"I Have a Cursed Face": Double Jaw Surgery for a Port-Wine Stain | Faceline Plastic Surgery Seoul
"I have a cursed face."
That is how a woman introduced herself on the Korean makeover show "Let Me In" (Season 4, Episode 10, Story On, aired July 31, 2014). Born with a port-wine stain on the right side of her face, she had spent 36 years keeping that side hidden.
In short: at Faceline Plastic Surgery Clinic and Faceline Dental Clinic in Seoul, we treated her facial asymmetry and protruding mouth with babyface double jaw (two-jaw) surgery, with no teeth extracted, together with facial contouring and other procedures. Here is her story, and how we planned the surgery.
The first time she noticed
She was a child when people began to say she looked strange. Some said she would spread a disease. Some threw stones. "That was the first time I realized I looked different," she told the show.
A double life, in makeup
For her, the "double life" was makeup. To step outside, she covered the stain with thick makeup, so the face the world saw and the face she had at home were two very different faces. It felt like wearing a mask, she said, but the makeup was also her safety net.
Work was hard to come by. She worked from home as a part-time web designer, and some months no work came in at all. She wondered whether her photo was the reason employers rarely called back. Then, at a photo studio to take an ID photo for her résumé, she asked the photographer to balance out her lips. What she wanted was simple: to stop living a double life and live a little more comfortably.
What was behind her face
The stain was more than skin deep. As it grew, abnormal blood vessel growth reached her lip, gums and upper jaw. Her right upper jawbone grew longer and her whole jaw twisted to one side. The result was facial asymmetry, a protruding mouth, excess gum exposure and a receding chin. The stain also extended inside her lips and gums.
How two teams became one
Her protruding mouth and her twisted jaw had to be corrected together. Double jaw surgery is where plastic surgery and dentistry overlap, so our two clinics, Faceline Plastic Surgery Clinic and Faceline Dental Clinic, worked as one team. We began with a detailed examination of her gum and bone structure. The plan was our babyface double jaw surgery (F-type).
No teeth were extracted. Instead of pulling the mouth back by removing teeth, our surgeons repositioned the upper jaw, lower jaw and chin: raising the lengthened side to even out the jaw and moving the overgrown part back, while our dental team provided orthodontic treatment for her bite. Facial contouring (V-line carving) evened out both sides of the jaw and shaped a slimmer, natural face line. The double jaw surgery and facial contouring were done through incisions inside the mouth, so no scars remain on the outside of her face.
Surgeons and procedures
Dr. Lee Jinsoo, Chief Director, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Faceline Plastic Surgery Clinic: double jaw surgery with mandibular segmental surgery (the lower jaw segment was moved inward by about 1.5 mm), facial contouring surgery (V-line carving), and lifting laser treatment. Graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine (MD and graduate school); completed plastic surgery residency at Seoul National University Hospital; Director of the F-Line Facial Contouring Research Institute.
Dr. Lee Shinjung, Orthodontic Specialist and Chief Director, Faceline Dental Clinic: orthodontic treatment. Graduated with honors from Seoul National University College of Dentistry; certified orthodontic specialist (Ministry of Health and Welfare); adjunct professor at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine.
Dr. Lee Taehee, Chief Director, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Faceline Plastic Surgery Clinic: double eyelid surgery (power non-incision method), nose surgery, lip reduction surgery (about 5 mm of the drooping lip removed), fat grafting, and Acculifting (double chin liposuction). Graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine (MD and graduate school); completed plastic surgery residency at Samsung Medical Center; adjunct professor at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine.
The surgery was performed directly by our "Let Me In" doctors, the director surgeons of Faceline.
What is babyface double jaw surgery?
Babyface double jaw surgery is our method for correcting a protruding mouth while keeping a youthful look. At Faceline we call it F-type youthful double jaw surgery. We developed it as an alternative to conventional extraction orthodontics, which can leave a face looking flat, long or older. It repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw and chin as a set, so the profile from nose to lips to chin forms a stepped "F" line. We aim for a 1 : 1 : 0.8 ratio across the upper, middle and lower face. Our planning uses REMA (Reverse Estimating Method of Analysis): we set the goal face first, then work backward to decide how far each bone should move.
The reveal
Then it was time to see her new face. When she walked out, the hosts said she looked like an actress, and one called her "a doll." Korean press headlines later said her new look resembled a well-known Korean actress. Another host said she had forgotten the birthmark was ever there.
Told she no longer had to cover her mouth, she was encouraged to smile with confidence. Looking at her old photos, she said it must have been painful, but that life had been a happy time too. When a little makeup was wiped from the birthmark area, the hosts said it had faded a great deal, and she said seeing it moved her.
After the broadcast
In August 2014, Dr. Lee Jinsoo, Dr. Lee Taehee and Dr. Lee Shinjung arranged a wedding photo shoot as a gift for her parents, whose long-held wish was to see their daughter's wedding. Dr. Lee Jinsoo said he hoped she could leave the pain of the past behind and live happily. She thanked Dr. Lee Jinsoo and the other "Let Me In" doctors for the good memories. Excess gum exposure was largely improved, the remaining issues were planned to be addressed with orthodontics, and treatment of the port-wine stain continues.
If you are living with facial asymmetry or a protruding mouth and wondering what is possible, the first step is an examination that looks at both the bone and the bite. We welcome international patients; details are below.
About Faceline Plastic Surgery Clinic
Faceline Plastic Surgery Clinic in Seoul (since 2005) offers plastic surgery, dentistry and dermatology under one roof. We were the officially designated hospital for "Let Me In" Season 4 (2014), were recognized by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare as an official medical institution for international patients (2010), and were designated a Seoul Medical Tourism Partner Institution (2018).
Address: 515-11 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
FAQ
Who is this surgery for?
At Faceline, we use this surgery for typical protrusion, protrusion with asymmetry or a bite problem, protrusion with a long face, protrusion with a very small lower jaw, and mild protrusion. The right method depends on the cause, so Dr. Lee Jinsoo advises being examined where plastic surgery and orthodontics work together, with 3D CT, X-rays, a bite check and consultation.
What are recovery and anesthesia like?
At Faceline Plastic Surgery Clinic, the major swelling usually goes down in about 2 weeks, and patients can return to daily life and work. A natural look comes in about 1 month. We operate under general anesthesia with an anesthesiologist present, so there is no pain during surgery. Patients need 2 to 3 follow-up treatments after surgery, followed by regular checkups. Depending on the individual, inflammation, nerve damage and bleeding may occur.
Can international patients book a consultation?
Yes. We offer multilingual consultation, online consultation, a post-surgery care center, airport pickup, hotel reservation assistance and tax refund assistance. Prior consultation is required.
Contact
Phone: +82-2-541-0082
WhatsApp (English): +82-10-2052-8668
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Facebook: facelineps1004 | Instagram: faceline1004, faceline_english
Homepage: http://www.faceline-usa.com/us/
More
Korean full video: https://youtu.be/Tz_rNw3UwMI
English Shorts: https://youtube.com/shorts/6Ox0SSa7D4Y
Our page on this surgery (Korean):
https://www.face-line.co.kr/kor/m/contents.php?code=01010213
Press coverage (Korean):
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