Facial surgery

[hyperbolica]

I had some skin cancer removed, and they put in 17 stitches from my eye down past my mouth (probably 3+ inches). The Dr. said not to play trombone for a week. I can say I've already played, and it wasn't bad at all. A bigger danger seems to be laughing or smiling, since that does tug a little on the sutures. Has anyone had a similar procedure, and how did it affect trombone playing short term?

[StephenK]

Just do what the doc says

[tbdana]

I haven’t had that, but I was in a very bad accident that required some facial reconstruction to my orbital rims, nose, upper lip and chin. It was in the middle of a 30-year break from playing, and when I started up I was concerned about whether I would be able to play.

I have permanent numbness and some loss of motor control on the right side of my face. But amazingly, I was able to learn to play again just fine. It’s different than before, but our bodies have an amazing ability to adjust.

I suspect you’re going to be just fine.

[2bobone]

I had a small cancer of the outer edge of my left eye. Because it was in such a perilous position I was advised that I needed to be under sedation. When I awoke, they'd cut me from my left eye to my left ear, removed the cancerous part and "stretched" my skin upwards to replace what they had incised. I was told that there might be some numbness but that it would soon subside. If "soon" meant about 10 years, I believe they met their goal. I had some fun with the "Dorian Grey" effect [ if you don't know what that means, read Oscar Wilde's book] in that half of my face was thirty years younger than the other. But, embouchure-wise, things were pretty much the same and perhaps even better ! Perhaps, the more "youthful" side of my face had a bit more tension that helped things along the way ?
I often think of Adolf Herseth, the fabulous principal trumpeter of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, whose brother was a dentist and encouraged his brother "Bud" to file away a plaster impression of his dental structure for possible future reference. Adolf [Bud] did as his brother suggested. Amazingly, years later, Herseth was involved in an automobile accident in which his embouchure impacted the steering wheel of his car. The collision damaged his front teeth and upper lip to an extent that it was thought that he might never play as well again. His brother, using the afore-mentioned dental impressions was able to re-construct the embouchure to its original condition ! The rest is brass-player's history. He really never had a peer throughout his remarkable playing career. Some may disagree but that's the way that I saw it.
In any case, despair not. As "tbdana" said, "our bodies have an amazing ability to adjust. I suspect you’re going to be just fine". I agree !

Quick Reply

[hyperbolica]

Yeah, ok, you both beat me as to severity. I think it will be ok, but the face feels tight. I don't think they cut any muscles. Laughing and smiling are the hardest.

[heldenbone]

I had an orbicularis oris tear in the upper lip repaired about 12 years ago. The recovery was 8 weeks of no playing, then starting again very gently, at first only a few minutes twice per day. No trouble since, other than a scar that is visible when my facial hair is trimmed closely.