Hi, everyone!
It's been six months since I underwent double jaw surgery (including contouring for cheekbones, jawline, and chin) with Dr. Lee Seokjae at WHy Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic. Here's my journey so far!
<Before the Surgery>
Before the surgery, I had protruding jaws and malocclusion, so I wore braces for about three years. During that time, I was told that double jaw surgery was my only option, which made me seriously consider it for the first time.
At first, I thought the braces would fix everything, but as the protrusion improved, I became hyper-aware of my cheekbones, square jaw, and facial asymmetry. It drove me crazy for a while.
Living with low self-esteem for three years completely affected my daily life, and I eventually decided to go for the surgery. After consulting with the clinic, I finally made it to surgery day!
 
<Day of the Surgery>
I don’t remember much from the day of the surgery, but I spent most of my time trying to expel the anesthesia gas from my system as instructed.
It was uncomfortable since I couldn’t eat anything until 8:30 PM, and I had to focus on breathing deeply.
That night, I struggled to breathe and called the nurses frequently. They were so kind and attentive, replacing my ice packs and staying by my side, which eased my anxiety. I didn’t sleep at all, though.
 
<Day 2>
The next morning, around 8:00 AM, the nurses removed the urinary catheter, drains, and IV tubes. The catheter removal wasn’t painful for me, probably because I was so relieved to have it out. Dr. Lee personally removed the drainage tubes.
After that, I managed to take some water, nutritional drinks, and my usual medication, which made me feel a little better. I slept for about three hours in short intervals and kept the nurses busy with my constant requests, but I was very grateful for their care.
 
<Day 3>
It was time to go home. As soon as I got there, I had to take my meds, but my throat was swollen, and breathing through my nose was difficult. Everything got stuck in my throat, causing me to cough a lot.
I started feeling anxious without the nurses nearby, even though I had been eager to leave the hospital. Honestly, I regretted going home so soon.
 
<Days 4-6>
My face swelled up to an alarming degree, and I was shocked! Even gargling hurt my mouth so much that I thought my stitches had torn. After consulting the clinic, they reassured me it was normal at this stage.
I stuck to drinking nutritional shakes and soft drinks, taking my meds religiously, and gargling frequently. Swelling made swallowing pills hard, but I made it work.
My face felt so heavy, and my ears were clogged every time I moved. I started taking 30-minute walks daily to help reduce the swelling.
 
<Day 7>
By the seventh day, I felt like the swelling had slightly reduced—though it might’ve just been wishful thinking.
Since I had a follow-up appointment the next day, I prepped by finally washing up and stuck to my routine of shakes and tomato juice.
 
<Day 8: First Follow-Up>
Finally, my first post-op visit! I received laser treatment for the swelling, had my mouth cleaned, and got the stitches near my sideburns removed.
The stitches were stuck to dried skin, so removing them was painful but relieving. During mouth disinfection, opening my mouth wide enough hurt so much that I teared up, but I endured it.
Dr. Lee said I could stop wearing my wafer and try soft foods like ice cream or porridge. My first bite of porridge was so delicious it brought tears to my eyes—but I ate too fast and ended up with indigestion!
 
<Days 9-14>
I started eating more soft foods, and life became more manageable. I couldn’t wait to have my inner stitches removed so I could enjoy ramen.
 
<Day 15: Second Follow-Up>
The day to remove the inner stitches finally arrived! I’d heard it could be painful, so I was nervous. It did hurt when my mouth was stretched to access the stitches, but Dr. Lee was quick, and the discomfort was over soon. Although speaking with the wafer was difficult due to the awkward pronunciation, I started doing jaw exercises for about 30 minutes daily to improve my mouth-opening range.
 
<1 Month Post-Op>
This was the day I got my braces attached! I wasn’t nervous since I’d worn braces before. What excited me most was not having to wear the wafer anymore.
Dr. Lee explained the progress calmly and reassured me when I asked about my lingering jaw pain. Comparing my X-rays and photos to my pre-surgery face was shocking—my face had shrunk so much!
Dr. Lee mentioned that about 40-50% of the swelling had subsided and encouraged me to stay patient. I was allowed to eat soft, chewy foods, which made me so happy.
 
Time flies—it’s already been six months since my surgery. I’m eagerly waiting for all the swelling to go down to see my final look, but I’m thrilled with the progress so far. My confidence has soared, and I’m so thankful to Dr. Lee and the clinic for making this possible!
 
 
<2 Months Post-Surgery>
It’s already been two months since my surgery!
Although it’s only been two months, I can already eat almost everything I want, which feels almost too good to be true.
At first, my right jaw would click and hurt whenever I chewed, but it’s gradually improving over time.
There’s still some noticeable swelling in areas like my upper lip, cheeks, and the so-called "candy swelling" around my face. These areas feel firm and need more time to settle. However, my facial contours have changed dramatically, and the difference is so noticeable!
In the end, I think patience really is key. 😊
 
<6 Months Post-Surgery>
It’s already been six months since my surgery!
During my recent visit to the hospital, I was told that my bones have completely healed and most of the swelling has subsided. In the beginning, because I had the facial contouring (cheekbones, jawline, and chin) procedure done alongside, the swelling felt quite significant. Back then, I couldn’t even imagine what I’d look like at the six-month mark—but time has flown by!
Now, at six months post-surgery, I can eat nearly everything, even hard or chewy foods, without any issues. I’m incredibly satisfied with the results, and people around me keep saying my face has gotten so much smaller. 😊
Every time I go for a follow-up, my orthodontist carefully checks my progress and provides excellent care, which makes me feel really comfortable.
As for sensation, it’s almost completely returned. Since it’s getting colder, I’ve been doing warm compresses to help with any lingering sensitivity. Other than the discomfort when my braces wires are tightened, there’s nothing else that feels inconvenient anymore.
A big thank you again to Dr. Lee Seok-Jae for the amazing results! 😄