Before the Surgery

When I was younger, I knew my teeth looked different from other kids, but I thought it made me special. However, as I entered middle and high school, some friends started making fun of me, saying things like, “Your face looks so flat,” or “If I punched your chin, it’d cave back in.” That’s when I started to develop a complex. I wanted to have a normal dental alignment like others, to be able to eat without covering my mouth, and I also had trouble eating hard foods. All of these factors made me decide to undergo surgery to fix the issue. I visited many clinics, and one doctor in Anyang told me that Dr. Jeong Jin Wook is one of the top three doctors in Korea and highly recommended him. That led me to DL Plastic Surgery. After meeting Dr. Jeong in person and having a consultation, I felt even more confident in my decision, so I decided to go through with the surgery. After the surgery, I want to take side profile photos I never used to take, and I want to take group pictures more confidently.

Week 1

After the surgery, I was worried because the swelling on both sides was very uneven, and I wondered if something had gone wrong. But Dr. Jeong reassured me that the surgery went well, so I’ve decided to trust the process and wait for the swelling to go down. It’s still difficult to eat and hard to fully open my mouth, so I think this might end up being a forced diet. 😂 Still, when I look at my side profile, I can already see a big difference, so I’m really looking forward to how it’ll look once the swelling subsides. Right after the surgery, I experienced some pain and headaches, so it was a bit tough, but now that it’s been a week, I feel like I made the right decision.

Week 3

After the surgery, I went on a business trip to the U.S.! The long flight and jet lag made things tough — my face and the inside of my mouth swelled up quite a bit, so it was a bit difficult. But I was able to complete the trip and return safely! One side of my jaw is still swollen — I’m not sure if it’s inflammation or just regular swelling — so I visited the clinic after returning. Thankfully, the wound inside my mouth is healing well, and the swelling is within the normal range. (Thank you so much for answering my call late at night and taking care of me even when I visited on the weekend!) Just in case, I received a prescription and an anti-inflammatory injection and will keep an eye on it for a few more days. I’m also scheduled to visit again during the week to see Dr.Jeong. Since the swelling inside my mouth hasn’t fully gone down yet, I haven’t been able to go to the orthodontist for follow-up. I’ll consult with Dr. Jeong first and then share the next steps with my dental clinic.
I’m working hard at my job, and thankfully I’m able to go about my daily life without any major issues! I’m also trying to eat a variety of foods within limits that don’t strain my jaw — I cut things into small pieces with scissors, try putting them in my mouth, and if it’s too much, I just take it back out. Can’t wait to eat normally again! 😛

2 Months

The swelling is still asymmetrical between the left and right sides, but it has improved a lot compared to before. I think the slower recovery on one side is due to having undergone an additional inflammation-related procedure on that side of the jaw. Still, the pain has significantly decreased recently, and I can open my mouth much wider now! I haven’t regained full sensation yet, so it still feels a bit awkward when I try to close my lips tight or make facial expressions, and I can’t fully feel it when soup drips on my chin while eating. But compared to a month ago, I can now feel the coldness of water inside my lips when drinking cold beverages, so I believe the sensation is gradually returning. Dr. Jeong also confirmed that this is part of the normal recovery process. My orthodontic treatment is also going smoothly. I recently got braces on my upper teeth as part of the correction process. I’m now able to eat most regular foods except for things that are too tough or hard. I did try sushi recently, but it didn’t digest well and I ended up throwing up — so it looks like raw fish is still a bit much for me. I plan to try again once I can chew more comfortably. I’ve lost about 10 kg in weight — and according to a recent health checkup, 8 kg of that was muscle mass. I guess it’s because I was eating mostly low-protein, liquid-based meals with relatively high sugar content. I think I’ll need to start working out to rebuild my strength.
Overall, I’d say I’m recovering quite well!

5 Months

This month didn’t feel like there was much noticeable change — it felt a bit like a plateau. Still, the swelling has gone down more than I expected, and now my cheeks stand out more in comparison. I’m not sure if it’s residual swelling or just my natural cheek fat, but personally, I really like how it looks — it gives me a younger appearance.
People keep on telling me my face has dramatically gotten smaller! Those who don’t know what I’ve been through assume I’ve lost a lot of weight, so they treat me to good food or even send me delivery coupons… haha. It’s a little overwhelming, but I can’t lie — I feel secretly proud! I’m continuing my dental treatment as well, and I can tell my teeth are gradually aligning into place. It’s still uncomfortable at times, but I’ve gotten used to just chewing roughly and swallowing, so I’m eating pretty well now. I even tried finely chopped radish kimchi! I’m still trying to avoid tough foods as much as possible.
Although I didn’t feel major improvements this month, it was still a very satisfying and healthy month!!
Overall, I’m grateful that I’d met Dr.Jeong for the surgery to get the results that I’d wished for! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

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