Ever since I was a college student, I kept feeling that my chin looked different depending on the angle whenever I took photos, and because I thought it was not just my imagination, I got a dental consultation and was diagnosed with Class III malocclusion. That is when I was recommended orthognathic surgery, and I began seriously thinking about it. I was told that orthodontics alone could improve the functional aspects, but aesthetically the chin could remain the same or even look more prominent, so I decided that someday I needed to make the right choice and committed to surgery.
The hospital was recommended by a dental clinic I had consulted with in Gwangju, and among them was Lee Gu Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. After carefully comparing many reviews, I felt it was the place that best matched my case, so I ultimately chose it and had orthognathic + contouring surgery with Dr. Shin Hee-jin :)
Now that I have reached the 9-month mark, it really feels like almost all of the residual swelling is gone compared with month 7! In particular, the tiny bits of swelling remaining around the chin have settled, so the jawline is much more defined and sharper, and the overall facial contour has become more three-dimensional. The line that used to look a little dull has now been naturally refined, and it is really nice that I do not have to worry about angles when taking photos haha
The movement around my mouth has also become much more natural. The slight foreign or awkward feeling I had in the beginning has almost completely disappeared, so speaking and smiling are much more comfortable, and I am at the point where I can forget in daily life that I even had surgery. I feel like this is the stage where not only the functional side but also the aesthetic satisfaction keeps increasing!
People around me still think I just lost weight and have no idea I had surgery, which makes me even more satisfied because they say it looks that natural haha. In fact, the longer time passes, the more natural and complete it feels, and I think I understand why people say the real result only starts showing after 6 months! Personally, I think this is one of the most satisfying periods so far, and even if I could go back to before surgery, I would make the same choice again without hesitation. As the jawline became more refined, my facial proportions also look much better, and taking photos has become fun, so my overall satisfaction with life feels higher :)
If you are considering orthognathic surgery, I think it would be helpful to look not only at the surgical result itself, but also at the recovery process and how the face changes over time!