When I was young, I had an ordinary face without a protruding jaw or asymmetry, but my face changed significantly as I grew more than 20 cm during middle and high school. In ninth grade, I began orthodontic treatment after visiting an orthodontic clinic. They said my case might require double-jaw surgery, but suggested trying orthodontics first, so I trusted them and continued treatment until my first year of university.
Although my bite had improved considerably when orthodontic treatment ended, the asymmetry and protruding jaw that orthodontics alone could not resolve remained. So, starting in my final year of high school, I decided I would need double-jaw surgery. When I had time during military service, I decided to undergo double-jaw surgery and two facial-contouring procedures (square-jaw and chin) immediately after discharge.
The most important things I considered when choosing a clinic were safety and natural results. I was impressed by Dr. Lee Seok-jae's more than 20 years of surgical experience, the surgical team that has worked closely together for a long time, and the transparent way the procedure is conducted. Rather than wanting surgery that would dramatically change my face and make it glamorous, I wanted a clinic that would naturally improve the areas my face needed while operating safely so that problems would not arise later.
During the consultation, Dr. Lee Seok-jae at [Clinic A] clearly identified both the areas I wanted changed and those that actually needed improvement. He explained things realistically instead of exaggerating, which made me trust him. I decided to have surgery there!
<Before surgery> One month before surgery, I had an ECG and blood tests. One week before surgery, impressions were taken to make the wafer. The day before surgery, I tried to eat carefully without overeating so that digestion would be easy. Since I had heard that I would need to consume plenty of liquids afterward, I prepared New Care and protein drinks in advance. Personally, I found banana-flavored The Danbaek and sweet-potato protein drinks tastier than New Care.
<Day of surgery> I arrived at the clinic by 9:30, unpacked in the hospital room, and changed into patient clothes. Before entering the operating room, I met the coordinator and doctor again to discuss the surgical plan and check that the wafer fit properly. I entered the operating room around 10:30 and was looking around when, as soon as the anesthetic was injected, I fell asleep before I even had time to endure it. I remember the surgery ending around 2:30 and being moved to my room while barely conscious.
Immediately after surgery, I felt better than expected and was relieved, but as time passed my nose became increasingly blocked, and I think I spent the whole day fighting to breathe...! After surgery, the doctor came in several times to check whether I was all right and whether anything was uncomfortable. He told me there was not much bleeding and that the surgery had gone well, which reassured me.
<Day 2> I barely slept and waited only for the urinary catheter and drain to be removed! The catheter was removed around 8, and the drain around 10. Removing the drain did not hurt at all, contrary to what I expected. Once they were removed, I felt that I could breathe a little better, and I walked around the hospital a bit. I definitely felt that my nose opened up better when I moved around little by little instead of staying still. I also ate the New Care provided by the hospital well from the second day, and drinking water became much easier than before.
<Last day> After receiving my final swelling-care treatment and hearing the doctor explain my recovery, I was discharged! On the day of surgery, I wondered, “Can I really be discharged after just three days?” But as my condition recovered day by day, I was able to leave safely sooner than expected. I was especially grateful to the on-duty nurse for taking such good care of me during my stay!
<Week 2> I visited the clinic during the second week to have my stitches removed! After reading many reviews saying stitch removal was quite painful, I went to the clinic feeling very nervous. In reality, the stitches themselves did not hurt much when removed, but pulling my mouth sideways to remove them was considerably more painful than expected…🥲 Still, the doctor removed them quickly, so the painful part did not last long! After eating only liquids for two weeks, I could finally eat soft foods, and my condition began improving dramatically from then on!
<Week 4> One month after surgery, I finally said goodbye to the wafer. The orthodontist said some people take their wafer home as a keepsake, but I wanted a permanent goodbye, so I asked them to throw it away haha. I visited the clinic, had a CT scan, and took a few photos. I can still fit only about two fingers in my mouth, so I was told to keep practicing opening it; I plan to work hard at it! The swelling seems to have decreased by about 60% compared with weeks 1–2, and once it went down, it was fascinating to see that my face was clearly smaller. Before surgery, my biggest concerns were facial asymmetry and a protruding jaw, but after about a month, I can definitely feel that the overall balance of my face has changed, and I am satisfied! Now all that remains is to keep managing the swelling, reduce the remaining swelling quickly, and continue my orthodontic treatment diligently!