Before <before surgery> Before <before surgery> Before <1 week> Before <1 week> Before <2 weeks> Before <2 weeks> I became aware that my lower jaw was gradually protruding from my third year of middle school, but I lived without really paying attention to it. Then when I was twenty, I happened to see my side profile in a photo a friend took, and it bothered me so much that I started looking into double-jaw surgery. At first, double-jaw surgery is a major surgery and also financially burdensome, so I wanted to treat it with orthodontics only and went around to several dental clinics, but everywhere I went they said it was a surgical case So I looked for an oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic that could perform double-jaw surgery. I consulted at several hospitals in Seoul and thought about it, and the last hospital I visited was Y Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The counseling manager was so kind, and the director also gave a detailed and kind consultation, so I chose the hospital that day and decided to have double-jaw surgery plus two facial contouring procedures: square jaw + anterior chin surgery, and immediately paid the deposit. Even after choosing the hospital, it was convenient because I could ask the counseling manager questions or things I was curious about by KakaoTalk, and every time I asked, the manager answered so kindly, which was really nice!
(Before surgery) With about a week left before surgery, I prepared the items needed for surgery and waited for the operation. In many reviews, people say to eat lots of delicious food before surgery, but I didn’t really have an appetite so I didn’t eat much. Please make sure to eat a lot, really a lot. Eat until your stomach feels like it will burst. I totally regret not eating.. I’m just watching YouTube mukbang videos nonstop For pre-surgery supplies, I prepared a humidifier, lip balm, donut cushion, Otrivin, mirror, etc., but the hospital had pretty much everything useful, so during hospitalization I used the cushion and humidifier at the hospital.
(Surgery day 11/28) On the day of surgery, I arrived at the hospital with my mother, changed into hospital clothes, had a final consultation with the director, and then went into the operating room. It didn’t feel real to me that I was having surgery, so I wasn’t nervous or scared. I went into the operating room, lay down on the operating table, heard them say, “Your arm will feel stiff~,” and fell asleep. It felt like I had only slept briefly and woken up, but when I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital room. They kept waking me up because they said the anesthetic had to be cleared, but I kept feeling sleepy, couldn’t breathe, and they kept waking me beside me. It was so hard. I just held on, trusting the director’s words that it would get easier if I endured just one day. (That one day felt so long.)
(Second day after surgery ~ discharge) In the morning, the duty nurse came and removed the nasal tube and urinary catheter, and the director removed the blood drain. From the second day, it really became bearable. When I was just spacing out, the nurse kept bringing ice packs, and at the scheduled times they gave me painkillers and other medications, so I took short naps while waiting to be discharged. On the morning of discharge, the nurse explained the postoperative precautions in detail, I received my prescription, and was discharged. I took a taxi, dozed off right away, got home, and showered first. It felt so refreshing.
(Days 4, 5, 6, 7 after surgery) After discharge, at home my face swelled even more and my nose was blocked, so I couldn’t sleep well. (The nasal blockage clears after about 1 week, but after that it repeatedly got blocked and unblocked.) For food, I endured by only drinking New Care. Until day 4, I used cold compresses, and from day 5 I switched to warm compresses. I didn’t feel dizzy or have a hard time walking around, so I walked every day for 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. Instead of pumpkin juice, I drank 2 packs of water spinach juice a day. (Morning: 2 New Care + medicine + water spinach juice / Lunch: New Care, medicine, 1-hour walk / Dinner: 2 New Care + medicine + water spinach juice) That’s how I spent each day.
(Day 8 after surgery) I visited the hospital for the first time after surgery, had intraoral disinfection and received laser treatment. The director said I could now gently brush only my teeth with a toothbrush, so from day 8 I also brushed gently.
(2 weeks after surgery) I visited the hospital to have the stitches removed, received laser treatment, and had intraoral disinfection before removing the stitches. It stung so much. It felt like the disinfection hurt more than removing the stitches... For stitch removal, some parts didn’t hurt and some parts did, but it was tolerable. I don’t want to do it again, though,, After removing the stitches, I ate soft castella or cake with milk, and I’m eating porridge without blending it. I’m planning to try ramen and soft noodle types soon. I met a friend after 2 weeks and we walked together, and they said my face had become slimmer, so I was so happy. I hope the remaining swelling goes down quickly too.