<before surgery>
 
Reason for the Surgery
I originally had Class III malocclusion (underbite) and a long chin that had grown downward during my teenage years, causing me considerable stress. Back in middle school, I consulted with three different orthodontists, all of whom advised that orthodontic treatment alone wouldn’t yield significant aesthetic improvement. They classified my case as one suitable for double jaw surgery. They also warned that if I chose to undergo orthodontic treatment for my underbite first, I might need pre-surgical orthodontics in the opposite direction before double jaw surgery, so I decided not to pursue any treatment at the time. Thus, I lived with my condition untreated for over ten years.
Over time, I began to avoid taking photos because my sunken mid-face and elongated chin stood out in side-profile pictures. When COVID-19 restrictions eased and masks came off, I felt even more self-conscious about my appearance, which only heightened my insecurities. Eventually, I decided to go through with double jaw surgery to address my concerns.
 
Choosing a Clinic
After researching online, I found WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, a place specializing in oral and maxillofacial surgery. I was drawn to their results, which emphasized natural aesthetics, and they had an in-house orthodontist, allowing for a seamless transition from surgery to orthodontic treatment. I consulted with the clinic manager, Dr. Seokjae Lee, and the orthodontist, and we decided on SSRO (Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy). They advised me to remove my lower wisdom teeth beforehand, so I had one wisdom tooth removed on the day of my consultation and even got scanned for my Invisalign trays.
Day of Surgery
One month before the surgery, I received a list of essentials and precautions via text, so I began taking iron supplements in advance and prepared other necessities while waiting for the surgery date. At the hospital, they had set up a humidifier, tissue boxes, New Care protein drink, neck pillow, donut cushion, drawing pad, paper cups, and Evian water bottles. I only needed to bring a few additional items: cotton swabs (for wiping my nose), a squeeze bottle (for drinking New Care), a spray bottle (to moisten my dry mouth), and a phone holder.
I arrived at the hospital with my parents at 9:30 a.m. The single-patient room was spotless and comfortable, which helped calm my nerves. Just before surgery, I met with the surgeon, who reviewed the surgical plan with me one last time. I think he said he would move the maxilla by 2 mm and the mandible by 5 mm, but I don’t recall exactly. My parents waited in a room where they could view the surgery’s progress on a CCTV monitor.
Post-surgery, the inside of my mouth was incredibly sore and dry, making me want to spray water in my mouth constantly. Breathing through my mouth only added to the dryness, and the chin support made it even harder to breathe. Since I had a removable wafer with SSRO, I could still breathe through my mouth, but I couldn’t help but wonder how those with intermaxillary fixation manage their breathing.
Because of the anesthetic gas, I couldn’t sleep for six hours and was asked to take deep breaths, which was difficult as breathing through my mouth hurt my throat, making sleep nearly impossible. I also had bloody phlegm draining from my nose into my throat, further blocking my airway, which made breathing feel terrifying. I ended up calling the nurses several times, but they advised me not to suction too often as it might irritate the area. They encouraged me to swallow instead, so I tried to limit suctioning. Meanwhile, the night-shift nurses diligently changed my ice packs, IV fluids, and urine bags throughout the night.
Day 2
On the second day, the nurses removed my catheter and drainage tubes in the morning, which gave me some relief. However, without the nasal oxygen tube, breathing became even harder. The second day was just as painful as the first. I used a spray bottle to moisten my throat, which was still dry despite having a humidifier on all day. Because of the intubation, my throat remained sore, but at least my mind felt clearer than on the first day, so I was able to take a short walk around the hospital. Eating was easier using the squeeze bottle I’d brought, and I communicated with my dad on the hospital-provided drawing pad.
 
Day 3
Discharge day! My nose was still blocked with mucus, my throat was swollen, scratchy, and sore. My dad came, and we prepared for an early discharge. After stopping by the pharmacy to pick up my medication, we took a taxi home. I still couldn’t breathe through my nose with the lifting band on my face, so I didn’t wear it much from this point on. Swallowing was challenging with my swollen throat, and since the tablets were quite large, my mom crushed them and mixed them with yogurt to make it bearable. Although antibiotics and dairy don’t mix well, we didn’t have any other options.
Day 4
On the fourth day, I managed to wash my hair and take a shower, which felt refreshing. One nostril would occasionally clear up, likely because I’d been wiping away sticky blood clots with a cotton swab. The other nostril was completely blocked, though. I was able to drink three or four New Care protein drinks, but without the hospital’s IV fluids, I was starting to feel genuinely hungry. I went for a short walk each day, but even at 3,000 steps, I felt dizzy and weak from not eating enough. I couldn’t imagine how people could walk 10,000 steps in this state! I applied cold packs on my face one last time. At night, I kept waking up every two to three hours with a dry, sore throat, and I was snoring heavily.
 
Day 6
Starting on Day 5, I switched to warm compresses and even carefully used a baby toothbrush to brush my teeth. Although brushing is usually recommended only from the second week, my wafer was removable, I wasn’t using rubber bands, and I could open my mouth a bit. I rinsed with mouthwash, and brushed very gently without toothpaste. Swelling was severe on Day 5, even in my airway, making breathing difficult. The inside of my mouth was also swollen, so my wafer and stitches kept rubbing uncomfortably, which was painful.
Since I didn’t have intermaxillary fixation, I could communicate somewhat with those around me. Though my speech was slurred, my friends and parents could understand me, even over the phone. Both nostrils were still blocked, and my lips remained stiff and wouldn’t close or move properly, so my speech was far from clear.
Day 7
The dreaded one-week mark… I’d read that many people find their nasal passages start to clear up around the seventh day, so I was hopeful. I continued to carefully clean out sticky blood clots from my nose with cotton swabs and gently tried to apply some pressure, mimicking a nose-blowing motion (even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to). By doing this, one nostril eventually cleared about 60%, but I avoided applying too much pressure as advised. My other nostril was completely blocked, to the point where I couldn’t even hear air passing. The buildup caused pressure on my face, and my ears ached as a result. My throat was still sore and scratchy.
I’d heard antibiotics could cause diarrhea, which didn’t affect me until Day 6. From then on, I started to experience it. I also continued warm compresses, about ten times a day, heating the compress in hot water every 10 minutes. It felt soothing, especially on my swollen eyes, and gave a sense of blood circulation. Different hospitals advise differently on warm compresses, but mine recommended it, so I did it whenever possible. I started mixing protein shake powder into my New Care drinks to boost my nutrition. I also managed to sleep a bit better, and on walks, I drank a liquid iron supplement to counter the dizziness.
Day 9
Day 11
Finally, it was time for my one-week follow-up to get everything disinfected. It was a little painful, but manageable. I also received laser treatment for swelling. When I mentioned that I felt like I might have sinusitis, they prescribed me medication. From what I’d read, many people recover quickly with the right meds, so I felt somewhat relieved. My upper lip and philtrum were still very swollen, so I couldn’t fully close my mouth. Saliva continued to leak, and I still had no feeling under my chin. At night, I no longer used the recliner; instead, I slept in bed with two or three pillows propped up. The doctor said I could sleep lying flat, but I still felt pressure on my face and was afraid of turning to my side. Since I can’t breathe through my nose, I sleep with my mouth open, and I’m longing for the day my nose clears up so I can close my mouth while I sleep. My throat is still scratchy.
 
Day 16
Finally, the side of my nose that had been blocked is starting to clear, which is a huge relief. The medication must be working! My throat has been sore from breathing through my mouth, so this improvement really helps. Today, I went to the hospital to have my stitches removed. I’d heard it could be painful, but either because I handle pain well or it wasn’t as bad as expected, it was tolerable. I also received swelling care treatment.
They say the two-week mark is the hardest, and I think I’m finally past that. At this point, the main factor in my quality of life is whether my nose is blocked or clear. Now that I’m feeling a bit better, I’ve been catching up on computer games and watching shows, which makes things more bearable! Oh, and lately, I’ve been feeling slight tingling in my chin, which I think means sensation is slowly returning.
Day 17
I started working from home today. Originally, I’d planned to return to the office around this time, but my boss kindly suggested I work remotely for the whole month. Now that I’m back to work, I realize working from home is definitely the better option. Although I’m supposed to avoid chewing for a month, I keep feeling the urge to bite into something solid, and I’m still getting frequent stomach growls from hunger. Since I’m still on antibiotics, I’m avoiding dairy as much as possible and continue crushing my pills into powder. I’m also doing mouth exercises whenever I have time, though I can only open my mouth about two finger widths at best.
 
Day 18
At last, the other side of my nose has cleared up about 80%—I can actually feel air passing through! I even attempted swallowing my pills whole today. With eight pills to take, it took a while to swallow them one by one, but I managed, and it felt like an accomplishment.
Day 28 (4 Weeks)
At four weeks, I’m managing to eat soft foods without any issues! The swelling in my upper lip area still keeps my lips from closing fully. Other people seem to be able to close their lips earlier on, so I wonder if my shorter philtrum is affecting this. Without the wafer, I can force my lips shut, but with it in, closing them is just impossible, so I still sleep with my mouth open. I’m also experiencing tingling sensations in my chin, which is a sign of nerve recovery, though only about 10% of the sensation has returned to the roof of my mouth.
Two Months (8 Weeks)
It’s been two months since my double jaw surgery and contouring (jawline and chin). Now that the toughest part is behind me, I keep thinking, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” I really love what I see in the mirror, and my confidence has skyrocketed! Honestly, I’d do it again if I had to.
There hasn’t been a huge change from the one-month mark, but the major swelling has gone down enough that I feel good taking photos. Eating is also much easier now, and I can open my mouth wider—three fingers fit vertically, compared to just two fingers a month ago. In the first month, my jaw felt stiff, and I had trouble opening my mouth wide, but now it’s much easier.
The major swelling has reduced enough that when I told a new colleague about my surgery, they couldn’t believe it! My shorter chin gives my face a softer, cuter look, and I’m having fun experimenting with cute outfits I couldn’t wear before. Wearing hats is also a joy now since they no longer make my lower face stand out.
Two Months Post-Op
It’s only been two months, so I still have some residual swelling around my mouth and cheeks when viewed from the front. Because of this, I’ve been taking more selfies at a 45-degree angle—I love the new contours of my face!
There are a few lingering discomforts. My lower jaw still feels a bit tight, and when I eat or use my lips, the muscles in my lower jaw seem to bulge slightly. I give myself a little massage each time this happens. Though there’s still swelling in my philtrum, friends and family say my mouth looks much better than it did at the one-month mark.
I feel like my nostrils have widened by about 5-10%, but others don’t seem to notice. Despite these minor issues, I’m happy with my new look! I used to feel self-conscious about my prominent jawline, but now I catch myself thinking, “Don’t I look cute?”
 
Six Months Post-Op
Now that six months have passed, I’m back to my usual daily routine, feeling completely normal. The recovery has been smooth, and I’m really enjoying the changes in my appearance!
 
Six Months Post-Op
Six months after my surgery, my jaw has transformed from an overbite to a more typical jawline, and now I have a more defined smile. My sunken midface has filled out nicely, and I love how my cheeks plump up when I smile. People say I look cute, which really boosts my confidence!
With this newfound confidence in my appearance, I feel like I’ve become more outgoing. I’m definitely more assertive when meeting new people. Eating has been pretty easy; I can enjoy everything from beef to lamb without any issues! However, I’m still in the process of orthodontic treatment, which comes with its own set of annoyances. I can’t wait for this never-ending adjustment phase to be over! I’m eager to get rid of the attachments on my teeth.
One Year Post-Op
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a year since I had my double jaw surgery and contouring (jawline and chin)! Now, after a year, I’m doing well in my daily life without any major issues. I can eat almost all the foods I want. The only limitation is that I still can’t eat tough foods since my orthodontic treatment isn’t complete yet. However, I’m looking forward to the freedom of enjoying all kinds of food once my braces are off!
One Year Post-Op
One of the biggest changes after my jaw surgery is that I really enjoy taking photos now! In the past, I always felt awkward in pictures, but now I look good in them, which makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. Sometimes I even wonder how things would have been if I had done this sooner—I have a bit of regret about that.
Over time, the muscles in my jaw have settled into their new position, and I’m very happy with the results. People say they can hardly remember what I looked like before! I’ve also been told that I look happier and better than ever, which is such a nice compliment.
One Year Post-Op
Now, the only thing left is the pin removal surgery. Honestly, I’m a bit worried about swelling again afterward. But I’m trying to stay positive, knowing that the swelling will subside and things will improve. I’ve heard that it’s less swelling than the initial jaw surgery, so that’s reassuring.
Overall, compared to before the surgery, my quality of life has significantly improved. My facial contours are much prettier, which has boosted my self-esteem as well. I just want to continue enjoying life comfortably without any side effects! For anyone who’s considering this surgery, I highly recommend doing it as soon as possible—you won’t regret it!
 
<before surgery>