<Before Surgery>
When I turned 20, I hoped I could fix my jaw—my biggest insecurity—through orthodontic treatment. I went to all the well-known orthodontic clinics, but every single one said my case required surgery. Honestly, the idea of surgery scared me, so I just gave up.
I had a habit of hiding my jaw in photos, and my parents noticed it. After seeing my pictures, they researched clinics and even booked a consultation for me. The clinic they chose was WHY Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Since my parents picked it, I trusted them, and after reading reviews and having my consultation, I felt even more confident in the clinic. After some hesitation (it’s not a small procedure, after all), I decided to go through with it. Many people said that getting it done sooner, while I was younger, would be better and that they were highly satisfied after surgery.
<2 Weeks After Surgery>
8/26 – Surgery Day
Double Jaw Surgery + Two Types of Facial Contouring Surgery(Square Jaw, Chin)
The day before surgery, I stuffed myself with food and fasted after midnight. I arrived at the clinic with my family around 9 AM, double-checked the wafer, changed into surgical clothes, and had a final consultation. By around 10:30 AM, I was in the operating room.
The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the recovery room. Honestly, staying awake until 8 PM was harder than dealing with the pain. At one point, they started antibiotics through my IV, and I almost passed out. The nurse noticed and adjusted it to go in more slowly, which helped a lot.
My mom stayed with me until late, and the night nurse swapped out the ice packs and managed the drainage tubes. I drifted in and out of sleep throughout the night. Breathing wasn’t too difficult, surprisingly.
 
Day 2
In the morning, they removed the catheter and drainage tubes—it didn’t hurt at all. The doctor helped me practice biting down on the wafer and said I could try drinking water and a liquid meal supplement, but my throat was so sore I could barely swallow.
I spent most of the day on the IV, switching out ice packs, watching YouTube, and taking short walks around the clinic. That night, I had trouble breathing, so I called the nurse. She gave me an oxygen supply tube, which helped a lot. I kept coughing, and though I tried to hold it in, it was tough. The nurse encouraged me to suppress it as much as I could.
Knowing I’d be discharged the next day, I held on until morning.
 
Day 3 – Discharge Day
I had some laser treatments for swelling, got final instructions, and finished the IV medication. The doctor asked if I was okay, and I gave him a thumbs-up before changing back into my clothes.
My parents picked me up, and on the car ride home, I kept drooling and had to hold tissues the whole way. Eating was a real struggle—I blended my meal supplement with bananas and sweet potatoes in a sauce bottle I bought from Coupang. I couldn’t take pills with water, so I washed them down with an ion beverage.
 
Days 4–7
Taking medicine was basically a torture. I used the sauce bottle to drink my supplements, but it wasn’t enough, and I fainted once due to lack of energy. On Day 5, I started using warm compresses and walking for about an hour daily.
 
Day 8
I went back to the clinic for sterilization. I thought I was doing a decent job brushing my teeth, but the doctor pointed out dried blood on my palate and told me to brush more thoroughly…oops. 😅 I also got another laser treatment for swelling and rested well at home.
 
Days 9–14
By this time, I could breathe through my nose again and sleep slightly reclined. Things started feeling more manageable, and by Days 13 and 14, I even met up with friends, hung out, and went to a PC café.
I’d lost about 10 kg, so I was pretty weak. I went to an internal medicine clinic to get an IV drip for nutrition.
Day 15
I got my stitches removed and had another laser treatment. The stitches hurt, but it wasn’t unbearable—just a quick, sharp pain like the doctor warned. From this day, I was back to driving myself.
Day 16+
Most of the swelling is gone, except for the area around my philtrum. My face shape has definitely changed a lot. The weather’s been so hot lately that I haven’t been going out for walks much. Instead, I’ve been staying home, playing games, ordering Baskin-Robbins ice cream, and eating porridge. I can’t wait to enjoy real food again!
Still, I’m so happy to see my face changing day by day. It makes me proud and fills me with so many positive thoughts. I really can’t wait to start eating solid foods soon!
<4 Weeks After Surgery>
4 Weeks Post-Op
It’s been a month since the surgery, and I’ve started going out occasionally to meet friends. Whenever I see them, they tell me my face looks smaller, which feels amazing! Some even say I look like a completely different person, and my parents are super satisfied with the results, too.
I’ve lost a lot of weight, and my smaller face makes my clothes fit so much better. My parents have been treating me to a shopping spree for new outfits. 😊
I still have a masculine jawline (probably because I didn’t make my square jaw or chin too pointy), but my overall look feels much more balanced now. I’m extremely happy with the results.
Eating is still a struggle, but I’ve slowly started introducing slightly spicy and flavorful foods. People say walking helps reduce swelling, but I’ve been too lazy and have mostly been lying around. Because of that, my swelling hasn’t improved drastically compared to Weeks 2 or 3.
<4 Weeks After Surgery>
At the 4-week mark, I finally got my wafer removed and started Invisalign. My doctor showed me my 2-week post-op photos, and even though it didn’t feel like much progress at first, the comparison showed a clear reduction in swelling.
Invisalign is a bit annoying since I have to take it out every time I eat or drink, but it doesn’t trap food, and it’s virtually invisible, so those are definite perks.
A few days ago, I signed up for English classes and started attending an academy. 
I’m looking forward to the day I can eat freely outside. Honestly, time really is the best healer.
Hang in there, everyone! You’ve got this! 💪