10 months after double-jaw surgery: improved underbite and braces removed

It has already been 10 months since my double-jaw surgery. Up until month eight, I strongly felt that the postoperative recovery process was nearly complete, but now I have almost fully adapted to daily life to the point that I sometimes forget I had surgery at all. The areas that initially concerned me, such as swelling, eating, and pronunciation, are now hardly inconvenient. Recently, I also had the braces I had worn for a long time removed and moved on to retainers. Since orthodontic treatment continued after surgery, it felt as though a long treatment process still remained, but after removing the braces, I truly felt that I had entered the final stage. My teeth are aligned and my bite has settled stably, making eating much more comfortable. Before surgery, my lower jaw protruded, so the way my teeth came together was inconsistent and chewing was uncomfortable. Now I can eat most foods without paying special attention. It is also much more comfortable to smile and talk without braces. The facial swelling has almost completely settled, so even when I look in the mirror, I no longer check each changed area one by one. In the past, I often lost confidence because I worried about my facial shape and jaw when taking photos, but those thoughts have greatly decreased now. I continue to exercise regularly. I do weight training and running at about the same level as before surgery, and I do not have any particular concerns about my jaw during exercise or daily life. Before surgery, I had many worries facing the major decision of double-jaw surgery, but I think I was able to get through the long recovery steadily because Dr. Shin Hee-jin at Lee Yoo Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery kept checking on me from the preoperative consultation through my postoperative progress. Now that 10 months have passed, rather than feeling that I am “recovering after surgery,” it feels more accurate to say that I have fully adapted to living with my changed face and bite. At first, the long recovery period and orthodontic treatment felt overwhelming, but looking back, I am satisfied with my decision to have the surgery. From now on, I plan to take good care of my retainers and maintain my current bite and results.