17 Year Old and Regretting Invisalign. New York, NY

I started my treatment just over a year ago, and was initially ecstatic at the idea of 'invisible' braces and finally having straight teeth. My doctor assured me that my teeth would be perfect and ready in time for my 18th Birthday, and also assured me that I could get them whitened for free at that time. When my attatchments were fitted, I was a little upset at how visible they were, both with and without the aligners on, having only ever seen invisalign advertisments of attachment-free perfect teeth. Once I had overcome that disappointment, I realised that having even a small sip of tea or coffee, two of my favourite things in the world, would stain the aligners yellow and make my teeth look even more imperfect than they had before. However, after a year of aligners and having finally accepted the few negatives of the treatment, I was back to my doctor to have my attachments removed. I was excited by the result, and was told to return in a few weeks to fit new attachments for the refinement stage: which they said would take no longer than three or so months (just in time for my 18th). So, I returned, and was told that I would need another year worth of aligners, and almost double the original number of attachments. My disappointment was indescribable, and I'm ashamed to say, as an extremely self concious person, that it quite depressed me. Everyone I know was able to have braces at a much younger age, when I could not (because of health problems). I will how to begin university with braces, something I was assured I would never have to do.
I think invisalign is an excellent treatement solution - if you know all the facts. If I had been told at the beginnning it could be a two to three year treatement, I might have reconsidered or at least been more prepared, however I was not. Invisalign aligners are not invisible, at least not unless your teeth are already near perfect and don't need any attatchments. At the beginning of the next set of aligners each fortnight, my jaw and teeth ache so badly I can't eat. My teeth look yellow because they stain so easily, and my confidence has taken even more of a beating than when I had crooked teeth (I know how ridiculous that is, I'm just telling the truth). Do not take on this process until you have all the facts and details - and if your doctor can't give them to you then considered the worst case scenario and decide whether it will be worth it for you. At this point, I'm not sure it was for me.