Before the Surgery
After the surgery
 
 
<Before the Surgery>
Hello!
I've been stressed about my facial asymmetry since middle school. I visited a dentist back then, but they told me my case couldn’t be fixed with braces alone and recommended I consider double jaw surgery once I became an adult.
So, I didn't get braces in advance and kept delaying the surgery until I finally decided to go through with it.
 
Since it's a major procedure, I only considered maxillofacial surgery clinics rather than regular plastic surgery clinics. After researching carefully, I found Y Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and scheduled a consultation.
I went to three clinics for consultations—Y was the second one I visited. The staff were kind, and the doctor explained everything clearly and only mentioned what was necessary. I wanted a natural-looking result, which matched the doctor’s philosophy, so I trusted him and booked my surgery date on the same day: double jaw surgery + two-jaw contouring (square jaw & chin).
 
Right after the consultation, I got my dental impressions and tests done. I started taking iron supplements a month before surgery and ate everything I craved—though I wish I had eaten more!
 
Most of the supplies were provided by the clinic, but I also brought a few things:
 
Daiso sauce bottles (for crushed medicine)
Extra underwear
Phone charger
Sleep socks
Vaseline
I also prepared a humidifier at home in advance.
 
Surgery Day
I arrived at the hospital, changed into a gown, met the coordinator and doctor again, heard the surgical plan, and said goodbye to my mom before heading into the OR.
 
I remember the anesthesia gas being tough to inhale—and then I blacked out.
After surgery, I didn’t wake up easily, so the nurses kept trying to wake me up. Breathing was really hard—not so much drowsiness, just discomfort.
The doctor checked on me and said the surgery went well, though it was tricky because I have a small mouth.
He warned me that the first night would be the hardest—and he was right.
 
My guardian had to leave at 7 p.m., so the night-shift nurse kept coming to check on me and change my ice packs. I rang the bell a lot that night because it was so painful. I asked if they could suction my throat, but they said that might make it worse.
I couldn't sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time and just waited for time to pass.
 
Day 2
In the morning, they removed my urinary catheter, gave me swelling-reduction laser treatment, and took out the drainage tubes—which felt super weird.
 
It was a bit better than Day 1. I could drink New Care (liquid nutrition), but I wasn't hungry and still had mucus and breathing issues, so I skipped it.
I walked around the clinic a little and watched YouTube.
I had a fever again that night, but the nurse kept checking on me and replacing ice packs.
 
Day 3 – Discharge Day
Still had a stuffy nose and phlegm in my throat. Sitting up to sleep made my butt hurt, so I couldn’t sleep well.
Got laser again, had my IV removed, and was discharged around 11 a.m. after the doctor’s check-up.
 
My mom and sister picked me up. I got my prescriptions from a pharmacy and took a taxi home because I wasn’t strong enough for the subway.
 
Thankfully, I had already bought a floor chair and used that to rest at home.
I tried drinking New Care, but I’m lactose-intolerant, so I could barely take any.
 
The prescribed pills were huge—too hard to swallow—so my mom bought a mortar and pestle to crush them, then we mixed the powder with water and drank it using a sauce bottle.
 
I always kept the humidifier on, took naps when I could, and paced around the house a bit. Still too weak to go outside.
 
Week 1
On Day 4, I visited the clinic again for disinfection and swelling laser. They told me I could now use a soft children’s toothbrush.
 
This was the peak swelling period.
My nose was barely open, I had a constant dry mouth, especially at night, and the face-tightening band was too painful, so I mostly just used cold packs.
 
By Day 5, I switched to warm packs and started to see swelling go down. My face was still puffy, but my jawline was already noticeably slimmer.
I had some yellow bruising around my jaw, but it faded within 5 days.
 
Tried walking more, but since I wasn’t eating properly, I was still low-energy. Could only walk about an hour with my mom—had nasal discharge and saliva drooling due to swelling.
 
Week 2
Finally, stitch removal day! I was nervous after reading others’ reviews, but it wasn’t too painful—just a small sting.
Since they were dissolvable stitches, they didn’t remove all of them.
 
The doctor advised me to do mouth exercises (A-E-I-O-U sounds), so I started doing them regularly.
I felt like swelling started reducing faster after the stitches came out, though the sides of my face were still uneven. I just kept telling myself “time will fix it” and focused on walking, warm compresses, and wearing the band.
 
Started sleeping lying down again and taking probiotics and iron.
My diet included: soft cake, steamed eggs, broth from cold noodles, porridge (cooked until super soft), and broth with no solid ingredients.
I even had some spicy squid salad from Bonjuk—it was delicious!
 
Week 3
I could visibly see swelling go down every day! My face was less puffy at night than in the morning, and walking really helped.
My mouth could now open to about 1.5 fingers wide. I kept doing mouth stretches and expanded my diet to various porridges, soft cold noodles, and even a mild spicy radish porridge my dad made.
 
Energy was slowly coming back.
The area above my lips was still swollen, and smiling still pulled and hurt a bit—but that’s normal.
 
Week 4 – Almost 1 Month
I could now eat most foods (cut up small and swallowed without chewing).
I also started practicing smiling, but my right corner of the mouth still didn’t lift evenly, so I practiced in the mirror.
The swelling had reduced a lot, though the right side was still puffier than the left.
 
Pre-surgery, my facial asymmetry was quite severe—but now it looked so much better.
I just hoped the remaining swelling would keep going down!
 
3-Month Post-Op Update
<Before Surgery>
<3 Months After>
Swelling has gone down a lot, and daily life is much easier.
People tell me my face looks smaller and shorter now, and although there's still a bit of swelling around my upper lip and smile, people who meet me for the first time wouldn’t know I had surgery!
 
I can open my mouth 3.5–4 fingers wide now, and most sensation has returned.
Sometimes I feel a tightness under my lower lip, but the doctor said that could last up to 6 months, and I should continue with warm packs and mouth exercises.
 
I can eat nearly everything except very hard foods.
I'm still going through post-surgery orthodontic treatment, so my molars don't align yet—I have to cut my food into small pieces and chew carefully.
Also, braces are very uncomfortable, especially eating out.
 
Sometimes I feel tightness after meals, and I think I developed a slight double chin and nose spread, but it’s nothing too noticeable.
These were things I knew in advance, so I’m not too bothered.
 
My side profile has improved so much, and I’m doing my best to finish orthodontic treatment.
 
6 Months After
 
<6 Months After Surgery>
Now that it’s been 6 months, the clinic says most of the swelling is gone!
My facial contours are more defined, and I notice subtle changes in everyday life.
 
I don’t have any complications, though my mouth still feels slightly awkward when speaking or making expressions.
I’m continuing mouth exercises, and it’s gradually improving.
 
Friends I haven’t seen in a while thought I just had braces—or lost weight and got skin treatments!
People say I look prettier, and strangers have no idea I had surgery, which makes me feel proud and happy about my decision.
 
I can now eat spicy, salty, and hot foods without any problem. I’m still careful with very hard foods, but overall, eating is no longer uncomfortable.
 
I’ve fully adjusted back to daily life and feel much more confident and relaxed around others.
Now I just need to finish my orthodontic treatment, and everything will be complete!
I'm continuing to take good care of myself, hoping my braces can come off soon 😊