I’ve had a complex about the lower face area since I was in high school. Because I had a protruding mouth and a long, wide chin, I couldn’t even think about wearing turtlenecks, and whether it was selfies or photos taken by other people, I would always edit them before uploading. Later on, I even stopped taking photos at all. After I became an adult, I got orthodontic treatment for protruding teeth, and the protrusion improved a lot, but as the fat in my face came off, my cheekbones and chin stood out even more. I realized this was bone, not fat, and decided to get facial contouring. After searching hospitals for several years, I decided on an oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. Since it was a major surgery that involved bone, safety was my top priority. I searched through various apps and cafes and made a consultation appointment. I liked that it was a one-doctor clinic, that CCTV was installed, that the doctor was a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and above all, the director’s experience was incredible. During the consultation, even without me explicitly explaining what direction I wanted, they understood it, and when the director said they would not do overly aggressive surgery, I decided right away as soon as I left the consultation. They said my chin would be reduced by 4 to 5 mm, and because I also had a slightly recessed chin, they would do chin advancement as well.
(Before surgery) The surgery was scheduled for one week after the consultation, and luckily the hospital had an opening, so I was able to get the date moved up. I thought it would be better to do it sooner since it was a surgery with a long recovery period, so I went ahead and decided on it. Since my surgery date was not far away, I ate as much protein- and vegetable-based food as possible, just as the hospital instructed. During that period, the manager also kept messaging me, telling me to eat plenty of meat. I really liked how attentive the manager was.
(Surgery day, day 1) I had never had surgery before, so I arrived 10 minutes early, like I was just going to a regular appointment, but there were quite a few things to do at the hospital, like changing clothes. If you’re getting surgery, I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early. After changing, washing my face, and gargling, I went into the operating room and lay down on the table. I was nervous because it was my first time being anesthetized, and when the anesthesiologist said, “This is oxygen,” I thought, when are they actually going to start the anesthesia? Then I opened my eyes and was sitting on a recovery room bed. The moment I came to, my throat hurt terribly, I couldn’t swallow even saliva properly, and I couldn’t speak. At the same time, I really wanted water. They had said I couldn’t drink anything for five hours after surgery, and that was the longest five hours of my life. The moment the five hours were up, I asked the nurse for water. But even when I got it, I still couldn’t really drink it properly, just enough to moisten my mouth. I kept dozing off and waking up, and during the time before seeing the director, when I briefly took off the compression wrap to get the swelling laser treatment, I looked in the mirror and literally gasped. I immediately took a photo and sent it to a friend because my chin had become shorter and sharper. After the laser treatment, they removed the drain, and it didn’t hurt, but it felt slippery and strange. I was glad it wasn’t painful and that it came out quickly. My chin tip was reduced by 4 mm.
(After discharge, day 2) When I got home, leaning my back against a triangle cushion while sleeping was so comfortable. I took my medicine on schedule, drank soy milk, and had red bean tea to help the swelling go down. I also used Hexamedin frequently. Still, the lingering discomfort was unavoidable. As soon as I got home, I slept a little and woke up to find my face swollen. I thought, so this is where it starts~ It gets even more swollen in the evening. I read the hospital’s instructions and kept dozing off and waking up. I still couldn’t sleep well at this stage. Even the triangle cushion was uncomfortable, and I had to keep replacing the ice packs (it felt heavenly when the nurse did it...). So I kept going back and forth to the freezer. I bought one more ice pack from Coupang in the same shape as the one the hospital gave me and alternated between them. But my face was so hot that even two weren’t enough.
(Day 3) This morning was when the swelling was at its worst. I looked exactly like that dog meme that got stung by bees. I had no appetite at all. I didn’t even want soy milk, but I forced myself to drink it because I had to take my medicine. By evening, the swelling had noticeably gone down. Of course, that means compared with the morning... Up until day 3, I had no energy and just wanted to sleep, so I stayed lying down at home.
(Day 4) It was swollen in the morning, but not as badly as the day before. I could slightly see that the chin tip was becoming more refined. Instead, starting this day, my lips began to swell. I felt a bit better, so I even went out for a walk. I walked about 8,000 steps. With a hat and mask on, fully covered, I got some fresh cold air and came back in, and the swelling went down again.
(Day 5) The swelling was about the same as yesterday. And because I had gotten a taste of walking, I went out again for another walk. That day I walked just under 10,000 steps. And it was the first day I washed my hair~~!!! Since I hadn’t been able to wash it properly for a long time, I did a first shampoo and second shampoo wash (you know what I mean?), lightly brushed my teeth with a baby toothbrush, and came out feeling so refreshed. Then, just as the hospital instructed, I applied new Steri-Strips. After the walk and shower, the swelling went down again. It usually goes down in the evening anyway, but it still felt amazing.
(Day 6) I noticed bruising around my chin for the first time. After checking the photos, I realized it had been there before too, but it became noticeable once the bruised area spread wider. My upper lip was swollen enough to cover part of the lower lip. That day I walked about 14,000 steps, and by evening the swelling had gone down a lot. That’s why they say to walk, I thought, and decided to do it more often. The bruise had moved up a bit more.
(On the day the sideburn stitches were removed, one week later) Before going to the hospital, I took a clean shower, changed the Steri-Strips, and set off. That day, I just counted the hospital trip as my walk. Removing the stitches from the sideburn area didn’t hurt at all. At the hospital, they checked my progress, took a CT scan, gave me swelling laser treatment, and then I went home. Even though I hadn’t walked much, the cold air seemed to help the swelling go down a bit more (or maybe it was just because it was evening).
(On the day the stitches inside my mouth were removed, two weeks later) The swelling and bruising had really gone down a lot. I’d heard so many people say that removing the stitches inside the mouth hurts, so I was super tense, but rather than painful, it felt like being pinched. A little tearful, that kind of feeling. Still, it seemed like it took less than a minute. The director removed them quickly and accurately, one after another. That day I didn’t get a CT scan, just the swelling laser treatment.
(One month) The swelling is going down unevenly, but the hospital had already explained that this would happen, so I wasn’t worried. I focused on the fact that the swelling was going down. Time and walking will solve it. And when I went to the hospital, the manager immediately asked, “You haven’t been wearing the compression wrap much lately, have you?” Apparently, not wearing it for about a week was noticeable. They said it’s better to wear it occasionally, so I always wear it when I’m at home. I had a CT scan, looked over the photos with the director, asked the questions I had, and wrapped things up before going home. They said that from now on I need to start doing mouth exercises in earnest.
(Review)) It’s still a long way until all the swelling is gone, but I’m already very satisfied with how I look now. I’m even more excited for what’s ahead, and I plan to keep taking care of it well. I love how it looks with the turtlenecks I like, and it even suits me when I wear a hat, so I’m really happy. It’s just full of good things The beginning was so hard, but even if I went back, I would still get facial contouring. That’s how much of a complex it was for me. And because surgery safety comes first, please weigh everything carefully and choose your hospital wisely.