In my family, there was a family history of malocclusion accompanied by mandibular protrusion due to genetic factors. To prevent this, my parents took me to the dentist at a university hospital since I was young and asked professors to find out about this. The answer I received was that genetic problems cannot be prevented. I heard that there is also a way to prevent chin growth by wrapping a band around it, but all the professors I met said it was useless and that since surgical technology has advanced these days, they should have the surgery after the child grows older. Sure enough, as secondary sexual characteristics began to develop, the jaw developed and the bite became misaligned. At first, I just wanted to live with it and the protruding chin was manly and not that bad. It was only a little uncomfortable to chew, but I didn't think it was a big deal, although it was difficult to experience digestive system problems due to leaky pronunciation and masticatory function problems during my life. That's how I became an adult, and after seeing a similar friend of mine achieve functional improvement as well as cosmetic changes through double jaw surgery without major side effects, I decided to have surgery. If it weren't for this friend, I would have lived my whole life without even knowing that I was uncomfortable. I visited and consulted with several dental clinics in Seoul, and among them, there was one that really caught my interest. Orthodontic treatment can also be done here, and CCTV footage is shown to guardians during the surgery. I was able to feel the confidence of the director during the consultation, and he gave me confidence. The hospital that gave me was Waigugang.
Because the condition of my teeth was so bad, I was told that surgery would be difficult and that I would need orthodontic treatment first, so I started orthodontic treatment immediately on the day of my visit and had orthodontic treatment before surgery for about 10 months.
Surgery day_ Double jaw surgery, 2 types of contouring (square jaw, front jaw)
After the surgery was confirmed, I visited the hospital twice over a period of 3 weeks to fit the wafer and inspect various things. I started fasting at 12 o'clock the day before and read the notice sent by the hospital to get my supplies ready and steel myself. I was admitted at 9:30, and after packing up my luggage, I consulted with the director, had the surgery plan explained to me, and entered the operating room around 10:00. I had no memory of going under anesthesia, and when the surgery was over and the nurses woke me up, I found that there was a hose hanging from my mouth and my whole body was in pain like I'd never experienced in my life. I didn't have the strength to look at my phone and spent the day just lying down and breathing deeply. At 19:00, I sent the guardian home, and I was really impressed and grateful that the nurses took care of everything from beginning to end like a caregiver. I was able to survive well thanks to the nurses.
Day 2
When I woke up on the second day, I felt a little refreshed. They told me to remove the hose from my face and move around a lot, but I don't have the strength to do that. The hospital provided a new diet plan, but it was difficult to eat and I had no appetite. Still, I think I ate it to survive. My back hurt from lying down, so I wandered around the hospital for a bit and when I got back to bed, I was so weak that I couldn't even look at my phone and spent the day just zoning out, realizing the importance of ordinary daily life.
On the third day,
the IV gel was removed and I was discharged after receiving an explanation from the director. The swelling on my face was at its peak, and
when I got home, I installed a humidifier, made my room look like a hospital room, and slept all day.
The days were so difficult that I wondered if I had ever felt so helpless in my life.
Two weeks after surgery,
the bruising on my face was at its peak. I went to the hospital to have my stitches removed and it felt great. It was very painful when the stitches were removed, and I was very grateful that the wound healed well without any problems. I broke a wafer while cleaning it, so I told the director, and he said I didn't have to do it anymore. I stopped using wafers, and my lips got stronger and I stopped drooling, and my life got much better.
One month after the surgery,
most of the bruising on my face had disappeared, and I could gradually feel sensation returning to the numb part of my lower right jaw. I am about to undergo one month of orthodontic treatment, and since I am allowed to masticate, I am practicing chewing, pronunciation, and opening my mouth with soft foods. Double jaw surgery can be tolerated as long as you endure the hospitalization period (3 days), and strength and symptom improvement gradually improve as the days go by. Whenever I was having a hard time, I remembered what the director said and got through it. Tomorrow will be better than today, and the day after tomorrow will be better than tomorrow. I hope that those who are about to have double jaw surgery take heart and overcome it well.
3 months after surgery
, I feel like I can eat any food. Since about 80% of the bones were still attached, I was told to eat carefully, and even though I ate carefully, I was very satisfied with the food. The tingling sensation in my lower right jaw has largely disappeared, but I'm worried because I still feel like I have no sensation. They say feeling will return up to a year after surgery, so I'm going to wait.
SUNGYESA
