<Before Surgery> 
I’ve always been stressed about my overall wide face shape, prominent cheekbones, and square jawline. Additionally, my mouth seemed to require effort to close properly, which was especially noticeable in photos.
For years, I only thought about undergoing surgery, and now I’ve already reached my mid-20s. One day, as usual, I was watching videos about facial contouring surgery when I came across the YouTube channel of WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Seeing the transformation of someone with a face shape similar to mine convinced me to book a consultation.
Since it’s a major surgery, I visited three other well-known clinics specializing in double jaw and facial contouring surgeries before having my final consultation at WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. After comparing the consultations, I was even more confident about choosing this clinic. They emphasized safety while accurately understanding the direction of the surgery I wanted.
Another benefit was that the clinic also offers dental services, so I could undergo post-surgical orthodontic treatment there. Among all the clinics I visited, this one had the cleanest and most welcoming atmosphere.
The consultation with the doctor suited my personality well. The doctor was straightforward and trustworthy, which gave me great confidence. On the same day, I scheduled the surgery and even paid the deposit.
 
[Before Surgery]
Since I had to fit the surgery into my schedule while working, I didn’t have much time. On the day of the consultation, I paid the deposit, did blood tests, and even got my wafer fitting done—all in one go! However, my hemoglobin levels came back low, which was a struggle. 😢
For three weeks, I had to go to a local clinic for iron injections and take iron supplements to improve my levels before retaking the blood test. Luckily, I managed to get my hemoglobin levels up.
The day before the surgery, I ate as much as I could before midnight. I’d have regretted it if I hadn’t because, even as I write this, there are so many things I still can’t eat freely. 😅 I gathered all the supplies I needed by looking through blogs and YouTube reviews, then went to sleep to prepare for the big day.
 
[8/13 - Surgery Day]
Since my surgery was scheduled for the first slot at 10 AM, I arrived at the clinic by 9:40 AM. I’d never had surgery before, so I wasn’t even nervous—more like, “I’ll be asleep anyway, right?” 😂
I changed into patient clothes, got an additional explanation from the coordinator, saw the doctor one last time, and headed into the operating room. Everyone was busy attaching things to my body, giving me injections, and asking me to take deep breaths... and then I was out. No memory at all!
“Wake up! The surgery is over.”
I opened my eyes, acting like everything was fine. I followed their instructions to take deep breaths and nodded when they told me not to close my eyes or sleep to let the anesthesia wear off. My mom asked the nurse if I was okay, and they complimented me for enduring everything so well. But then... the real pain began.
The pain was so intense it left me dazed. Breathing was hard, and I felt overwhelmed. I had a drain in my mouth, tubes in my nose, gauze over my upper lip, and every possible opening was blocked—it was incredibly tough. But what could I do? This was my choice, after all.
On the first day, I couldn’t even look at my phone. The pain was too much, and even breathing felt like a struggle. By the middle of the night, I was in such excruciating pain that I asked for painkillers, which they administered through an IV. It helped a bit, but I didn’t sleep at all that night.
As time passed, the pain very, very, very slowly started to ease. Drinking water was more like just wetting my mouth rather than actually swallowing. Thankfully, I wasn’t thirsty at all; I just remember the pain and discomfort. Everything felt so tedious and annoying. If you’re preparing for surgery, make sure to get a squeeze bottle from Daiso—it’ll be a lifesaver!
Must-Have Items
Cotton swabs, Large-capacity portable charger (I was in so much pain that even plugging in a charger felt like too much effort during my hospital stay), Memory foam neck pillow
 

​[8/14 - Second Day]
Around 8 AM, the urinary catheter was removed. I’d heard it could be painful, so I was nervous, but it didn’t hurt at all! I received swelling reduction laser treatment and had the nasal tubes and gauze removed.
I’d been eagerly waiting for the doctor to remove the drainage tube—so much so that I even asked a nurse in the middle of the night what time it would be taken out. Time felt like it was crawling. Once the tube and hoses were gone, drinking water became much easier.
Though I was advised to walk around the hospital for better recovery, the pain was still so intense that I couldn’t move much. I managed to get some short naps here and there, and the day went by a little faster than the first.
I was given New Care (a nutritional supplement), but I couldn’t even attempt to drink it. Before the doctor left for the day, they emphasized the importance of staying active, so I started walking down the hallways late at night. It felt like I was making progress, slowly but surely!
I have so much respect for the nurses working overnight shifts. Thinking back, I don’t even know how I managed everything—it was excruciating. But I wasn’t bored; the pain left no room for that. By evening, the staff had prepared my discharge items and prescriptions, so I was ready to go home the next day.
 
[8/15 - Discharge Day]
Early in the morning, I received my IV medications and finally had the IV line removed—what a relief! I’d heard some people feel nauseous from the IV, but I didn’t have that problem. My only issue was the pain and the thought of living without painkillers from now on.
After packing my things and changing into my clothes, I waited quietly for my mom to arrive. Post-surgery, I became so reliant on her—it was like magic how holding her hand on the second day made me feel better.
If possible, I recommend having a family member as your caregiver. My mom picked up my prescriptions, and we headed home. Amazingly, as soon as I got home, I felt hungry! Finally, a sign that I was improving.
I managed to drink half a bottle of New Care and took my medications before enjoying a refreshing shower. From this point on, I set up a little recovery station on the sofa, complete with a neck pillow, hot compress, and all my essentials.
 
[8/16 - Fourth Day]
My face? Unrecognizable. 😱 The swelling turned into a mix of blue and yellow hues—I looked more like a fish than a human. Despite the worsening puffiness, my nosebleeds and nasal discharge started to subside, which made me happy.
Meals were still limited to New Care, but I managed to finish a whole bottle this time! I made an effort to go on daily walks, knowing I only had eight days off work (including surgery day) before returning to the grind as a “hell office worker.” Oh, how I wish I could recover at a leisurely pace.
Sleeping was still a challenge. Sitting upright to sleep was pure torture, and I couldn’t sleep through the night due to the pain. I relied heavily on painkillers like Tarcen to get through it.
 
[8/17 - Fifth Day]
Why does the swelling seem to get worse every day? There was no sign of the bruising fading either.
I tried eating pumpkin porridge for the first time since it had no chunks, and it went down smoothly—it was delicious! I spent most of the day doing hot compresses and watching YouTube. Knowing my free time was running out made me both sad and anxious about returning to work while still in pain.
 
[8/18 - Sixth Day]
To pass the time and help reduce the swelling, I organized my vanity and closet with the air conditioner blasting. It wasn’t strenuous since I just sat still and moved my hands, so it worked out well.
When I weighed myself, I was shocked to see I’d lost 6 kg since before the surgery! A miracle, considering how stubborn my weight had been. Living on liquid food must have done the trick.
Even though the pain was still there, I’d grown used to it and carried on with my day. I can’t speak for others, but everyone going through this is incredible.
 
[8/19 - Seventh Day]
For some reason, I was extremely hungry from the moment I woke up. I craved solid food so badly that I tried soft tofu with soy sauce—it was delightful!
I was a bit worried about eating it but felt so happy. Since I hadn’t been speaking much during recovery, I found talking awkward and practiced by video-calling friends throughout the day. It was an emergency training session to get back into the habit of talking!
 
​
​[8/20 - Eighth Day]
The day to remove my cheekbone stitches! I went to the clinic, saw the doctor, received a swelling reduction laser treatment, and had the stitches taken out.
The staff complimented me, saying my face looked smaller! However, since I bruise easily, there’s a large bruise under my eye that I’m a bit worried about.
I was instructed to remove the wafer when eating and to be extra thorough with brushing my teeth. Looks like brushing is going to take a while from now on. 😅
 
<1-Month Update>
I can definitely feel that my face has gotten much smaller! While there’s still some swelling and my facial muscles feel stiff, I think that’s to be expected at this stage.
The pain has significantly decreased. The gum pain, which was especially difficult for me, has gone from a 100 to about a 20.
For anyone considering double jaw surgery, I highly recommend reading various reviews before making a decision. Choose carefully, and I hope you achieve great results!
 
 
​
<One month later>
​
​<Before/After Surgery>
I can see my face got smaller after surgery!
 
<3 Months later>
<3-Month Update>
It’s hard to believe that three months have already passed since my last update!
In the beginning, I used to count the days (D+X) every single day, and time seemed to crawl by. But these days, it feels like time is flying. 
I think it’s because I’ve moved past the stage of dealing with swelling and pain. :)
While I’m not fully recovered yet, the discomfort seemed to peak at about one month. Now, I don’t need painkillers anymore, and I’m sleeping well—it feels amazing!
The visible swelling has gone down so much that I’m wondering if there’s even any left to reduce. Things are really looking up!
 
The doctor mentioned that swelling will continue to reduce gradually for up to a year.
I started orthodontic treatment a month after the surgery, and I must say, it’s a bit inconvenient. Food gets stuck so easily—it’s quite frustrating. 😅
But honestly, it’s manageable at this point.
Oh, and I couldn’t eat chewy or hard foods right after the surgery, but now I can enjoy them without any issues! 👍 Scissors are still a must for anything too tough to handle, though—no overdoing it!
Since my angular facial shape transformed into a rounder one, I’ve been hearing a lot of comments about how much softer and younger I look! 
I’m really happy with the results.
At my 3-month follow-up, we did a CT scan, and the doctor said my bones are healing well. As long as I stay consistent with my recovery, everything should continue improving smoothly!
I also have to mention again how amazing the staff at WHY Clinic are, especially the manager—they’re always so kind and attentive.
Even after the surgery, they’ve been checking in regularly and taking great care of me.
 
I can’t wait for 6 months, 1 year, and even 2 years to pass so I can finish my orthodontic treatment and enjoy the final results! 😊