I deliberated about double-jaw surgery for 10 years before getting it.

Hello. This is a review from one month after finally undergoing double-jaw surgery after worrying about it for 10 years. - Surgery name: SSRO double-jaw + two contouring procedures (square jaw, chin tip) During my growth spurt, I grew rapidly in height and my jaw also developed a lot. Because of that, I had malocclusion, and throughout my school years I was teased and stressed. I first started orthodontic treatment in high school, but even then the orthodontic clinic told me in advance, “Even if you do orthodontic treatment focused on chewing function, you may still need double-jaw surgery later if it becomes uncomfortable.” The orthodontic treatment improved things enough that I could even gain weight afterward, but the fundamental issue was still unresolved. After that, I kept worrying about it for 10 years, but then I developed severe headaches and temporomandibular joint pain of unknown cause (to the point that I could not sleep), and chewing became increasingly difficult. Also, even after 2 years and 6 months of orthodontic treatment, my dental midline did not match and one lower tooth remained pushed inward, so I decided to have surgery in order to improve my temporomandibular joint and chewing function. Criteria for choosing the hospital: I chose an oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic rather than a plastic surgery clinic, and when selecting the hospital, the 5 things I considered most important were: the chief director performing the surgery alone, an anesthesiology specialist on site, the ability to collaborate with orthodontics, a specialized oral and maxillofacial surgery hospital, and one surgery per day with real-time CCTV. That is why I chose Y Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Ten years ago, it was strongly seen as a “dangerous surgery,” so I was very scared, but I kept looking up information and watched a huge number of YouTube videos to study. When I went for the consultation, I cried because it brought back memories of how hard the past 10 years had been, and it was a surgery I had seriously worried about for so long. I had seen posts saying the director was unfriendly, but I am completely T-type in temperament, so I did not feel that at all lol. If anything, he did not waste time with unnecessary talk and explained only the necessary parts accurately, which made me trust him more. He asked if I had any questions, but I had studied so much before coming that I really had none, so when I said I did not, he seemed a little puzzled. He also said he would not recommend surgery for a face that did not need it, which actually made me trust him even more, and I was very satisfied with the consultation itself. Right after surgery ~ during hospitalization: On the day of surgery, the weather was -13 degrees Celsius, and when I entered the operating room I felt calm rather than nervous. The period right after surgery was the hardest. It was truly a day when I was out of it, and I was able to get through it thanks to my family taking care of me beside me. - Nasal congestion + mouth breathing, throat pain, a high fever starting at 8 p.m. on the day of surgery, and severe sleep deprivation from waking up every 3 to 10 minutes On day 2, they removed the urinary catheter, did swelling laser treatment, and the director personally removed the drain and disinfected the wound. Aside from feeling nauseated when taking antibiotics, it was much better than the first day. I also remember how kind the nurses were. Day 3 discharge. I could not swallow large pills even before, so I was prescribed powdered medicine, and only when I got home did I understand why they asked, “Will you be okay?” It was truly disgusting, bitter, and nauseating 😅 My method for taking it was to take the medicine and immediately eat 1 to 2 spoonfuls of Will or plain yogurt with no chunks, then rinse with mouthwash and water. Recovery process - Day 5: The bruising was only about the size of a 500-won coin around the double chin area, and from day 4 to day 7 the swelling was at its peak, so I think I was swollen a lot. - Up to day 10: Saliva kept running, so I stuck gauze to my chin. It was damp, but I could sleep like a baby. - Week 2: The nasal congestion gradually improved, stitches were removed (the area below the philtrum hurt quite a bit), and I started brushing my teeth and opening my mouth exercises. - Weeks 3 to 4: I took one walk a day, and as my teeth and lips felt tingly and itchy, I thought this was the nerves coming back. Because the swelling was less than I expected, I originally planned to go out only after fully recovering, but daily life became possible sooner than expected, so I also went out for volunteer work and met friends. Changes after surgery - Before surgery, I often heard that I had a strong impression, that I looked angry, and that I looked masculine. - At around 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, hearing that my face looked smaller, that I looked like a quokka, that I had a smiling face, and that I was cute made me feel it was truly the right choice. Thoughts at one month: I am not yet at the fully recovered stage, but the biggest problem, the headaches, have completely disappeared, and I am satisfied with the change in my image too. It was not an easy decision because I had worried about it for 10 years, but now I think I should have done it sooner. Double-jaw surgery is not something you can decide lightly, but I felt that if you research enough and choose a hospital you can trust, it can really change your quality of life. I hope this helps those who have been worrying for a long time like I did 😊