<Before Surgery>
 
<After Surgery>
 
Hello,
It’s now been three weeks since I had double jaw surgery along with two-point contouring (square jaw + chin) at WHY Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic on August 5th.
Since I was young, I always felt stressed about my profile in photos. From the front, it wasn’t very noticeable, but from the side, my chin looked long and protruded, which made my overall impression look very different.
Especially when I laughed or spoke, my chin seemed to stick out even more, so it was uncomfortable to make natural expressions in front of people.
Because these things kept bothering me, my self-esteem would ｄrｏp every time I took a photo or had a conversation.
After struggling with this concern for several years, I finally decided to go through with the surgery.
Day 1
After surgery, the doctor said I shouldn’t fall asleep right away because of the anesthesia gas, so I tried to stay awake. But I was so sleepy that I kept dozing off for a few seconds at a time.
I heard that the pain level after double jaw surgery varies by person, but thankfully, it wasn’t extremely painful for me.
It felt more uncomfortable than painful—like nausea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing from the gas. That was the hardest part.
As time passed, the gas slowly cleared, and I managed to rest in short naps.
The nurses checked on me often, which made things a lot more comfortable.
Day 2
They removed the urine catheter and blood drain, so I was able to move around.
Since walking helps reduce swelling, I walked around the hospital frequently like I was on a stroll.
When I looked in the mirror after regaining some clarity, I was amazed—my long, protruding chin had gone in!
It made me realize how incredible medical technology really is.
Although my cheeks and philtrum were very swollen, I still felt happy looking in the mirror.
Day 3
Discharge day! The nurse explained all the precautions and medications, and my mom came as guardian. Together, we stopped by the pharmacy to pick up medicine and saline before heading home.
For the next two weeks, I could only have liquid foods, so I had already stocked up on protein shakes.
Day 4
As expected, days 3–4 were when swelling peaked. My face and philtrum felt like they would burst.
Since I couldn’t brush my teeth yet, I rinsed with mouthwash to freshen up, then kept walking slowly around the house while sipping protein shakes.
Day 5
My nose felt a little less blocked than the day before, which was a relief.
But it was still stuffy, so I kept a humidifier on in my room and drank warm water often.
At night, I went for a light 20-minute walk before taking short naps again.
Day 6
My nose gradually started to clear. Since I felt sleepy and hungry, my day was just sleeping and drinking protein shakes on repeat.
After taking my meds, I tried to move around a bit and went for short walks inside.
Day 7
My nose was almost completely unblocked, so I finally caught up on sleep during the day.
At night, I noticed some swelling had gone down. The cool early morning air was refreshing, so I went for a 40-minute walk.
Day 8
I went back to the clinic for laser treatment and cleaning. The doctor showed me my pre- and post-surgery X-rays.
He also said I could start brushing gently with a child’s toothbrush.
Day 9
A little over a week in, I noticed my swelling had gone down more compared to earlier.
My cheeks and philtrum were still very puffy, but when I compared with earlier photos, the difference was clear.
To help reduce swelling further, I diligently did warm compresses and walked often.
Days 10–13
Since I hadn’t eaten solid food, I had little energy, so most of my days were just lying around on my phone or napping.
But knowing I’d get my stitches out soon kept me motivated. I even went out to a café and grabbed chocolate milk and strawberry milk at the convenience store.
Week 2 – Stitch Removal Day
Finally, the long-awaited day came. I had read many reviews saying stitch removal was very painful, so I was nervous. But maybe because I was so tense, it didn’t hurt as much as expected.
The doctor said only the middle of the upper lip would sting a bit, and that’s exactly how it felt—just a light pinch.
They also removed the wafer and elastics, which meant I could finally eat soft foods.
The nurse showed me how to put the elastics on and off, and after a few tries at home, I quickly got used to it.
Brushing my teeth thoroughly for the first time after wafer removal felt amazing.
After brushing, I ate porridge and yogurt, brushed again, put my wafer and elastics back in, and rested.
Week 3
Next week, I’ll finally begin orthodontic treatment.
Once the stitches were out, swelling seemed to subside faster, my energy came back, and my quality of life improved.
On humid days, I sometimes felt a bit drained, but I knew it wasn’t because of the surgery—it was just the weather.
People around me have been giving me compliments, so I feel satisfied and continue my recovery with a positive mindset.