I had severe asymmetry since I was young, so it was always a concern and a source of stress. I also went to an orthodontic clinic, but they said asymmetry would be difficult to improve with orthodontics and recommended double jaw surgery, so I started looking for a double jaw surgery clinic. While searching YouTube and cafes, I saw a review from someone similar to me at Y Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and went there. After the consultation, I decided the same day to do double jaw surgery and facial contouring! The director clearly told me exactly what I needed, and every time I asked a question, they answered very honestly, so I trusted them! Also, the hospital facilities were clean, I liked that the inpatient room was a private room, and I think I trusted them even more because the director had a lot of experience and because my guardian could watch via CCTV during surgery! I did pre-surgical orthodontics for about 6 months, and since my temporomandibular joint had been bad and painful since I was young, I chose the IVRO surgical method! In the end, I chose IVRO + 3 types of facial contouring (cheekbones, square jaw, chin). <Before surgery> After scheduling the surgery, I ate lots of delicious food from a few weeks before surgery and prepared the supplies I’d need after surgery! (Hospitalization supplies: Daiso sauce bottle, sleeping socks, extra underwear, charger, cotton swabs, etc.. / protein drinks, pumpkin juice, etc. to have at home) I had to fast for 12 hours before surgery, and I couldn’t even drink water, so I drank a lot before then.. The day before surgery, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep at all.. <Day of surgery> I arrived at the hospital around 9:30, changed into patient clothes, organized my things in the private inpatient room, finished consulting with the director, then gargled, washed my face, and went into the operating room. They said the anesthetic would go in, my arm would feel sore, and I’d fall asleep, and when I came to, the surgery was over and I was lying in the inpatient room.. Because of the anesthetic, I was so out of it on the first day, but the nurses took great care of me and the director also came to check on me frequently, so I felt reassured. At 8 p.m., I could drink water, so I practiced drinking water with a Daiso sauce bottle. Because I had surgery with IVRO, I had intermaxillary fixation, so even drinking water was hard at first and required a lot of practice Also, with intermaxillary fixation and my nose blocked, breathing was extremely uncomfortable.. I had to keep consciously breathing, and at night it was hard to sleep because of my breathing.. Still, the nurses came frequently even at night to change my IV fluids, urine container, and drainage container, and they also changed the cold packs frequently. On the first day, even moving one hand wasn’t easy, so I just lay still in bed and waited for time to pass.. <Second day> In the morning, they removed the urinary catheter and drainage container, and for the first time after surgery I was able to sit up and move. Just having the urinary catheter and drainage container removed and getting up made my body feel refreshed enough to feel alive! I also got swelling laser treatment and could take walks, but at first it was hard, so I think I walked a lot after some time had passed. At night, it was only me and the nurse, and they told me to walk comfortably, so I walked a lot! I had a lot of phlegm in my throat, so I tried to drink a lot of water and also slept a little since I hadn’t been able to sleep the day before. Because breathing was uncomfortable, I couldn’t sleep much (If I woke up and 2 hours had passed, that counted as sleeping a lot...) Blood kept flowing from my nose and a lot of saliva came out of my mouth, so I had to wipe it. <Discharge day (third day)> In the morning, they removed the IV, explained the post-op precautions, and I got swelling laser treatment. My parents came, so we saw the director together and prepared for discharge. I received a prescription for an enormous amount of medicine at the pharmacy.. then took a taxi home. After arriving home, breathing was a bit easier, so it was bearable! I drank New Care, and because I had IVRO intermaxillary fixation, I had to take powdered medicine... The powdered medicine is really.. more disgusting than I expected.. When I first tried to take it, I thought, how am I supposed to keep taking this..? and held onto the medicine for hours without being able to take it.. Later, I mixed it with something like tangerine juice and just endured it and took it. After taking antibiotics, powdered medicine, and New Care, I had to use the mouthwash from the pharmacy, but at first I couldn’t get used to that mouthwash either.. Thinking about living like this for 2 weeks just felt overwhelming.. I was supposed to drink about 4 packs of New Care per meal, but at first even one pack made me full.. Later I drank 2 or 3 packs at a time. I also used cold packs frequently and walked a lot on the treadmill at home. <One week> I visited the hospital, had the stitches near the cheekbones removed, and had the inside of my mouth disinfected! The director said the stitches near the cheekbones wouldn’t hurt, and it really didn’t feel painful at all. Also, from then on I could brush only the outside of my teeth with a baby toothbrush, and they told me to brush so things like New Care wouldn’t get stuck on my teeth! It was still the same that I could only eat liquids and had to gargle after taking medicine.. Since I kept drinking only New Care, I got so tired of it that I started looking for other things..! I found and drank things like cold noodle broth, other protein drinks, and banana milk! <Two weeks> Finally, the stitches inside my mouth were removed...! The director also removed the elastics and said I had to do mouth-opening exercises. When I first moved my jaw, I was seriously so scared it might dislocate.. I still had to use the wafer and elastics, so they taught me how to put the elastics on by myself! (I had to keep them on except when eating or brushing my teeth!) When the stitches were removed, the middle area hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes... Still, I was relieved it ended quickly.. Now I could eat things that weren’t liquid, so I was so happy I ate a lot of things like cake, bread + milk, porridge, and steamed eggs. Since I could brush my teeth too, I brushed right after eating, put in the wafer, and put on the elastics. They said I had to do mouth-opening exercises until the 1-month mark so I could fit two upright fingers in, but from the beginning I could fit two fingers! Still, it felt very stiff at first, so I had to move it a lot. <Week 4 (current)> This is currently week 4! I visited the hospital, checked the progress with the director, and restarted orthodontic treatment! Compared with the before photos, my asymmetry improved a lot and my face looked much more refined!! I was satisfied because I think it turned out pretty!! They told me to start slowly practicing chewing now, so I’m practicing. I’m chewing and eating rice and soft foods well! They said only about 30-50% of the swelling has gone down so far, so I’m waiting and looking forward to more swelling going down!!
This is a surgery review pursuing a polished look.