<Before the Surgery>
 
 
<After the Surgery>
 
After the Surgery
I underwent the surgery at a later age than most people. As I grew older, I noticed myself avoiding conversations and my self-esteem slowly declining. It was then that I decided to finally go through with the double jaw surgery, something I had only contemplated in my heart for a long time. Although I had booked consultations at multiple clinics, the first clinic I visited just didn’t feel right to me.
The second consultation, however, was at WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and I had an excellent first impression. The staff were kind and professional, but more importantly, the whole process felt organized and structured. The doctor clearly explained the improvements I could expect and the challenges I might face, which made me trust them even more. I decided on the surgery right after the consultation.
I opted for a double jaw surgery combined with three facial contouring procedures (cheekbones, jawline, and chin)! They did a blood test, ECG, and took an impression for the wafer all on the same day. The surgery was scheduled for a month later, and I felt both excited and nervous about it. Because I drank alcohol the night before the blood test, I had to go back a few days later to retake it after abstaining from alcohol.
 
 
Surgery Day
My surgery was scheduled for 10 AM, so I arrived at the hospital at 9 AM. After changing into a hospital gown and meeting the doctor, I signed the consent form after being briefed on potential scenarios that could occur during the surgery. I was incredibly nervous while waiting in the patient room.
When it was time to go into the operating room, my heart was pounding, and I could hardly focus. I remember a nurse inserting the IV needle and reassuring me that the pain would soon be over, though I didn’t even feel the needle going in because of my nerves. It was my first time undergoing general anesthesia, and I struggled with the smell of the anesthetic gas. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in my hospital room.
The surgery felt like it only lasted a second, but when I looked at the clock, it was already past 2 PM—four hours had flown by. I was instructed not to fall asleep because I needed to expel the anesthetic gas, but I felt dazed. I didn’t feel any pain or drowsiness initially. I had tubes in my nose and mouth and a catheter inserted, which was quite disorienting. About three hours after the surgery, I started to feel some pain, but it subsided quickly. Later, the nasal tube was removed.
At first, I could still breathe through my mouth, but by the middle of the night, something started trickling down the back of my throat—blood or some other fluid—and I began to panic because it made breathing difficult. I was also given some water in the afternoon, but I was too scared to drink it. However, since the nurse wouldn’t leave until I drank, I managed to take a small gulp, though it was tough. Throughout the night, the nurses kept checking on me and administering medication, which was a great comfort. Thus, my first day post-surgery passed in a blur.
Day 2
In the early morning, the catheter was removed, which made it easier to move around. I had laser treatment for the swelling and the doctor also removed the drainage tube. Fortunately, it wasn’t painful.
The doctor showed me how to wear the wafer, but it was still difficult to open my mouth, so I struggled. I hadn’t slept much on the day of the surgery, so I felt out of it. They gave me nutritional supplements in the afternoon, but I couldn’t eat them. I wondered why others could eat while I was struggling just to drink water. Since I was feeling a bit better, the staff encouraged me to walk around the hospital room. I removed the wafer for a moment because it was uncomfortable, but I couldn’t put it back in on my own, so the doctor helped me.
Even though I was on IV fluids, I didn’t feel hungry or thirsty. However, I continued to experience liquid trickling down the back of my throat during the night, which made breathing difficult. The night nurse kindly showed me how to breathe properly, which was a big help. I still couldn’t sleep that night, but the nurse assured me that resting would aid in my recovery. She really looked after me, which made a huge difference.
I didn’t feel any pain, but I couldn’t sleep and was in a daze. Even though I had brought my iPad and other things to occupy myself, I ended up just watching a bit of YouTube on my phone. Since I was scheduled to be discharged the next day, I was given my prescription and further instructions.
Day 3
I had another session of laser treatment for the swelling, saw the doctor, and began preparing for discharge. When the nurse removed the IV needle, it felt like such a relief. My arm had been sore from all the IV fluids.
I was worried about managing everything at home, but once I got there, I finally slept well for the first time in days. My face was still swollen and puffy, but I could feel the swelling increasing. I was hungry now that I was off the IV fluids, and since I had to take my medications, I forced myself to eat something. I used a sauce bottle to drink some sports drinks. I had to take about five pills, and even though I could hardly swallow water, I somehow managed to get the medication down after several failed attempts. Taking the medication was incredibly challenging.
Still, I was relieved to have finally slept and made it through another day.
Day 4
The swelling increased even more. I was wearing my compression band, but the swelling was spilling out from under it. It felt like I had lip fillers! My mouth was constantly drooling, so I carried tissues and wet wipes everywhere. I was supposed to go for a walk, but I didn’t have the energy since I hadn’t eaten much. My goal for the day was just to take my medication and eat something, even though it was still difficult to swallow. My stomach began to hurt from the medication, so I drank protein milk to help with swallowing. Getting the pills down was a struggle. I envied those who could eat without trouble. Still, I made it through the day.
Day 5
The swelling seemed to peak and then started to go down. Bruises appeared around my mouth and neck, turning yellow. The battle with my medication continued, and since my stomach was hurting so much, I pureed some porridge until it was like water and forced it down. I tried walking outside to go to the pharmacy, but I felt dizzy and had to come back home after just 10 minutes. This experience made me realize how important eating is. Another day passed in this manner.
Day 6
I finally had a good night’s sleep. The swelling was going down, and I was beginning to look more like myself. For the first time since the surgery, I cooked some soup and felt emotional. As for the medication, I found that water still didn’t help, but I tried drinking it with a smoothie, and it worked wonders! Even the larger pills went down easily. I had eggs and tomato stew for lunch, and swallowing became easier. I was finally eating well, and I constantly felt hungry. I could feel myself getting better day by day.
Day 7
The drooling had improved, and since I had more energy after finally eating, I started craving bread. I bought a cake and nearly cried while eating it. I continued alternating between eating cake, tomato-egg stew, and taking my medication. The swelling was going down, but the bruising had deepened.
First Hospital Visit After Surgery & Week 2 Follow-up
At my first post-surgery visit, I received laser treatment for the swelling, and the doctor disinfected my mouth and wafer, which felt refreshing. Since I also had three facial contouring procedures done, the stitches near my sideburns were removed, and I didn’t feel a thing.
However, putting the wafer back in was tricky; I had done it easily at home, but for some reason, I struggled at the clinic. The doctor said I could remove the wafer while eating from now on, which felt a bit odd at first. I was also told to brush my teeth gently, so I’ve been diligently doing that.
At the two-week mark, I went back for another check-up and stitch removal. I had read from other people’s experiences that it could be painful, and they were right—it was quite painful, but I felt relieved afterward. In a few weeks, I’ll begin orthodontic treatment. There are still many hurdles to overcome, but I’m adjusting well.
One Month Post-Surgery
Today, I got my braces! The orthodontic treatment phase begins. Only the front upper teeth were banded for now, and while it’s a bit uncomfortable, I’m not experiencing any significant pain. They told me to take Tylenol if I do, but so far, I haven’t needed it. I’ll be visiting the clinic once a month for adjustments. As for the swelling, it’s subsiding but seems to have plateaued. I think time will heal it.
Two Months Post-Surgery
Today, they banded the lower teeth. My mouth still won’t open wide, which is frustrating, despite doing the exercises. Last month, after getting the first part of the braces, I was able to eat thin slices of meat since the pain wasn’t too bad. The swelling has gone down a lot, but since I’m older, my skin is slightly sagging. I’ll have to monitor that. Despite this, I’m overjoyed with the changes and wish I had done this surgery sooner!
Three Months Post-Surgery
I went for my third orthodontic treatment, and this time, they connected the upper and lower teeth. Surprisingly, there’s still no pain. I’m eating more easily, though chewing is still difficult, and my mouth doesn’t open as wide as I’d like. The swelling is almost entirely gone, except for around the chin area, which I hear takes the longest to heal. My facial features have improved so much, and I’m incredibly happy with the results. I’m excited to see how the orthodontic treatment will further refine everything.