Motivation of surgery

Ever since my last year of middle school, I have been stressed due to my lantern jaw and facial asymmetry. I felt self-conscious of taking pictures with my friends, so I would always cover my jaw. Getting double jaw surgery as a student seemed dangerous and it was a big surgery. I knew that some people died when doing jaw surgery so I thought of non-surgical ways like braces. But every time I went to the orthodontist, I was told that my symptoms would not improve with only braces and that I would need double jaw surgery. My parents were strongly against it and after several years of contemplating, I decided to have surgery before I became older so that I can look and feel confident.

Why EU?

I received information through social media, surgery reviews, and form the people around me. I also received consultations from various clinics. The outer appearance of the jaw was important to me but improving my concerns through a safer way was my priority. That is why I searched for maxillofacial clinics instead of plastic surgery clinics, and I stumbled upon EU Surgery. First, EU is a clinic that specializes in facial bone surgery, and I was able to gain trust during my consultation with the doctor. The doctor also had experience at a plastic surgery clinic in the past, so he knew about safety and aesthetics. This is why I chose EU Surgery.

Surgery Day

I was very nervous before surgery but after falling asleep and waking up, the surgery was already over. I didn’t experience a lot of bruising or swelling and my parents said if I covered my jaw, they couldn’t tell I just had surgery! My throat has been hurting all day and I keep having nose bleeds. I had a hard time breathing but I am very grateful to the nurse who took care of me the whole night.​

Post OP 3 Days

After I woke up, I received laser treatment along with dental dressing, and nose suctioning. After the nose suction, it was much easier to breathe! The consultant told me that 3-4 months post OP is when the swelling is the most severe. I feel like I am becoming the character “anpangman,” who has a round and chubby face. I will go home and take my medications and disinfect my mouth everyday!

Post OP 4 Days

My nose has been clogged the whole night, and my throat has been sore so I couldn’t sleep well. My tail bone has been hurting and my bottom feels sore since I have to sit for long periods of time. I’ve been drinking New Care and going out on walks with my mom for an hour and a half. Maybe it was because I didn’t drink enough New Care but I felt slightly dizzy and went home. I hope my swelling decreases quickly.

Post OP 7 Days

It’s been one week since I had surgery! After getting laser treatment at the clinic and going on a walk, my swelling decreased a little. I am able to breathe more comfortably now and have no trouble with sleeping. I am happy and I hope I will be able to lie down completely to sleep soon.

Post OP 12 Days

After one week, I’ve been experiencing bruising from my jaw, all the way down to my chest. Since I have been getting laser treatment regularly, the swelling seems to have decrease a lot! I have been craving a lot of foods since I am on a liquid diet.. the consultant told me I can eat ramyeon noodles after I get my stitches removed so I should wait 3 more days.

Post OP 13 Days

I ate tofu and castella bread dipped in milk today and it was really delicious! Everything else got better but because of the wafers, my pronunciation is a little rough when I talk and it’s really uncomfortable when I brush my teeth. I want to take off my wafers quickly so that I can brush my teeth comfortably!

Post OP 15 Days

I finally got my stitches removed. I was worried since I heard stitch removal can be painful, and I cried a little because it was too painful ㅠㅠ but after my stitches got removed, the inside of my mouth feels more comfortable when I eat and smile. I can brush my teeth in a timely manner from now on!

Post OP 17 Days

My nose looks higher and it looks slightly different from the side since my jaw was set back. My lips were already on the thin side but it seems it got even more thinner. If my swelling decreases, maybe it will get bigger again? I also checked my weight and I lost 5kg and I was surprised. I should eat more properly starting tomorrow so that I can get enough vitamins.

Post OP 23 Days

Initially, the swelling made my face look asymmetrical but now both sides are almost similar. I can sleep by completely lying on my back now which feels much more comfortable than sleeping upright. I feel that the swelling increases a bit when I sleep lying on my back though, so I will try to go on more frequent walks.

Post OP 31 Days

It’s been a month since my surgery so I went to the clinic to have my one month progress check and I took medical photos, dental photos, and scans. Seeing my before and after pictures and I was surprised with how much my face changed and how much my facial asymmetry improved. I also met the orthodontist at the clinic and he asked me if I was curious about anything, and he was very kind so I was very grateful. I started my braces today and I couldn’t open my mouth widely yet so it hurt during the process but it wasn’t too uncomfortable. I was told that I could eat soft foods from now on but I would have to chew carefully. I am so happy LOL. I will also do the jaw exercises more everyday!

Post OP 35 Days

After one month has passed, I could see that the swelling has decreased a lot. I have been eating soft foods but due to my braces, the food jeeps getting stuck. I have to brush my teeth immediately after eating, which is uncomfortable. I want it to be 3 months post OP already so that I could eat solid foods.

Post OP 44 Days

It’s already been 44 days since my surgery. I have limitations to what I can chew so I haven’t been craving any foods lately and I’ve been losing a lot of weight. I still look a bit awkward when I smile or talk but I regained most of the feeling in my mouth.

Post OP 62 Days

I finally met my friends, it’s been so long. As soon as they saw me, they said my face looked smaller and the surgery results were natural. If I hadn’t told them I had double jaw surgery, they said they wouldn’t have noticed. Wherever I go, I hear that I look young and pretty so I feel I made the right choice by getting surgery.

Post OP 78 Days

I feel my facial expressions are becoming more natural and I am regaining feeling on my jaw! I already have a small mouth but the braces also make it difficult for me to smack my lips together. It’s a bit uncomfortable when I do my makeup. I hope my mouth will heal and return to a more natural state.

Post OP 3 Months

It’s already been 3 months since surgery and I received my progress check up! The doctor told me I should still be careful of tough, solid foods but I can proceed with my daily activities without any problems. I have regained almost all of the feeling back but my jaw makes noises so I have to take medications for 2 weeks and have a progress check up. I’m happy that I can eat what I want now!!!

Post OP 4 Months

I have been doing well to the point where I forgot that I had surgery! My jaw joint pain got a lot better after taking medication and I’ve been doing the jaw exercises everyday so now I can open my mouth more wider!! I ate cubed radish for the first time after surgery and it hurt for a moment so I was surprised. I went to get my braces checked up and one of the staff told me that the brackets on the right molars came off and asked if it wasn’t painful. I didn’t even know that it came off… I think I should be more careful when eating radish.

Post OP 5 Months

Lately, I’ve been eating everything I want except for tough chewy foods and hard foods. Maybe that’s why I’ve been gaining weight. I have regained almost all the feeling back in my jaw and mouth. I keep forgetting that I had surgery! I want to finish braces quickly.

Post OP 6 Months

I received my last progress check up. My bones recovered well and are stuck together well and the feeling in my jaw has returned almost completely back to normal. It does not bother me when doing my daily activities. I am satisfied and I am really glad that I did surgery!

Post OP 7 Months

Everyone who I haven't seen in a long time is told that their faces have become so small and prettier! I'm so proud whenever my friends who know I've had surgery say that I've become so natural and pretty that they don't know if I've had surgery. I hope my braces are over soon!​

Post OP 7 Months

Everyone who I haven't seen in a long time is told that my faces have become so small and prettier! I'm so proud whenever my friends who know I've had surgery say that I've become so natural and pretty that they don't know if I've had surgery. I hope my braces are over soon!

Post OP 8 Months

I met my middle school friends after a few years, and they said I looked prettier without recognize that I did surgery. I thought they'd recognize the change, but I guess the surgery went really well.

These days, I've eaten everything I want to eat, and my jaw sensation has come back, so I'm doing really well every day.~~

Post OP 9 Months

Wherever I go these days, I always hear that my face is so small. At first, my parents said that I do not looks like her daughter’s face and that they couldn't get used to it, but now they don't remember my face before.

11 Months Post OP

I’ve been having no difficulties and I almost forgot that I had surgery. If I had surgery a little earlier at a younger age, I think I would have been more satisfied.

12 Months Post OP

It’s already been a year since I had surgery! During the first 3 months after surgery, it was difficult due to the swelling and I couldn’t eat properly but now, I do not have any negative side effects. I am really grateful that the surgery went well. I still have a little bit more than half a year left for my braces. I want my braces to be over now~~! I’ll find strength~​