<Before the Surgery>
Hello,
I had double jaw surgery ａnｄ contouring surgery (square jaw, front chin) at WHY Oral ａnｄ Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic on August 7th last year to address my facial asymmetry ａnｄ underbite (where the lower front teeth protrude more than the upper teeth).
During my middle school years, I underwent orthodontic treatment for my underbite, but as I grew, the facial asymmetry ａnｄ movement of my lower jaw made me feel like my underbite was returning. The asymmetry became a significant insecurity for me, especially when taking photos from the front. I always wore a mask in pictures with friends to hide it. When I consulted with a dentist about the asymmetry, they suggested that double jaw surgery was necessary. Given the risks of the surgery, I thought it was important to choose an experienced ａnｄ skilled surgeon. I researched hospitals ａnｄ reviews online ａnｄ on YouTube before deciding on WHY Oral ａnｄ Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic in Seoul, even though I live in Daegu.
During my visit ａnｄ consultation, the head manager listened well to my concerns about my facial asymmetry ａnｄ was very kind, making me feel comfortable about the consultation.
 
I scheduled the surgery date with about 3-4 weeks to spare ａnｄ started pre-surgical orthodontic treatment since it was needed in my case. I completed the necessary pre-surgical tests ａnｄ prepared for the surgery by eating all the foods I wanted before starting the required fasting. I also packed the necessary items for the surgery, such as a sauce bottle from Daiso, charger, extra underwear, books, laptop, etc.
Surgery Day (August 7)
I had double jaw surgery ａnｄ contouring surgery (square jaw, front chin).
I arrived at the hospital around 9:40 AM and, although I wasn't too nervous at first, I started to feel more anxious after changing into the patient gown. When I lay down in the operating room, I got really tense. I was worried that the anesthesia might not work since it was my first time with general anesthesia. I remember being told to take deep breaths through the respirator, ａnｄ after two breaths, I lost consciousness.
 
I have no memory of what happened until I was lying in the hospital room after the surgery. When I finally came to, it was around 2:30 PM. There were tubes connected to my nose ａnｄ mouth, an IV drip, a drain, ａnｄ a catheter. As time passed, the pain increased, ａnｄ the difficulty in breathing was harder to bear than the pain itself. I initially underestimated the difficulty of double jaw surgery, but the first day was so tough that I almost regretted it. I couldn't swallow saliva, ａnｄ breathing through my mouth dried it out, causing me to cough, which I had to suppress. The constant dry mouth led to headaches, ａnｄ I had to replace the cold packs every two hours due to the heat in my jaw. The first day seemed endless, especially at night when I couldn't sleep ａnｄ stayed up all night. Listening to a 40-track collection of Ghibli OSTs on YouTube helped me get through it, ａnｄ I highly recommend it for calming down.
Day 2
The night duty nurse replaced the cold packs ａnｄ emptied the drains ａnｄ catheter in the morning, which made things a bit more bearable. I felt relieved after the catheter ａnｄ drains were removed. I had been lying in bed all day ａnｄ felt frustrated, but I heard that walking helps reduce swelling, so I walked around the hospital frequently. I also managed to take a nap ａnｄ started drinking water ａnｄ New Care nutritional drinks using the Daiso sauce bottle. The doctor checked on me regularly, ａnｄ I could sleep more comfortably that night, though still intermittently, while continuing with the cold packs.
Day 3 (Discharge Day)
After receiving my final IV until 9 AM ａnｄ having it removed, I met the doctor before being comfortably discharged with my parents around 10 AM. I slept well in the car on the way from Seoul to Daegu. At home, I continued with ice packs ａnｄ consumed New Care, misutgaru (grain powder drink), water, fruit juice, ａnｄ finely ground porridge from Bonjuk, taking it easy all day.
Day 5-6
This is when the swelling peaked. From day four, the swelling reached its maximum, making my cheeks ａnｄ jaw feel like they were stung by a bee. It might have been worse because of the hot weather (if you have surgery in summer, 24-hour air conditioning is essential). Swallowing pills was tough, but tilting my head up ａnｄ holding water in my mouth before swallowing helped. I took walks for an hour each night to reduce swelling ａnｄ frequently used warm packs.
 
Day 7
As I moved around more to reduce swelling, I found that only consuming liquids wasn't enough to sustain me. I started eating finely chopped soft tofu with soy sauce, which was a delight. I also had lots of misutgaru, New Care, ａnｄ Bonjuk. The swelling significantly reduced between the first ａnｄ second weeks. Keep moving ａnｄ applying warm packs frequently.
 
Week 2
Most people have their first post-op check-up after a week ａnｄ get their stitches removed in the second week. Due to work, I visited the hospital in the second week for stitch cleaning. The doctor complimented me on my fast reduction of swelling, which made me hopeful for further improvement. I started eating soft foods like noodles (finely chopped), steamed eggs, ａnｄ soft bread dipped in milk.

Week 3
Time flew by as I returned to work! I had my stitches removed on Saturday. The doctor warned me it would hurt a bit, ａnｄ it did sting, making me clench my fists ａnｄ shed tears. At home, I continued to eat porridge ａnｄ wore a wafer for 24 hours except when eating ｏｒ brushing my teeth. Wearing a mask during my walks made it feel bigger, indicating my face was getting smaller.
 
The first ａnｄ second days post-op are the hardest, but this surgery is necessary for those with a complex ｏｒ underbite. Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. It’s tough to look in the mirror during the first week due to the swelling, but as it subsides, you’ll see improvements. I hope everyone looks beautiful ａnｄ handsome post-surgery.
 
Tips for Reducing Swelling
 
Walk (an hour a day); the more you move, the better.
Warm compression (I frequently used a heat lamp).
Drink pumpkin juice daily!


 
Week 4
Time flew by as I stayed busy with work! As the weeks went by, the swelling continued to reduce noticeably. I was able to enjoy coffee ａnｄ soft cake at cafes. I still stick to soft foods ａnｄ snacks, but I look forward to the day I can eat chicken again. The lower jaw area hasn’t fully regained sensation yet, making it feel different when shaving. Sensation in the jaw takes the longest to return, so I’m continuing with warm compressions.
 
By the fourth week, thanks to the contouring surgery (square jaw, front chin), my face feels shorter, ａnｄ I find myself looking in the mirror more often than before. I’m excited to see how it’ll look once all the swelling is gone. I’m so satisfied that I’d still choose to have the surgery if I could go back in time.
2 Months Post-Op
Time flies while working, ａnｄ it's already been two months! I can now slowly chew most foods, ａnｄ I think I've gained back the weight I lost in the first month. I’ve been indulging in all the foods I missed, like Korean, Western, Chinese cuisine, ａnｄ chicken, so although the swelling has reduced, my cheeks seem fuller now. Practicing opening my mouth wide is essential, but I can still only fit two fingers in my mouth.
 

The swelling in my upper lip ａnｄ chin is still present, but my facial features are more defined compared to three weeks post-op. Combining double jaw surgery with cosmetic contouring of the square jaw ａnｄ front chin has made a noticeable difference, making me feel more satisfied.
Recently, I’ve enjoyed taking mask-free photos, ａnｄ the difficult memories of the surgery are fading.
 
 
3 Months Post-Op
Three months have passed, ａnｄ most of the swelling has gone down, although there’s still a bit left. Complete swelling reduction might take six months to a year, so I need to be patient.
I can now eat tougher foods like kimchi ａnｄ meat, but since I still can't fit three fingers in my mouth, I avoid foods that require a wide mouth opening, like hamburgers. I’m diligently practicing opening my mouth. Given my severe pre-op asymmetry, the difference between both sides is still noticeable, but I hope it improves with time. Overall, I’m very happy with the results.
People around me have noticed changes in my personality ａnｄ confidence, which I think is due to the surgery.