Reviews you can trust, from real people like you.
How it works
- Our highly-trained Review Moderation team evaluates all reviews before they're published to ensure they're written by people like you and not a member of a doctor's office.
- This multi-step process takes up to 24 hours from review submission to publication.
- Doctors can't pay to have reviews removed or hidden.
- Reviews are only removed at the reviewer's request or if they violate our Terms of Service.
If you have questions or believe we should re-evaluate a published review, let us know.
Sort by:
*Treatment results may vary
I had an underbite from the age of 10. Because my...
I had an underbite from the age of 10. Because my teeth were straight and healthy, the dentist didn't pick up on it until my mum pointed it out to him.
4 years later, they gave me braces to start moving my teeth into position for surgery. They needed to make gaps for the brackets and elastics which I hated, but as promised, they closed them back off a few years later.
My jaws were cut in 4 places, they trimmed bone from the bottom and moved my top jaw forward, reconnecting them with metal rods (no I don't go off when I go through airport security).
Surgery took 4 hours, but the hospital took me out of recovery WAY too early (after an hour 1/2), leading to me fainting whilst trying to use the toilet. They also allowed me to stand too early, and every time I did, blood would pour from my nose and mouth. I was released from hospital the next day.
Due to a reaction to the anesthetic, my face was a lot more swollen than it should have been. I struggled to look at myself in a mirror. I didn't recognise myself and instantly regretted the whole thing. My lips were so swollen that I couldn't use a straw. I would try to consume as much liquid as I could through a syringe, but because my stomach and mouth were lined with blood, I kept vomiting everything back up - including the liquidised pain killers. Luckily for me, I was so worn out that the pain wasn't too bad in those first few days. I was on a diet of warm water and sweetened black tea, consuming about 10ml a day - 1/10 of what I should have been. This led me to having a seizure on day 4 and ending up back in hospital.
It was another 10-14 days till I could consume soft foods. Your jaw feels so fragile that chewing mashed potato seemed impossible. It's a raw, throbbing, stinging pain.
My orthodontist told me the swelling would last 2-4 weeks after my op. It lasted 5-6 MONTHS, as shown in the picture I've uploaded. It was a good sign when I started to feel pins and needles in my lips because I knew I'd gain feeling back eventually.
For months after the surgery, I regretted it because I was convinced the swelling would never go down. At one point, my face was so swollen, my nose looked flat. (My nose was swollen too). Eventually, and almost over night, 6 months after the op, the swelling was visually gone. I could still feel residual swelling, but importantly, it wasn't evident.
I had the braces removed 9 months after surgery. I couldn't have been happier with the result! My teeth were back to their original straightness and I could finally smile with confidence.
Downsides -
1) I am permanently numb on the right side of my bottom lip and chin so can't feel when I've dropped food/drink down there, so I'm constantly wiping it while I eat out of habit.
2) If I open my mouth too wide (whilst yawning for example), my jaw will lock and although I can close my mouth, I experience excruciating pain for about 30 seconds.
3) No one warned me that my whole mouth and stomach would be filled with blood.
4) If they had kept me in hospital and on the drip for 1-2 days more, I would never have had that seizure.
5) The ongoing swelling = lack of confidence and plenty of regret.
6) Weaker Jaw, with occasional pain (esp during damp, cold or wet weather)
7) Sometimes I wake up with residual swelling around my cheekbones. Goes down after a few hours)
Upsides-
1) No more daily pain from the unaligned jaw
2) 10x more confidence in my side profile, smile and teeth
3) Shorter chin
4) Nose didn't turn up as much as they thought it would.
5) More defined cheek bones
6) Dimples are also more defined.
7) If I hadn't had this, my underbite would be so much worse now, 4 years on.
8) Lips look more even
9) BONUS - They straightened out my chin, which to the naked eye had nothing wrong with it before, but apparently now, my face is completely symmetrical. Score.
This whole thing isn't easy. In fact, it's so much harder than anyone prepared me for. There were so many things they didn't tell me.. and I've probably left things out on here. But I don't regret it for one second.
Looking at the other posts on here, I can see that people's swelling went down a lot sooner and their results were great. Everyone's different. But if you're that unhappy with your face, forget everyone else's opinion on your face - they don't have to look at it every day in the mirror - focus on your own feelings and thoughts. Don't like what you see? Make the changes. Just make sure you're these three things;
PREPARED
PATIENT
POSITIVE
Good things come to those who persevere!!
P.S: Apologies that I don't have any pics from straight after the op. Wasn't conscious or confident enough for that!
4 years later, they gave me braces to start moving my teeth into position for surgery. They needed to make gaps for the brackets and elastics which I hated, but as promised, they closed them back off a few years later.
My jaws were cut in 4 places, they trimmed bone from the bottom and moved my top jaw forward, reconnecting them with metal rods (no I don't go off when I go through airport security).
Surgery took 4 hours, but the hospital took me out of recovery WAY too early (after an hour 1/2), leading to me fainting whilst trying to use the toilet. They also allowed me to stand too early, and every time I did, blood would pour from my nose and mouth. I was released from hospital the next day.
Due to a reaction to the anesthetic, my face was a lot more swollen than it should have been. I struggled to look at myself in a mirror. I didn't recognise myself and instantly regretted the whole thing. My lips were so swollen that I couldn't use a straw. I would try to consume as much liquid as I could through a syringe, but because my stomach and mouth were lined with blood, I kept vomiting everything back up - including the liquidised pain killers. Luckily for me, I was so worn out that the pain wasn't too bad in those first few days. I was on a diet of warm water and sweetened black tea, consuming about 10ml a day - 1/10 of what I should have been. This led me to having a seizure on day 4 and ending up back in hospital.
It was another 10-14 days till I could consume soft foods. Your jaw feels so fragile that chewing mashed potato seemed impossible. It's a raw, throbbing, stinging pain.
My orthodontist told me the swelling would last 2-4 weeks after my op. It lasted 5-6 MONTHS, as shown in the picture I've uploaded. It was a good sign when I started to feel pins and needles in my lips because I knew I'd gain feeling back eventually.
For months after the surgery, I regretted it because I was convinced the swelling would never go down. At one point, my face was so swollen, my nose looked flat. (My nose was swollen too). Eventually, and almost over night, 6 months after the op, the swelling was visually gone. I could still feel residual swelling, but importantly, it wasn't evident.
I had the braces removed 9 months after surgery. I couldn't have been happier with the result! My teeth were back to their original straightness and I could finally smile with confidence.
Downsides -
1) I am permanently numb on the right side of my bottom lip and chin so can't feel when I've dropped food/drink down there, so I'm constantly wiping it while I eat out of habit.
2) If I open my mouth too wide (whilst yawning for example), my jaw will lock and although I can close my mouth, I experience excruciating pain for about 30 seconds.
3) No one warned me that my whole mouth and stomach would be filled with blood.
4) If they had kept me in hospital and on the drip for 1-2 days more, I would never have had that seizure.
5) The ongoing swelling = lack of confidence and plenty of regret.
6) Weaker Jaw, with occasional pain (esp during damp, cold or wet weather)
7) Sometimes I wake up with residual swelling around my cheekbones. Goes down after a few hours)
Upsides-
1) No more daily pain from the unaligned jaw
2) 10x more confidence in my side profile, smile and teeth
3) Shorter chin
4) Nose didn't turn up as much as they thought it would.
5) More defined cheek bones
6) Dimples are also more defined.
7) If I hadn't had this, my underbite would be so much worse now, 4 years on.
8) Lips look more even
9) BONUS - They straightened out my chin, which to the naked eye had nothing wrong with it before, but apparently now, my face is completely symmetrical. Score.
This whole thing isn't easy. In fact, it's so much harder than anyone prepared me for. There were so many things they didn't tell me.. and I've probably left things out on here. But I don't regret it for one second.
Looking at the other posts on here, I can see that people's swelling went down a lot sooner and their results were great. Everyone's different. But if you're that unhappy with your face, forget everyone else's opinion on your face - they don't have to look at it every day in the mirror - focus on your own feelings and thoughts. Don't like what you see? Make the changes. Just make sure you're these three things;
PREPARED
PATIENT
POSITIVE
Good things come to those who persevere!!
P.S: Apologies that I don't have any pics from straight after the op. Wasn't conscious or confident enough for that!
Provider Review
Cant remember
My orthodontists were brilliant. Had appointments every 6 weeks for 4 years before op. The follow up wasn't as great. Original orthodontist was on maternity leave. Only seen twice after op. Not that I wanted to lie in that chair for a minute more. Met surgeon twice over the year before op which was reassuring. Saw her once after (she came to the ward to check on my progress)