A well-known Japanese television personality who underwent plastic surgery in South Korea says parts of her face have yet to regain sensation three months after the operation. Doctors stress that double-jaw surgery is a complex procedure that can affect nerves, requiring careful consideration before going ahead.
Japanese Patients Seeking Surgery in Korea Rise 58% in a Year
The number of Japanese patients undergoing plastic surgery in South Korea is climbing quickly. According to a 2025 report on foreign patient recruitment by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, 2,011,822 foreign patients used South Korean medical institutions last year, up 71.9% from a year earlier.
By nationality, Chinese patients were the largest group at 618,973, or 30.8%, followed by Japanese patients at 600,009, or 29.8%.
Japanese patients accounted for the largest share in plastic surgery in particular. A total of 97,847 Japanese visited South Korean plastic surgery clinics last year, making up 42.0% of all foreign plastic surgery patients.
That is an increase of about 58% in a single year from 61,918 in 2024. Chinese plastic surgery patients numbered 57,121, or 24.5%.
As medical tourism expands, the recovery of a Japanese television personality who had surgery in South Korea has drawn attention online.
"No Sensation in My Mouth or Chin": An Update Three Months After Jaw Surgery
According to Japanese outlet Abema Times and other media on the 25th, Japanese television personality and influencer Dada, 33, recently posted before-and-after photos of her surgery on social media and described the difficulties of her recovery.
Dada became known for appearing on the Nippon TV variety program "Getsuyou kara Yofukashi" (Monday Midnight TV). She has previously shared her experience with several procedures, including rhinoplasty and liposuction on her upper arms.
She underwent double-jaw surgery and facial contouring surgery in South Korea in July. At the time, she posted images of her severely swollen face immediately after the operation but said she was relieved that her recovery was going better than expected.
"I thought I would go through hell, but I can breathe normally and drink water," Dada said. "The nasal congestion and nosebleeds aren't severe either."
About three months later, however, she described a different situation. Posting photos on the 14th comparing her face before surgery with her face now, she said: "I can manage daily life to some extent, but I still have no sensation around my mouth and chin. It is paralyzed."
"It really is dragging on terribly," she added. "My expression is still awkward when I smile, and I can clearly feel the traces of the surgery."
Continued loss of sensation alone, however, is not enough to conclude that there was medical negligence during the procedure. The extent of nerve damage and the prospects for recovery must be confirmed through medical examination.
"Double-Jaw Surgery Is Not Simply Cosmetic": Accurate Diagnosis Essential
Double-jaw surgery differs from cosmetic procedures that simply alter the shape of the face. It involves cutting the bones of the upper and lower jaw and repositioning them to correct malocclusion or functional problems with the jaw.
Nerves that govern sensation in the lips and face run around the jaw. If these nerves are compressed or affected during surgery, numbness or reduced sensation can appear in the lips and chin. Some patients take several months to recover, and depending on the extent of nerve damage, symptoms may persist for a long period.
Side effects from double-jaw surgery have also shown up in consumer complaints filed in South Korea. According to data previously released by the Korea Consumer Agency, 121 complaints related to double-jaw surgery were filed from 2010 through June of the survey year. Of those, 75 cases, or 62% of the total, involved side effects.
By type, the complaints included 25 cases of pain or abnormal sensation, 21 cases of facial asymmetry and 18 cases of malocclusion. These are past complaint records, however, and do not indicate current rates of side effects.
Doctors advise patients to obtain an accurate diagnosis of their jaw structure and bite before surgery and to check whether the clinic has a system for collaboration between dental and plastic surgery specialists. Some also caution that double-jaw surgery should not be decided lightly for the sole purpose of improving appearance.
In particular, if reduced sensation persists or worsens after surgery, it is important to have the surgeon who performed the operation check the condition of the nerves rather than simply waiting for recovery.
Experts stress that patients should make their decision only after hearing full explanations not only of the expected results but also of possible risks such as nerve damage and changes in bite, the length of recovery and the plan for post-operative care.
