I had chin length reduction and setback (2-3 mm) + long-curve square jaw reduction surgery on October 30! They said they do a blood drain for people who need it, but depending on the director’s confirmation, they won’t do it if it’s unnecessary. I didn’t have one, and I didn’t have any bandages or taping after surgery either (I did wear a compression garment like a bandage only when I was hospitalized on the day of surgery). As for quitting smoking before surgery.. I barely managed it.. I smoked until 11 p.m. the night before surgery ㅠㅠ Right now, I’m still maintaining no smoking, I have no inflammation inside my mouth, and I got my stitches removed safely! Today I had swelling care, a CT progress and before/after consultation, and chin-tip Botox (even though I had a setback, they said if I put force into my chin, the muscle can also move backward, so they gave me chin-tip Botox). They asked if I could come tomorrow too (swelling laser), but I live far away, so I said it would be hard and I’m not goingㅋㅋㅋㅋ
My main goal was length reduction, so instead of a sharp V-line like a doll-like line, the director recommended a rounder line, and I’m satisfied with it too! My long chin was a complex of mine, and I really feel like the length has decreased a lot. Also, my right jaw was more developed, so I had asymmetry, and I’m even more satisfied because the director reflected that too!
<Things I’m thankful for> The director stayed at the hospital until late at night after the surgery. I don’t know if he slept at the hospital or just left work late, but I was touched because he kept checking on me and my condition whenever he couldㅜㅜ And the nurses could have found it bothersome, but they took care of me with smiles through the early-morning shift changes. So I thought of posts from people who said they never even saw their director’s face once after surgery, and I trusted them even more. I was anxious from time to time because of cold sensitivity in my jaw and teeth, abnormal sensation, and decreased sensation, but they reassured me by explaining everything in detail with the before/after CT photos, so I was grateful.
<Difficult parts of facial contouring surgery> I went in already knowing about the possible side effects, and despite that, I wanted to do it, so I had the surgery. Of course, I still hope I won’t get side effects. Even though I studied them in advance and went in prepared, facial contouring surgery is truly a difficult surgery. Of course, satisfaction can be high too, but I hope you think carefully before doing it. (You have to be prepared for everything below. If it’s a complex and you need to do it but you’re scared, just go for it first and overcome itㅋㅋㅋ I was the latter.)
1. Decreased sensation - There are facial nerves and sensory nerves. If the facial nerve is damaged, it’s hard to recover, but sensory nerves recover relatively better. They say that even if the main nerve line wasn’t touched, if the small nerves around the nerve line are cut off (minor nerve damage), decreased sensation can occur because of that. They say decreased sensation recovers gradually, as fast as 1-2 months, and for most people by 6-8 months. Right now, I also don’t have much sensation in the front chin areaㅠㅠ (not to the point where I can’t feel it when I touch it, but it feels like it isn’t my own skin?) Still, it’s not completely numb, so I don’t feel like the nerve is dead!
2. Sore throat from general anesthesia on the day of surgery to up to 3 days - For me, it only hurt on the day, but my throat really hurt so, so much. It hurt so much I cried. Be preparedㅠㅠ
3. Abnormal sensation in the lower front teeth and front chin (cold sensitivity, tingling, tightness, burning sensation, prickling) - This is also abnormal sensation caused by damage to the small nerves near the nerve line, and they say it gradually gets better! I think what’s truly dangerous is numbness to the point where you can’t feel it even when touched (if abnormal sensation appears after numbness, it means the nerve is coming back). But the abnormal sensations were painfully unbearable from days 3-5, and I think they’re gradually improving! (Now it’s tolerable pain?ㅋㅋ)
4. Tightness inside the mouth - This got much better after the stitches were removed.
5. Heat sensation - It was especially worst the day after surgeryㅠㅠ After that, I only had a little bit of heat sensation.
6. Diet - Ha.. I’m actually on the thinner side and don’t have a huge appetite, so I thought I’d be okay.. But after surgery, since I couldn’t open my mouth, there was a limit to what I could eat (it got caught in the stitchesㅠㅠ), and I got sick of it, so it was stressful.. I got depressed thinking I might not be able to wrap big ssam or tear into meat for months, and I regretted the surgeryㅠㅠㅠ
7. Swelling - I’m not really someone who swells a lot.. Hmm, on the day of surgery I didn’t swell much, and days 3-5 were the peak. It’s so depressing, and it’s not just your face that swells; your gums and lips swell too.. The swelling + heat sensation really come together as a collaboration, and it’s honestly hardㅜㅠ But they say swelling goes down well after the stitches are removed!
I also did so much online research and looked up all kinds of things because I was anxious, but not only are there not many proper reviews, I think many people also don’t know much about facial contouring surgery, so I’m posting this! There are more inconveniences than I expected, and it seems like a longer battle than I expected. Swelling is one thing, and nerves are another! Hospitals say in most cases there’s no nerve damage, but there’s no way there won’t be any nerve damage.. Just because the main nerve line isn’t cut doesn’t mean there’s no nerve damage. Small nerves are rooted around the nerve line, and if those are damaged, sensory nerve damage occurs, it takes time to recover (differs by person), and abnormal sensation can appear! Before surgery, the director explained this to me in advance, so I was somewhat prepared, but I was still anxious. Still, I think I was less anxious than I would have been at a hospital that said there would absolutely be no damage. //If you don’t want even small nerves damaged! Then the surgical effect will be reduced, right// (For reference, they cut mine well while barely leaving the nerve line intactㅋㅋㅋㅋ The director showed it to me proudly while explaining.) And if nerve damage lasts too long and reaches a point where it can’t be reversed, there’s no answer (don’t believe people who say to wait 2 years), so if your sensation doesn’t come back after surgery, I recommend waiting only up to 6 months at most and seeing a neurosurgeon before thenㅠㅠ
Anyway, this facial contouring newbie entering day 7 today is leaving a reviewㅎㅎ I hope it was helpful!
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