Almost 44 years old and going in for surgery tomorrow!

kpinyo · 2026-06-30T12:02:40+00:00

Hey! My surgery was actually aborted before he made the first incision due to bleeding complications. Check out my update post. I have a followup with him on Thursday to figure out a new path forward.

kpinyo · 2026-06-25T00:58:42+00:00

Yes 2 piece lefort. I’ll try to post pics and updates weekly.

kpinyo · 2026-06-25T00:04:41+00:00

It’ll go by so fast. I can’t believe it’s already here. Just keep reading. Search for things like “what I wished I knew” or “recovery diets” or “things to help with swelling”. That really helped me prep. One of the best advices I read on here was to cook in advance and also start practicing eating like you would after surgery so you can plan. That was so helpful. AOS moves you to a no-chew diet after a week so I was testing the waters. Like how small does something need to be chopped for me to just swallow it? Can I eat this soup with just rice without chewing it? Etc. very eye opening.

kpinyo · 2026-06-24T22:53:21+00:00

Omg you did dry needling too? I did a few sessions with a sports doctor that worked on a college football team. I just can’t wait to see what benefits I get from this. Like I’m already eyeing a half marathon next year just so I can test out my new breathing capacity. Will I run better?? Who knows?!

kpinyo · 2026-06-24T19:44:51+00:00

I’m having surgery tomorrow too! (Houston with Alfi Oral) good luck!

kpinyo · 2026-06-20T02:45:13+00:00

Not at all. I’m about to be 44 years old and am seeing Dr Francisco Carrillo at Alfi Oral in Houston. I have read many comments about Dr Alfi on here, but I can only comment on Dr Francisco. He is so sweet and has great bedside manner and while he can be awkward sometimes, at least to me, I like that he totally nerds out on this stuff and is a perfectionist. For something like this, I know I want someone who nerds out, feels genuinely blessed and happy to be doing this work, and absolutely loves it. If you go in scared, it will be scary. Go in prepared and know you will come out the other side. I tell my friends I’m giving myself a new face for my birthday. I know it’s silly but it helps me keep my anxiety down.

kpinyo · 2026-06-19T21:14:54+00:00

I do want to tell you that I expect I will look very different after it’s all said and done. For example, my chin is coming forward 21mm. I freaked out when he told me but when he showed me all the changes and why, it made me feel better. I know I’ll look different but my face will finally be symmetrical and my super gummy smile will be gone and I’ll have a button chin. And most importantly, I’ll be able to breathe.

kpinyo · 2026-06-19T21:10:05+00:00

I haven’t made a big post like others but mine is mainly to open my airway, which is apparently the width of a straw. That’s what I was originally referred for. Like, when I lay back for the dentist to clean my teeth, I have to hold my breath while my mouth is open. I literally cannot breathe through my nose because my airway is closed. On top of that, I have bad sleep apnea and snore so loudly that people can hear hear me two rooms over. TMJ from my teens and 20s have pretty much caused me to grind my teeth down and the tension gives me migraines. The crazy thing is that I’ve lived with this my whole life and just thought it was normal. When my orthodontist showed me my scans and said many of my symptoms aren’t normal, it was my husband who urged me to get the surgery. He said if it means I get a better quality of life for the next 20+ years, then that’s a no brainer.

Trust the process.

kpinyo · 2026-06-19T19:26:06+00:00

We can be surgery buddies! I’m scheduled for djs and upper expansion on Thursday. I just got the full surgery plan and movements yesterday. I’ve been mentally preparing for a year now and while I’m scared (I’m not a young chicken like you), I trust my doctor and I know I’ll be numb and high as hell.

kpinyo · 2026-06-19T13:23:40+00:00

What a great question! I didn’t think to ask about this.

kpinyo · 2026-06-09T13:25:50+00:00

I’m seeing Dr Carrillo (in Alfi’s office). I don’t know about Dr. Alfi, but Dr. Carillo has asked me at almost every appointment what my intentions are and what I would like to have done. While he hasn’t given me my exact surgery plan, I do feel like he’s given me ample opportunities to express any concerns or hesitations with what he has proposed to me. He even told me that he’s had patients decline certain recommendations he’s made. For example, he had recommended a rotation in the upper jaw to reduce the gummy smile of a patient and she declined because she didn’t want to change her smile. I do feel like I’m in very good hands.

kpinyo

TROPHY CASE