel will be having is called a "LeFort Osteotomy".
This is a corrective jaw surgery (orthographic surgery) that involves repositioning the upper jaw (the maxilla). The surgery realigns the jaw and teeth for optimal function. It is used to correct a wide range of dental - facial deformities, and in Rachel's case, those born with a cleft lip.
There are three types of a LeFort Osteotomy. Rachel is scheduled for the Level 1, which is the most common for treating jaw misalignment and cleft lip and palate. It allows the upper jaw to be easily repositioned to reshape the face and improve ones bite.
She is expected to be in the hospital 1-2 days, all depending on how she is doing. The main thing is making sure she can drink in order to stay hydrated and avoid the risk of dehydration. Once home, she will be on a liquid only diet for 2 weeks. We have protein shakes, chocolate milk, some gatorades, and apple juice, and chicken broth readily on hand. After that, she'll be on a soft food diet for 4-6 weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment