My Story

After discovering the comfort I received from reading about other people's experiences with orthognathic surgery, I've decided to put my own experience on the web for posterity's sake. This required swallowing a huge chunk of my vanity as post-op photos are NEVER pleasant, and I'm someone who takes a lot of pride in their appearance. (I'm that person in college who never wore pajamas outside of my dorm room. I still don't understand why people do this. Comfort is not a valid reason.)

My story began sometime in 5th grade, I think. Or maybe it was 6th grade. I honestly can't remember as it seems like I've had an underbite for my entire life. The only reason why I know this isn't true is because my kindergarten school photo shows me having a perfect bite (and really cute little teeth).

My grill was astronomically messed up, so I started braces the summer before senior year. Or maybe it was junior year of high school. I can't remember that date all too well, either, as high school is a massive blur. The only thing I can remember clearly were my AP Biology classes, which is ironic as I hated this class because I'm scientifically challenged. My orthodontist told me that I had two options of fixing my teeth, which were to fix them knowing that I would never have surgery or to fix them leaving the surgery option open. I chose the latter. At 17, I was terrified at the prospect of a long term operation, but my wishy-washy self couldn't discount that I'd decide to have it at a later date.

I went through college without a second thought until my cousin who had a severe underbite received his operation date. I was a senior in college at this time and had a lot on my plate, but I met with my cousin's surgeon in Atlanta and received a consultation. Everything he said was pretty much the norm (performing upper and lower) until he brought out the s-word: SILICONE. He wanted to put silicone pouches in my cheeks.

As someone who was writing a senior thesis about the pressures of plastic surgery, this idea horrified me for numerous reasons (did you know that places where you insert silicon don't sweat?), and that ended the talk of surgery.

I didn't give it another thought until April 2010. I went to my parents' periodontist for a teeth cleaning, where she and I had a serious discussion of the effects of my bite. I began grinding my teeth after I graduated from college (possibly an effect of post-grad crisis, most commonly known as the quarter life crisis), and it's escalated as of late for whatever reason. She told me that I was grinding down my lower molars, and that in a few years I wouldn't have any left. On top of that, she told me that the pain I have from talking long periods of time could most likely be contributed to my underbite. For a loquacious person as myself, this is a problem.

I was wary at the idea of having to book another consultation with the silicone happy surgeon, but then my cousin who's a rhinoplasty surgeon in California told me to seriously consider having the operation in Korea. Underbites are rather common in Asians, and Korea is one of the leading nations in this type of surgery. I made quick plans to go to Seoul to meet with various doctors.

I'm going to stop here, because the next part is unbelievably long and requires a post of its own.

You can tell here... (me, on the right, of course)

But not so much here...