My chin grew crooked when I was younger. I had suffered from jaw asymmetry for 20 years and thought about it every day. I am from Finland, where there is free high-quality healthcare, but my crooked jaw was seen more as an aesthetic problem, which prevented me from getting surgery. Only a few surgeons perform aesthetic jaw surgery in Finland and I went to one for a consultation. We didn’t really have the same vision of the ideal outcome and I felt that he didn’t have a good aesthetic sense.
I started researching options abroad and found Dr. Seok Jae Lee’s videos on Youtube. I was convinced by how skilled and realistic he was. I definitely wanted the surgery to be done by a oral & maxillofacial surgeon. It would be crazy to let a plastic surgeon operate jaws! I consulted quite a few well-known jaw surgeons in Seoul, but most of them recommended completely unnecessary procedures. It was also important to me that the surgeon understands European beauty ideals, which are very different from Asian ones. I didn’t want to reduce my mandible angles or small/weak chin.
After a lot of research, I ended up scheduling the surgery with Dr. Lee. I couldn’t even consider anyone else after researching many other top OMFS surgeons.
I arrived in Seoul a week before the surgery to allow enough time for a consultation and pre-operative tests. WHY hospital provided a wonderful, caring translator who was with me at every visit and always responded quickly to my messages. Dr. Lee was very warm hearted and caring and I wasn’t worried about the surgery at all. I knew I was in good hands. The hospital is great and new, there was a calm atmosphere. Dr. Lee is the only surgeon there and he does only one surgery a day.
The surgery and recovery
Dr. Seok Jae Lee performed my mini v-line surgery about six weeks ago at WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.
My surgery was at 9:30 in the morning and I was able to get back to my AirBnb apartment in the afternoon. I was in quite a bit of pain right after the surgery, but luckily the pain went away that same evening. Dr. Lee moved the tip of my chin to the center (it was over 10mm off) and moved my chin forward a few millimeters which removed my recessed chin look and balaced side profile. I didn't like my deep mentolabial fold, so he reattached the muscle to smooth out the crease.
The swelling was especially bad for the first two weeks and I had a throbbing and burning sensation in my chin 24/7. I was able to continue to explore Seoul two days after my surgery and did a lot of shopping! My stitches were removed after two weeks and after that I was able to eat anything I want. Immediately after the surgery the other side of my jaw and lip were numb. Fortunately the sensation returned after a few days and within a month it was 95% back, which I am really happy about!
6 weeks after
Now that it has been six weeks since the surgery, I am starting to see the results better, although there is still a lot of swelling. My chin/jaw muscles are working perfectly and sensations ale 99% back. I have a small pulling feeling only when I open my mouth very wide.
I have never had a symmetrical jaw in my life and I am so happy to start living my life with a balanced face! It feels like this is the jaw I should have been born with.
I am so grateful to Dr. Seok Jae Lee, the translator and the entire staff at WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery! ❤️
