Before<Before surgery (front)>Before<Before surgery (side)>After<After surgery (front)>After<After surgery (45 degrees)>After<After surgery (side)><Reason I decided on surgery> I had malocclusion since I was young, and because of that I developed a protruding lower jaw and slight asymmetry. When I was in high school, I went to a dental clinic near my home for an examination, and they said my protruding lower jaw could not be corrected with ordinary orthodontic treatment, and that I would need orthodontic treatment after extracting two canines. From then on, I realized the only solution was double-jaw surgery and started looking into it in detail through the internet and books. At that time, double-jaw surgery had only just begun becoming known to the public, and I began to dream of saving money someday and definitely getting double-jaw surgery.
<Choosing the hospital and consultation> Before I knew it, I was in my 30s, and I decided the time had come, quit my job, and once again researched double-jaw surgery and looked for hospitals. As expected, after more than 10 years had passed, double-jaw surgery had become a safer and more standardized surgery. While looking up oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics through the internet, apps, and YouTube, I discovered Y Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery on YouTube. After seeing Director Lee Seok-jae answer the issues I had been curious about in a cool-headed and concise way, I went to the official website, looked into it in detail, and immediately applied for a consultation. I was able to schedule the consultation within a few days, and after asking several things I had been curious about, I scheduled the surgery date that same day. What I considered first was whether surgery-first treatment was possible and the director's expertise. Fortunately, my teeth alignment was not bad, so surgery-first treatment was possible. And as can be confirmed on the official website, Director Lee Seok-jae has specialized in performing double-jaw surgery for more than 20 years, and I also liked that he performs only one surgery per day. The fact that Invisalign orthodontics, not wire braces, was possible also played a part.
<Day of double-jaw surgery + 2 types of facial contouring (square jaw, chin)> I knew it was a major surgery, but strangely, even on the day before or the day of surgery, I was not nervous or shaky. I just thought, I'm finally doing the dream I had carried for over 10 years. I arrived at the hospital a little after 9 a.m., changed into patient clothes, consulted with the director, filled out a simple consent form, and headed to the operating room. When I lay on the operating room bed and a large injection went into my left arm, only then did I get nervous and scared. I have no memory up to the point of sedation, and when I came to, I found myself lying in the hospital room I had arrived at that morning. Since I had fasted since the previous evening, I did not really know about pain, but I was incredibly thirsty. I had looked up reviews, so I knew I could not drink water for several hours after surgery, but even so, I pressed the call button and was thirsty enough to say "waaater" to the nurse. Fortunately, the hospital had prepared a humidifier in advance, so I kept it close to my nose and mouth, and as time passed it got better. What was even more painful during that time was not being able to move in bed. I could not stand up, could not sleep, and had to keep taking deep breaths to clear the anesthetic gas, and having to stay like that for a full 6 hours was maddening. Even if I tried to use my phone, I could not focus well, and even if I put on YouTube, I watched a little and then could not concentrate. After spending what felt like forever, when I could finally drink water, I put water in a sauce bottle, drank it little by little, and fell asleep right away. I had to sleep almost sitting up and leaning back, so I could not get deep sleep, but it was better than just sitting still doing nothing, so I closed my eyes like that until morning.
<Day 2 after surgery> In the morning, the nurse came, removed the urinary catheter and the things attached to my nose, and I could finally walk. I dragged the IV pole to the laser room and received laser treatment for about 30 minutes. As soon as the director came to work, he checked my condition and removed the blood drains attached to my mouth. Then I put on the wafer. Since it was my first time, biting so that the occlusion matched was difficult and hard. I received two cans of New Care and could finally eat, and likewise I put it in a sauce bottle and diligently drank it. I had no idea the savory flavor could taste that good. And since they said I needed to walk around inside the hospital, I said thank you in my head and walked really diligently. I normally like taking walks and walking, so I think I walked for about 4 hours in the hospital that day. Compared with the first day, the second day, when I could move, was so happy. In the evening, the duty nurse explained the precautions after discharge and gave me the prescription to take to the pharmacy and the supplies.
<Day 3 after surgery, discharge> In the morning, as on day 2, I had swelling laser treatment, changed clothes, and was discharged. I came without a guardian and had to go to a distant area, but after walking around the hospital, I judged there would be no problem getting home. Immediately after discharge, I bought medicine at the pharmacy on the first floor, went to the express bus terminal, took a bus, and returned home. After arriving, I showered right away and drank the New Care I had prepared in advance. Around evening, I immediately went out for a 1-hour walk and came back, then piled blankets and pillows at the head of the bed and slept leaning back while sitting.
<Day 7 after surgery> On day 7, when I made my first hospital visit, the director disinfected the area and I asked the things I had been curious about. He answered everything kindly, and after receiving swelling laser treatment, I returned home. From now on, I could remove and put the wafer back in when eating or brushing my teeth. I steadily walked 2 hours a day. From immediately after surgery, the change was big, and at this time I was swollen, but the change was large, so even though it was hard, I could endure it.
<Week 2 after surgery> Compared with week 1, my body became quite comfortable. The pain from swelling was less, and I could sleep comfortably lying down. Since I could remove the wafer and brush my teeth, the inside of my mouth felt refreshed too. I had only been eating New Care and porridge, but now I am trying various things like cake and finely cut ramen. After surgery, I took photos almost every day and compared the swelling, and when week 2 came and I took photos after washing, I was surprised because I had become much slimmer than expected. I was happy thinking that the swelling that seemed like it would never go down was finally going down. I visited the hospital for week 2 and finally had the stitches removed. Looking at reviews, people said it hurt like crazy, but it was not as intense as I had imagined. Only when removing the middle part of my upper lip, maybe because the nerve was alive, it hurt quite a bit, and the other parts felt like they were being removed while there was no sensation. I am still walking more than 2 hours a day, and they said I no longer need to use mouthwash or the compression band. I think I do warm compresses about twice a day. Until I start orthodontic treatment in 2 weeks, I think I just need to keep walking well and wearing the wafer properly as before.
In the early period after surgery, I was careful and cautious about recovery, so I did not want night to come, but now I am gradually getting deep sleep, so those thoughts have disappeared. For sure, with all surgeries, time seems to be the medicine! Everyone, hang in there, and if you have any questions about the surgery, leave a comment!
This review is for a surgery review pursuing natural beauty.