I was startled when I looked back at my three-month photos. I thought the swelling had already gone down a lot, but compared with now, my face was much fuller than I realized!! It has now been four months since I underwent two-jaw surgery and revision facial contouring with Dr. Jong-yoon Kim at [Clinic B], an oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. I had previously undergone facial contouring at another hospital, so this time I had revision contouring together with two-jaw surgery!
Interestingly, I weigh about 3 kg more than I did at three months, yet my face has become much slimmer. The area that looked like a double chin in profile has also been refined considerably, and my overall facial shape is gradually looking more natural. I used to be especially unhappy with the left side of my face and was very stressed, but these days I feel good because it doesn’t look bad even from the left. Some numbness remains around the right lower jaw, but it isn’t bothersome enough to affect my daily life!!
In fact, I had struggled for more than 10 years, since middle school, with a protruding lower jaw and facial asymmetry. I was especially self-conscious about my profile rather than my front view; whenever I looked in the mirror or took photos, it stressed me out that my jaw looked like it was sticking forward. I insisted on using only certain angles in photos and found it difficult to smile naturally or take relaxed pictures. After carrying these worries for so long, my confidence in my appearance also fell a lot,,,!
At first, without knowing the underlying problem, I thought improving only my facial shape would be enough, so I had facial contouring at another hospital. But even after that surgery, the feeling that bothered me most—that my jaw protruded forward—did not improve much. As time passed, I came to think that my case required consideration not only of the facial contours but also the position of the jawbones and the balance of the entire face. I regretted not looking into two-jaw surgery sooner at a hospital that understood facial bones, facial shape, and oral structures well, and after years of deliberation I decided to undergo two-jaw surgery and revision contouring.
When choosing a hospital, I considered functional aspects and safety most important. Two-jaw surgery is not simply about changing the facial shape; it also requires consideration of the jawbones and occlusion, so I felt that receiving specialized care from an oral and maxillofacial surgeon rather than a plastic surgeon would suit me better!! I also wanted my original impression preserved, with the protruding jaw and asymmetry improved naturally, rather than a dramatically glamorous, doll-like change. When I consulted Dr. Jong-yoon Kim at [Clinic B], he explained my condition and surgical direction without exaggeration, and I felt that the approach focused on improving what was necessary rather than making unnecessarily large changes. I also came to trust that he would not recommend excessive surgery, and I chose him because it seemed to match the natural result I wanted.
After surgery, the swelling decreased a lot from the two-month mark, which was amazing even to me. People around me often said that I looked younger and that my impression had become much softer, and quite a few people asked for the hospital information. What satisfies me most is that even after two-jaw surgery and revision contouring, my original facial feel remains. I wanted to become naturally prettier in harmony with my existing face rather than look obviously operated on, and I love that my current appearance is exactly in the direction I hoped for!! In particular, I used to retouch my lower face smaller with Photoshop every time I uploaded a photo, but now I’m so happy that I don’t need to do that anymore. It may seem insignificant to others, but to me it is a truly major change. I used to check my jaw first and worry about the angle every time I took a photo, but these days that stress has greatly decreased and I feel much more at ease.
I thought the swelling had decreased a lot even at three months, but at four months I can see that my facial line has become more refined, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the recovery. It’s fascinating that my face has become slimmer even though I gained more weight. Most of all, I’m happiest that my complex about the protruding jaw and facial asymmetry that troubled me for over 10 years has greatly diminished. Before surgery, there were many days when my face caused me stress, but now I feel good whenever I look in the mirror and my self-esteem has improved a lot. These days I feel like I’m in my prime appearance-wise, so I’m spending each day happily.
Some numbness around the right lower jaw remains, but I’m truly satisfied with the changes so far. I can’t wait to reach five months and compare the photos with those from month four! I’m curious how the swelling will continue to decrease and how my facial line will change, and I hope it settles naturally just as it is now.