Hello~!!
I’ve had double jaw surgery with Dr. Lee Seokjae at WHY Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery on December 21st.
I was severely asymmetrical, causing my mouth to look crooked when viewed from the front or in photos. In my search for a solution, I came across WHY oral and maxillofacial, and after consulting with Dr. Lee, I felt like they were truly straightforward, focusing on facts.

Most other clinics tend to use sweet words to persuade me into surgery, and some end up being unclear about the outcomes. However, here, the consultation was more about making me realize the reality rather than sweet talk, creating a strong sense of receiving medical treatment rather than a commercial approach, which led me to make the decision!

As for double jaw surgery, the significant advantage is that although there is swelling immediately after, the dramatic change in asymmetry is noticeable. The daily concern about asymmetry, which bothered me in photos and when meeting friends, has been greatly improved. It's so satisfying to say goodbye to the days of constant photoshopping my pics! 😄



<1 month post op >


I had a relatively small face, and at first glance, the asymmetry didn’t look too bad. However, if you looked closely up close, the asymmetry became quite noticeable. Even though my friends didn't notice that I had surgery, they did comment that my face seemed smaller. 😄 Surgery is a personal satisfaction, after all.



It's so satisfying not to see the asymmetry when I look at myself in the mirror. Dr. Lee mentioned that I would spend a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror after the surgery, and it's true! I seem to be looking at it all day, except when I'm sleeping. It's so great!
As for the first month after surgery...


The first week was incredibly tough. I couldn't breathe properly, couldn't eat, felt weak, had a headache, and, most notably, I doubted if I could sleep sitting up because lying down was impossible due to difficulty breathing. 😅 However, amazingly, after the first week,i felt like the airway had straightened out, the swelling gradually decreased, and in the second week, my ears popped after taking a shower. It felt so good!


I experienced a whole new world. Even the food I couldn't eat because i was in pain became edible, and I started exploring soft foods like pumpkin porridge and red bean porridge. When I go to a porridge restaurant, I ask them to make it super soft, and they always do! This marked the beginning of finding my own way.
Oh! And try Castella with milk... seriously! It's crazy~~ so good!😋


During the 3rd and 4th weeks, I visited the clinic for swelling care, got stitches removed, and ate steamed eggs every day. So delicious! Now, I put steamed rice in soup and I can swallow it quickly. For ramen or black bean noodles, I cut them into small pieces with scissors and then swallow them. It's like a whole new world! 
During this time, Dr. Lee said I could remove the wafer while sleeping, and it made me so hap

It's so satisfying not to see the asymmetry when I look at myself in the mirror. Dr. Lee mentioned that I would spend a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror after the surgery, and it's true! I seem to be looking at it all day, except when I'm sleeping. It's so great!
As for the first month after surgery...

The first week was incredibly tough. I couldn't breathe properly, couldn't eat, felt weak, had a headache, and, most notably, I doubted if I could sleep sitting up because lying down was impossible due to difficulty breathing. 😅 However, amazingly, after the first week,i felt like the airway had straightened out, the swelling gradually decreased, and in the second week, my ears popped after taking a shower. It felt so good!

I experienced a whole new world. Even the food I couldn't eat because i was in pain became edible, and I started exploring soft foods like pumpkin porridge and red bean porridge. When I go to a porridge restaurant, I ask them to make it super soft, and they always do! This marked the beginning of finding my own way.
Oh! And try Castella with milk... seriously! It's crazy~~ so good!😋

During the 3rd and 4th weeks, I visited the clinic for swelling care, got stitches removed, and ate steamed eggs every day. So delicious! Now, I put steamed rice in soup and I can swallow it quickly. For ramen or black bean noodles, I cut them into small pieces with scissors and then swallow them. It's like a whole new world! 
During this time, Dr. Lee said I could remove the wafer while sleeping, and it made me so happy. At first, taking it off while eating and then putting it back on was challenging, but eventually, I got used to it.

However, the most challenging thing in the first month is opening my mouth wide. The back of my molars still don’t open well, making it uncomfortable. Even though I practice, it's not improving as quickly as I expected. Dr. Lee will explain a method when I visit the clinic again, so I'll have to practice diligently!
You also need to be meticulous with brushing your teeth. Since my mouth doesn't open wide, using a regular toothbrush still feels large, so I use both a baby toothbrush and a regular toothbrush, which takes about 15-20 minutes... It's a bit tiring. Sometimes my gums hurt, and there's a slightly numb or tingling sensation in my mouth. But I understand it can be uncomfortable since there's still some swelling in my mouth. The upper gums are especially swollen, and if I talk a lot, my mouth swells again. I talk a lot, so my boyfriend jokes that my face suddenly becomes puffy after chatting... Haha! 😄

But I believe everything will return to normal with time. 

 
 
 
 
 
<2month post op>

Now, the swelling has almost completely subsided, and I'm gradually achieving a beautiful contour.
During the first month, there was a lot of discomfort in daily activities like eating, sleeping, and breathing. However, from one month to two months, time passed really quickly, and I gradually found myself returning to my normal routine. sometimes it got me thinking when I have recovered so much already!

Now, I can chew soft side dishes like rice and ham. I was craving tteokbokki and meat so much, so I finely cut them, rolled them around in my mouth, and melted them before chewing. It worked well! However, only very tender beef seems possible for now. Dr. Lee recommended being cautious for three months, so I haven't tried pork yet... 😔
Still, I'm so happy to be able to enjoy delicious foods like chicken, pizza, and tteokbokki again after just two months. It seems like the more I eat the quicker I recover! 

I still find it challenging to open my mouth wide, so I think more practice is needed. Having braces means my mouth should open comfortably, but I struggled because my mouth was naturally small. So, I recommend diligently practicing mouth opening exercises whenever you have time after surgery. 

Also, my biggest concern is that I have thin skin, and I can see a slight sagging on the cheek. I've been wearing compression bandage as often as possible, but I'm still exploring what might be the most effective. It seems that lifting is almost essential after getting double jaw surgery, and as the swelling decreases, I could see some more sagging. So, I'm actively researching and learning about different procedures. Let's all wear compression bandage properly! 

I can't wait for three months to pass, and the bones to be fully fused, so I can enjoy delicious meat just like before. Now, with almost no swelling, I can go out with makeup on, and nobody can tell that I had surgery. I receive compliments from friends, and every day is filled with happiness. 😊
 

<6 months post op>


It's already been 6 months since I’ve got double jaw surgery with Dr. Lee Seokjae!
Now, everything feels normal, and I can chew meat every day, and even enjoy nibbling on slightly hard snacks.  Eating the foods I couldn't before seems to be causing a significant weight gain haha.

My jaw has almost settled into its place, and the contour looks beautiful. People around me compliment that my face seems to have completely transformed.  Previously, I used to hear a clicking sound from my jaw when eating, and occasionally experienced some pain, but now everything is fine!

In any angle, facial asymmetry is hardly visible, and I receive compliments on how my face looks so small. 😄 Taking selfies, pictures for ID, is now comfortable without worrying about asymmetry. I'm so happy! Now, I just need to continue practicing opening my mouth and chewing, and everything will be perfect. 😄