5 Months Post Op: Top Braces Off!

Welp, five months went by so fast and two days ago I got my top braces off! I rushed home from college to make my appointment, which was the last available time they had before Thanksgiving. I had actually driven home 5 hours three weeks prior to this, to squeeze in an extra appointment with the hopes of getting them removed Thanksgiving break. During that time, my orthodontist said it was a good possibility that I would get them removed, but couldn’t guarantee anything. So it was a 50/50 shot that I would get them removed, and I got 50% of them off :p I’m cool with it- at least now I can actually smile with my teeth! I’ve missed this.

While I’m so happy and excited about this, of course not everything can always work out perfectly, and now instead of waiting only 3 weeks to get the bottoms removed, I have to wait 6. That’s because 3 weeks from now are my finals and I’m definitely not trying to drive all the way home during that. Then the following week is Christmas and my doctor won’t be in town all week! And then right after that, my family and I leave for Disney to spend New Years. SOOO, gotta wait 6 weeks. But it’s okay, I’ll survive 🙂

As far as my physical recovery goes, not much has changed since my last update. I’m still good as new, eating whatever I want, doing whatever I want, etc. After all, it’s been five months. My chin is still the slightest bit numb as well as my palette, but it’s hardly noticeable. I did notice back in September that I couldn’t open my mouth fully, and while I haven’t exercised my mouth nearly as much as I should have been, I think I’m almost there. I heard that if after six months, you still can’t open your mouth to the fullest capability, you’re done. Soooo I better get cracking!

Being that it’s Thanksgiving and the Holiday season is upon us, I can’t help but shake this warm cuddly feeling in my heart. I am just so thankful for my friends and family who have been so incredibly supportive of me through all this. Being in college throughout this is tough- meeting new people all the time and worrying about how they think of me having braces, having to explain to people why I was in pain while playing sax and performing, etc. But the entire process made me so much stronger, and I thank God more than anyone for His blessings. If there’s one thing that I could say that got me through this chapter in my life, it was my faith and my willingness to open up and get more connected to God. I am just so happy.

Well, I don’t expect there to be many more updates after this, until I get my bottoms off. So I will check back in then! xoxo Gabi



A before and after- an amazing change in just 30 minutes!


Still in the orthodontist room. Clearly I couldn’t wait to take a picture


Celebrating my 20th birthday on train tracks- last full day with braces!


Me and some of my best friends from home at the surprise birthday party my roommates threw for me!


Formal!


Two weeks ago, I visited my best friend Amanda at Ithaca College for the weekend!


Halloween part 1


Halloween part 2


Just a few months after surgery- going strong!


Still amazed I was able to play at this point post op