A WOMAN is unrecognisable after undergoing a painful five-hour surgery to correct her severe underbite – it left her unable to eat for eight weeks but friends and colleagues now do a double take.
Luisa McDermott developed the 3cm underbite when she was nine years old, which left her bottom jaw protruding beyond her upper one.
Luisa McDermott before undergoing jaw surgery at 18[/caption]
She developed a severe underbite when she was nine, which affected her confidence[/caption]
She counted down the days until she could undergo double jaw surgery[/caption]
She’s now been left unrecognisable[/caption]
Luisa said her underbite started to affect her confidence when she was a teenager.
“My jaw made me really unhappy, and I hated having photos,” the now 26-year-old said.
“People would say ‘your jaw is massive’.
“The comments didn’t bother me as much as they should because I always knew that I’d be getting surgery one day.”
Luisa, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, wore braces for eight years and was finally given the go-ahead for a five-hour operation to correct the underbite.
Surgeons moved Luisa’s bottom jaw back 0.8mm and her top jaw forward by 1cm, leaving her unable to eat solid food for two months.
But she said the pain was worth it as she’s finally able to show off her transformation, which has left her unrecognisable.
“It’s absolutely worth all the pain and it’s life changing. I’m so glad I had it done,” Luisa said.
“The full recovery time is about 18 months.
“I was on a liquid diet for two weeks and had to eat through a straw, and then I could eat mashed potatoes.
“It was so uncomfortable.
“I couldn’t swallow, I couldn’t feel my teeth, I needed 24/7 care, I had to be fed, and I couldn’t go to the toilet.
“On the third day, my eye was swollen shut, so I could only see out of half of it.
“My cheek, neck, lips and chin were swollen and bruised, and I had nosebleeds.
People used to make comments about Luisa’s jaw[/caption]
She felt self conscious having pictures taken[/caption]
The five-hour surgery involved bottom jaw back 0.8mm and her top jaw forward by 1cm[/caption]
Luisa couldn’t swallow, I couldn’t feel her teeth, I needed 24/7 care and had to be fed after surgery[/caption]
“I wasn’t scared because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I knew I’d get to the other side, and that is what I had to go through.
“I’m still struggling to eat and chew solids, I’ve got pins and needles in my chin and can’t move my top lip.”
Luisa had to attend hospital appointments every six weeks to see if her teeth were ready for the surgery.
The administrator opted not to go to university out of fear she would fall behind if she were offered surgery while she was studying.
I’m really happy and I feel a million times better when I look in the mirror. Now, when I take a photo, I feel like I’m catching up on all of those years.
Luisa McDermott
Luisa had her first operation when she was 18, during which her jaw was shaved down by 5mm.
She was also given braces, which she’ll finally have removed in January after wearing them for eight years.
Luisa said: “I was desperate. I didn’t go to university in case I needed surgery during that time, and I’d have to come home every six weeks.
“Eventually, my teeth stopped moving because my jaw was so far forward.
Luisa at the age of 18[/caption]
Luisa straight after undergoing jaw surgery[/caption]
Luisa said people now do a double take when they see her[/caption]
She’s had a massive boost in confidence[/caption]
“I’ve had braces for eight years now, and I can’t wait to have them off.”
Luisa says friends do a double-take when they see her and that she has a newfound confidence since the operation.
She added: “My mindset has completely changed.
“I love my side profile now. Everything is in place and symmetrical.
“I’m really happy and I feel a million times better when I look in the mirror.
What causes an underbite?
An underbite is a dental condition where your lower front teeth stick out beyond your upper front teeth.
It can happen if your lower jaw extends beyond your upper jaw.
This can be caused by genetics or habits like prolonged thumb-sucking, bottle-feeding or pacifier use.
Nail-biting and pressing your tongue into your teeth can also have an effect, as well as injury to the face or jaw.
If your teeth are aligned, your front teeth should extend slightly beyond your lower front teeth.
This positioning allows the molars on your upper and lower jaw to meet when you close your mouth.
A mild underbite may not cause issues.
A severe underbite can cause your jaw to stick out noticeably.
The misalignment can cause symptoms, including:
- Trouble opening or closing your mouth all the way.
- Discomfort or pain while speaking or chewing.
- Biting the inside of your mouth.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Jaw pain.
- Bad breath.
Source: Cleveland Clinic
“Now, when I take a photo, I feel like I’m catching up on all of those years.
“I feel a lot more confident. I’d do it all over again.
“A lot of people don’t recognise me.
“My next-door neighbour and colleagues didn’t recognise me when they first saw me.
“People do a double-take because they can’t believe it’s me.
“They think I’m someone else, and they’re completely shocked.”
‘When I take a photo, I feel like I’m catching up on all of those years,’ Luisa said[/caption]