The risks of facial contouring plastic surgery

As I mentioned in my previous post, I had undergone the following procedures:

1. Mandibuloplasty using t shaped osteotomy where my jawline was shaved off;

2. Genioplasty where my chin was narrowed; and

3. Zygoma reduction using L shape osteotomy where my cheekbone was pushed in

These procedures are known as the three type facial contouring surgeries - these surgeries are often paired with the removal of your buccal fat and some of your jaw muscles 🔪

I actually opted out of the removal of my buccal fat pads as I had heard many negative reviews about this - so my cheeks are considerably chubby (as compared to my facial structure) 🫢

In this post, I will be talking about the risks of the three point facial contouring surgeries. The list will be a non-exhaustive and general list of the risks involved with these surgeries. Whilst you read this, do take a moment to pause and think about each risk and what would happen if it eventualised ☠️

1. Infection: As with any surgery, there is a risk of infection - whether at the point of incision or within. The points of incision for these surgeries are at your side burns (surgeries 3) and in your mouth (surgeries 1 and 2) Ensuring a sterile environment by consistently gargling your mouth and taking the right medications can minimize this risk.

2. Nerve Damage: These procedures involve significant manipulation of facial bones and muscle, which can potentially damage nerves, leading to numbness, loss of sensation or even loss of function. I’ve personally have some loss of sensation in my chin after so many years 🤯 - whilst I can still move my chin (left, right, up and down), my chin feels weird to me 😢‼️ It doesn’t feel like my chin from before. Are you prepared for this risk? 😣

3. Asymmetry: There's a risk that the results may not be perfectly symmetrical, which may require additional corrective procedures 😱 Whilst I was healing from the surgery, my face did look lopsided - I felt my face and there seemed to be a hard bump in the lopsided part of my face 😱 Apparently this is normal and the bump eventually smoothened.

4. Swelling and Bruising: Significant swelling and bruising are common post-surgery and can take weeks to months to fully subside. I was so swollen for weeks and months 😨 I would say the swelling fully subsided only 1 year later.

5. Scarring: The incisions for surgeries (1) and (2) are made in your mouth but the surgery (3)‘s incision had to be made near my cheekbone, my side burns 🫥 Although it’s hidden by my hair, it’s still obvious iykyk.

6. Facial sagging: As so much bone, fat and muscle will be manipulated, it is possible that one or both side of your face will start to sag unnaturally - whether right after the surgery, a few weeks or months later, or years later 🫣

7. Allergic reactions: Do consider if what medicine will be given to and what medicine you’re allergic to. I was allergic to one of the medications given to me after the surgeries were done. The allergic reaction was a nightmare 😭😭😭‼️‼️‼️

8. The metal plates inserted being undone (See the cover photo): Did you know that these surgeries involve metal plates and pins being inserted into your facial structure? Consider the risk if it suddenly came undone. Do read my next few posts to find out if this happened to me!

Stay tuned for next few posts:

1. The surgery process and the aftermath

2. More before and after pictures, whether I actually look different, whether I’m happy

3. Any consequences thus far?

Check out these other posts on my plastic surgery adventure:

1. General Introduction: My Plastic Surgery Adventure

2. Why I did plastic surgery and the alternatives I tried

3. What research I did, the clinics I considered, how I chose this clinic in particular

4. How much I paid for the surgery and the negotiating process

#BeReal