Before surgery<before surgery>before-before after<after surgery>after-afterI had the surgery at an older age than most people, but as I got older I found myself avoiding conversations with others more and more, and seeing my self-esteem gradually sink, I made up my mind to go ahead with the orthognathic surgery I had only ever thought about in my head. When choosing a hospital, I had made reservations at several places, but I was not really drawn to the first one. The first impression of WG Oral Surgery, which I consulted at second, was very good. Kindness was a given, but I felt it was systematic? and the consultation with the director, who somehow seemed like a T-type personality, felt trustworthy? That was what made me go there.. I made the decision to have surgery right there on the day of the consultation. Orthognathic surgery + contouring x3 (cheekbones, square jaw, chin)!! Blood tests, ECG, and impressions for the wafers were all done on the spot. Since the surgery was a month later, I felt half excited and half scared. I had drunk the day before, so the blood test was repeated after I stayed off alcohol for a few days...
-Surgery day My surgery was at 10 a.m., so I went to the hospital by 9 a.m., changed into a patient gown, met the doctor, and received an explanation from the director about situations that could arise during surgery and various other things, then signed the consent forms. I waited in the room for a bit and was so nervous After a few minutes I went into the operating room, and my heart felt like it was going to burst. I was lying on the operating table when the nurse inserted the IV needle, and I remember her saying, “The painful part is all over now~,” but I was so nervous I didn’t even notice the needle going in My first general anesthesia surgery in my life... I had a hard time with the gas smell. The anesthesia gas went in and then my memory... when I came to, it felt like I was back in the room? I’m not sure whether I walked back to the room on my own. Subjectively the surgery felt like 1 second, but when I checked the time, it was already a little past 2 p.m., more than 4 hours later. They said I couldn’t fall asleep because they had to remove the gas, but I think I was just dazed. I don’t think I had pain or sleepiness. There was something in my nose and mouth, and I also had a urinary catheter, so I was completely out of it. About 3 hours after surgery, I had some pain, but that passed quickly too. Soon after, they removed the nasal tube. Up to that point I thought, I can probably breathe through my mouth, but in the early morning something like blood kept running down behind my nose, which caught me off guard and made breathing difficult.. And then around the afternoon they gave me water, but I was too scared to drink it. I took one gulp because I thought the nurse might not leave if I didn’t drink anything, and it was hard. And all night the nurse kept giving me medication and looking after me, which was very comforting. That’s how the surgery day passed in a blur.
-Day 2 They removed the urinary catheter early in the morning, so moving around became a bit easier. In the morning I got swelling-laser treatment and the director also removed the drain bag. There was no pain. They taught me how to wear the wafer, but opening my mouth was still hard, so I struggled a bit. I had hardly slept on surgery day, so I was dazed. In the afternoon they gave me Newcare, but I still couldn’t eat it... A lot of people can drink it, but why is even drinking water hard for me.... They said to walk around the hospital if I felt a bit better, but I just went back and forth in the room. The wafer felt suffocating, so I took it out once and then couldn’t put it back in, so the director showed me again. Because I was on IV fluids, even though I couldn’t eat anything, I didn’t really feel hungry or thirsty. And again in the early morning there were a few close calls because of the liquid going down the back of my throat, but I held on well The night-shift nurse even taught me how to breathe. Thank you I didn’t sleep on the second day either. The night nurse said sleep is also important for recovery, so she let me lie down and adjusted my position, taking great care of me. I didn’t think I had pain, but I still couldn’t sleep and only felt dazed. I brought my iPad and other things, but I couldn’t do anything. I only watched YouTube a little on my phone. Since I was being discharged the next day, I also got the prescription and various explanations.
-Day 3 In the morning I received swelling-laser treatment, saw the doctor, and got ready for discharge. When they removed the IV needle from my arm, it felt so relieving The medicine going in through the IV had made my arm hurt so much I was discharged with a mix of worry about whether I could take care of myself at home. A friend helped me, so I came home comfortably~ Still, home is home, and once I got home I slept a bit more after not sleeping for days I can feel my face getting puffier and puffier I felt a bit like a beaver. Maybe because the IV was gone, I also felt hungry, and since I had to take medicine, I had to force myself to eat something at home, so I even put Pocari into something like a sauce container and drank a little. The medicine was probably about six tablets? I really couldn’t even swallow water properly, so how was I supposed to swallow these? I failed a few times and then forced them down with all my might Taking medicine is really hard.. I think I threw away almost two days’ worth of medicine. I only took the pills that didn’t dissolve in my mouth and actually went down Still, on the third day I was able to sleep a bit, so that was a relief. Even a whole day goes by like this
-Day 4 The swelling kept increasing~ I was wearing the bandage and the swelling bulging out was enormous. It felt like getting lip filler, haha I kept wiping away all the saliva with tissues and wet wipes. I was supposed to go for walks too, but I hadn’t eaten anything, so I couldn’t even make myself do it.. For now, the goal for the day was just to get something in and take my medicine properly. It still wouldn’t go down, but my stomach kept getting irritated, so I took protein milk and swallowed the medicine with it.. Taking medicine was a full-time job I’m jealous of how easily other people can do it I held out through another day like this
-Day 5 The swelling seemed to peak and then start going down~ At the same time, the bruising around my mouth and neck turned yellow. Today was another battle with the medicine.. My stomach burned so badly that I ground up more porridge and made it almost like water to force it down.. From today on, for survival, I kept telling myself, Your esophagus wasn’t operated on, so why can’t you swallow this?... I also had to go to the pharmacy, so I tried going out for a walk, but I got so dizzy that I went back home in ten minutes I realized again how important eating is. The fifth day after surgery passed like this too.
-Day 6 It felt like I finally had a good night’s sleep after a long time. My facial swelling is going down little by little, and I can feel myself becoming more human again Today, for the first time after surgery, I cooked soup and ate it, and I was moved to tears... And the medicine.. because I just couldn’t swallow it with water, I tried a smoothie thinking maybe that would work, and wow, the smoothie was a genius move.. Even bigger pills went down smoothly For lunch I made egg and tomato stew, and it feels like swallowing is getting a bit easier now? I’m eating well and feeling alive, but I’m still hungry all the time.. Since walking outside made me dizzy, I just walked back and forth at home Still, I can really feel that I’m getting better little by little.
-Day 7 Even the constant drooling became a bit more manageable, and since I had been eating a little since yesterday, I had the energy to move around, so I started craving bread. I bought cake and ate it, and I’m in tears Cake, then tomato egg soup, then medicine, repeated The swelling was going down, and the bruises felt like they were getting darker. My favorite food has become tomato egg soup.
-First hospital visit after surgery, 2-week visit I got swelling-laser treatment, they disinfected the inside of my mouth and also disinfected the wafer, which felt refreshing. Since I had contouring x3 too, they removed the stitches near the sideburn area, and I didn’t feel a thing. Putting the wafer back in was hard, so I think I need more practice It went in smoothly at home, but They said from now on I could remove the wafer when eating, so I removed it and ate, but it still felt awkward. They also told me to brush gently, so I’m doing my best! I went back after another week to remove the stitches at the 2-week visit. I had read a lot of other people’s reviews, and there were rumors that stitch removal hurts.. and sure enough, it did hurt A little tear But it felt so relieving. A few more weeks later I’ll start the post-treatment orthodontic adjustment, and there are still mountains to climb, but I’m adapting well... Meals are tomato egg soup, chicken porridge.. It feels like I’m eating all the chicken porridge I’ll ever eat in my life
-One month This is the day I got the braces attached for post-treatment orthodontic adjustment after surgery. After the braces were put on, I listened carefully to the explanations, and since I couldn’t open my mouth, I struggled a bit. They only attached them to the front upper teeth, and I don’t think there’s any discomfort yet. They said to take Tylenol if there’s pain, but thankfully I haven’t had any notable pain so far~ Now I think I just need to go once a month for orthodontic treatment. It feels like the swelling is going down, but also like it’s staying put, so time really is the medicine. Time, hurry up
-Two months Today they only attached the lower teeth part, and I’m still struggling because I can’t open my mouth I’m wondering why it still won’t open when I’m supposedly doing exercises Last month, when I first got the braces attached, there wasn’t much pain, so I even ate a bit of thin meat.. but I guess that’s starting now I think I have to go back to living on porridge.. At this point I’m thinking, let’s just lose some weight too The swelling has gone down a lot, but because I didn’t have surgery at a young age, my skin feels a bit saggy.. I think I need to keep watching it!! Still, seeing the changed appearance makes me happy
-Three months Finally I had my 3-month checkup!! On the X-ray, the pins were all in place and they said 80% of the swelling had gone down. The braces were attached all the way to the molars too, which was a bit tough... It’s still a battle with time, but I’m happy that the surgery seems to have gone well without any major issues. Because of the braces, I still can’t enjoy everything I want to eat, but I think I’ll be able to smile confidently now, and I’m grateful every day. I still think there may be more changes, so I have to keep fighting time, but just escaping the malocclusion that stressed me out the most already makes me so satisfied. I wish I had done it ten years earlier... It’s a pity, but I’m satisfied with how I look now, and I want to live the rest of my life smiling brightly and happily!! Thank you for reading my long post^^
This review is a post-op review pursuing natural beauty.