Before Surgery
Hello,
It’s already been one year since my surgery… It feels surreal.
Before the surgery, I struggled with jaw asymmetry, malocclusion, and a severe underbite. Back then, I found it hard to even walk around with my head held high. But now, I walk confidently with my shoulders back and my head up! 😊
Even in my daily life, I sometimes can’t believe that I actually went through surgery. I guess that’s proof of how well Dr. Seokjae Lee at WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery did his job!
 
1 Year Post-Surgery
Why I Got the Surgery
When I was younger, I hit a sudden growth spurt, and along with my height, my jaw also started growing.
At that time, I was too young to fully understand what was happening. Even when my friends made fun of me, we would just laugh it off together. But as I got older, I started noticing things I hadn’t before, and I realized that all my insecurities were focused on my face.
I knew I had to do something, so I started researching.
I looked into clinics through YouTube, apps, and the Cheoldojeong (철도청) café. I made an appointment for a consultation at a maxillofacial surgery clinic I found through an app, while also checking out other hospitals.
After multiple consultations and much deliberation, I finally decided on WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and scheduled my surgery for January 18th.
 


<Day 5 Post-Surgery>
 
Day 1 - Surgery Day
I arrived at the hospital in the morning, was guided to my room, changed into a hospital gown, and waited for my surgery.
Mentally, I felt fine, but deep inside, I was super nervous 😂 Then, I was taken into the operating room, put under anesthesia, and knocked out immediately. When I woke up, the doctor told me that the surgery had gone well, which put me at ease. From then on, I spent my time trying not to sleep, checking my phone, dozing off, waking up, and repeating that cycle.
The hardest part was that I couldn’t speak properly and couldn’t drink water even though I was thirsty.
I had heard that post-surgery pain could be so intense that people wanted to jump out of the hospital window, but strangely enough, I found it bearable. Maybe I’m just built differently? 😂
 
Day 2
When I woke up and looked in the mirror, I was surprised to see that my face wasn’t as swollen as I expected. I’ve never been the type to swell much, even after eating ramen before bed, so I thought, “Guess I got lucky?”
The urinary catheter and drainage tube were removed, and since my back was hurting from lying down, I went outside for a walk. I received water and Nutrient Care (뉴케어) through an IV, occasionally changed my ice packs, and started feeling slightly more comfortable.
Day 3
I received laser treatment in the morning. Then, it was discharge day! After picking up my medication from the pharmacy, I headed home. I have a cat, and while it recognized me, it didn’t approach me like it used to. That’s when it hit me—I had really changed. I guess even my cat could tell… After taking my meds, I felt restless from lying in a hospital bed, so I went for a 40-minute walk.
Day 4
This was the day I really started feeling the swelling increase by the hour. My Nutrient Care (뉴케어) shipment arrived, so I relied on that for all three meals. Since I already had a habit of exercising regularly, I made sure to walk for at least 30 minutes every day.
Days 5-7
By this point, I was getting sick of only drinking Nutrient Care. One of the clinic staff told me that sports drinks like Pocari Sweat would be a good alternative, so I immediately went to buy some. And wow—was Pocari always this sweet? 😂 It was so delicious at the time!
At night, the swelling got worse, making it hard to sleep. It felt like the swelling I had reduced from walking just kept coming back.
Day 8
I went back to the hospital for a follow-up treatment. During laser therapy, one of the staff members said that I looked “adorably swollen”, which made me laugh—except laughing hurt my upper lip so I had to hold it in. 😂 During my check-up, the doctor reassured me that the swelling would go down gradually, which gave me a lot of comfort.
 
6 Months Post-Surgery
By the 6-month mark, I could eat anything without restrictions.
Since I’ve always been into fitness, I resumed my workouts—carefully, without straining my jaw. I’m still cautious about lifting heavy weights, but I’m managing.
 
Thanks to consistent exercise and skincare, I haven’t experienced any sagging. With the jaw and chin surgeries refining my facial structure, my face now looks more youthful. Most importantly, my self-esteem skyrocketed—and guess what? I even got a girlfriend! 😆
Overall, I’m extremely happy with my results!
 
1 Year Post-Surgery
After a year of working, socializing, and enjoying life, I’ve been spending time at art exhibitions—one of my hobbies. When I see photos of myself now, I can’t believe I ever had surgery. I’ve completely forgotten what my old face looked like, and this new face feels like my real face now. One thing I realized is that the post-surgery swelling actually went down faster than I expected.
At first, everyone told me it would take forever, but looking back, it wasn’t that long at all.
From Week 1 to Week 4, I survived on porridge.
From Week 5 to Week 10, I gradually started chewing again while being cautious with my diet.
For the first three months, I couldn’t really exercise or eat properly—although I also avoided some foods voluntarily.
I think this entire process was worth it for the amazing results I got.
 
If you’re considering double jaw surgery, don’t overthink it! I highly recommend Dr. Seokjae Lee at WHY Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.
 
Thank you! 😊