Hello everyone,

This is the 3rd and last part of my review of my experience at TFD this year (July 2022).
For more info check out my first review (which includes 2 parts).

I am a bit late but I don’t think the results have changed that much after the 8-week mark.
So I just wanted to wrap up the healing process and give a tip or two to anyone who is considering TFD for their procedure
or lower jaw surgery (+ genioplasty) in general.

I have attached pictures to this post.
In the left and mid one, I am not wearing my wafer. In the 3rd one on the right, I obviously do (including rubbers).

After the first review (Aug 2022), I had maybe 2-3 checkups because I was leaving mid-August.
Even though I was already in a very stable condition, Dr. Lee made sure I would be okay and even squeezed in a last check-up before my departure.
I think this speaks for his dedication and care for the patient’s health.
He even told me to come back to say Hi if I visit Korea again (which I absolutely will).

The last check-ups were even shorter since I didn’t really have anything to ask or any issues,
though the occasional question about nutrition and exercise came up.

Make sure you write every question down on your phone, so you have them ready for your next visit.

Today, 12 weeks after the surgery, I have full sensation (is that the right word?) in my entire mouth back.
I can probably eat what I want, though I am still hesitant to eat nuts and other very hard foods.
I do eat chew food though and love it more than ever. Yet, I do think I need to slowly get back into chewing
since my jaws do get tired after chewing for too long.

I am also religiously wearing my wafer (see pictures) at night and during gym workouts, though I try to keep them on during the day as well.
I noticed that if I do not wear them for a day, my jaw tends to recede or disalign, so when I put them on again it feels uncomfortable.
So make sure you don’t neglect that.

Mind you, I am still in therapy and need to get braces so my bite
is not perfect, and your mileage may vary if you had braces before surgery.

Let’s talk about other things that might be useful for you.



=== DIET & EATING OUT ===

I was cleared to eat most foods that are not hard like nuts or chewy like steak after 2 months,
and all foods after 3 months or so. During my last weeks in Korea, I mostly ate rather soft meat,
noodles, steamed veggies, and all the other stuff I wasn’t able to eat for the first month, and let me tell you
IT WAS GLORIOUS. You can start eating most fruits, potatoes, pasta, and softer pastry.
You can even eat non-crispy burgers, fries, and most of the side dishes (though some are too hard or chewy),
so you can definitely start eating out again.

In general, compared to the first 4 weeks, your range of allowed foods just explodes and you are practically over the hill.
Being able to enjoy most of the foods I have missed, was a huge motivational boost for me.

Unsurprisingly, I was trying to get away with having chewy food (KBBQ is just TOO good),
but I have to say it is not really worth it. You can sort of chew it but it starts to get really uncomfortable on your jaw
and you mostly have to swallow all of the good stuff, without really enjoying it.
Also, you are going against your doctor’s medical advice, so please consider trying all the great restaurants and foods BEFORE your surgery.

I personally went on literal FEASTS, one week before my surgery.
Don’t count calories, don’t worry about what you eat, just enjoy it 100%.
(I said that and gained 2kg, but I also lost them during the first 2 weeks.)

One thing that annoyed me while eating was, that stuff would get stuck between your lower front teeth and your lower lips.
My feeling in that area was not fully back yet, so it was hard to use my tongue and lips to clear it out.
So prepare to go to the restroom and clean it with your sanitized fingers or rinse with mouthwash.

I usually do not recommend brands but some of you may be worried about the first week and that they cannot find enough liquid foods.
Rest assured, there is literally plenty of options at every corner, since you can find everything at even the most basic convenience store.
Yogurt drinks, soups, broths, juices, soy milk, black soy bean milk, multivitamin powder, you name it (for the first week).
I’d even say you can do slightly thicker soups like tomato or cream soup during the first week.

===
Pro Tips for people who actually read all of this:
Watch out for small bits in your liquid food, you cannot eat them, since they won’t go through your wafer and you will end up having to clean and rinse very carefully.
Try to stick to “clear and pure” liquids. Buy tons of mouthwash and a soft manual tootbrush, electric ones hurt.
Use juices and strong flavored drinks to eat your medicine, cause that stuff is DISGUSTING with water alone.
===

Then porridge, mashed bananas, cakes, very soft desserts, soft sandwiches, rice and broth for the second week.

For the extra health-aware ones, I ordered protein on iHerb, and protein-rich soups on Gmarket, Coupang etc.
For those who do supplements, do not attempt to mix omega 3 capsules with hot soup, you will end up with a nasty fish fat slump.
Only take powder supplements and vitamins. Consider intermittent fasting with coffee, to curb appetite.

I also recommend getting that 200ml syringe I was talking about in my previous review. Game changer.

I would also like to use this opportunity to informally award the LIQUID FOOD OF THE YEAR award to
[Carewell] 케어웰 구수한맛. This drink has single-handedly made the first week of liquid diet and eating medicine downright EASY.
It tastes kinda like a hazelnut drink intended for kids, but it is quite nutritious, not too sweet. Absolutely delicious.

This drink was also the one, that the nurses bought for me on my surgery day. I came home and ordered 18 packs online.



=== SOCIALIZING & ISOLATION ===

Also, make sure you do it with people that you love hanging out with (hopefully you will find a friend or two),
since your socializing options will be very limited during your first weeks of healing.
It is hard to make new friends when you are basically unable to speak intelligibly and also are
physically and mentally restricted from a bunch of activities.

I suggest using that period to study, work or catch up on all the books, movies, and series you had on your list.
I think just trying to “pass the time” with mindless scrolling on the internet, would make you feel more miserable
since things like that could trigger FOMO, but then again you do you. I am not here to pass judgment.

I just think there is a benefit to actively “fighting” against the emotional burden of isolation and restriction after surgery.
So connecting with real friends (even online), engaging in personal growth or things that you just enjoy doing and are grateful for helping me a lot
to get through the first weeks.

You can go on walks with your friends during weeks 1 and 2, and maybe do very light activities, mostly consisting of walking and breathing.
In week 3 or 4 you can actually do stuff like going to cafes, to the movies, and museums.

It also wouldn’t hurt to have a helping hand, at times, though you will completely be fine on your own.

One last thing I’d like to mention is that light exercise, especially walking has helped me by far the most to manage my mood.
Also, I would urge everyone to not just stay in bed or even inside all day after week 1,
make sure you get fresh air, see the sun, and don’t neglect your body.
There is no need for a full-blown yoga session each morning, but you can stretch most of your body without moving your head.

=== FINAL WORDS ===

All in all, I am very very happy with the results. I did get a lot of compliments from friends, so that helps a lot, but once again
I am the type of person who cares more about medical than aesthetic issues, though I do think feeling confident and content in your own skin
is a very personal matter, and looks are definitely a part of that for me.

I was very happy with my looks before the surgery, but the medical issues were so significant that I was very determined with my choice to do it.

A commentator on my previous review asked about the genioplasty, which I actually did for mostly aesthetic reasons though.
I like the way it looked in the simulation, I like the way it looks now and they only offered me a discount with both procedures.
Genioplasty is also a common procedure for LJS, especially since they moved my jaw back, and not adjusting my chin could look disproportionate.


In conclusion, it was quite a ride, but definitely not as bad as I imagined.
I felt taken care of by all the professional people involved and had a great time in Korea before and afterwards.
The worst is over, after the first week or two, and from there it is only going uphill.

Regarding feedback for both TFD and MEI: thank you for everything, needless to say, I made the right choice
and couldn’t be happier with my decision to go with the surgery and your services.
I do believe the only room for improvement can be found in your English language support.

Having someone fluent (business-medical level, like Dr. Lee) in English on-site and online, would make the service significantly better for foreign patients,
though I do want to point out that the staff is working really hard to accommodate that, and this will not be a dealbreaker for most of you.

It is not a life-and-death situation, and you will not be at any tangible disadvantage if you don’t speak Korean,
though it helps to avoid the occasional miscommunication or any awkward dialogues.

Nevertheless, I do believe that this is a general thing in Korea (again, not to pass judgment or complain),
which is a HUGE chance for services that will provide top-notch English services to cut through the masses and
outshine their competition, just my two cents.

Finally, I am not a medical professional, so please seek professional advice before making any important decisions.
Do I recommend TFD and MEI’s services?
Absolutely.

Should you seek out advice from other medical professionals and services, maybe even in your home country?
Absolutely.

Part of the reason, why I am so happy with my TFD and MEI is that I have done my research and compared services and
quotes from other providers. Do not stay in the endless loop of researching (questionable) resources online.
Go out there, get face-to-face consultation, get a feeling of the clinic and enjoy the beautiful country in Korea.

I hope you are finding what you seek and all the happiness and health in life.

Cheers!