News Articles About Jaw Surgery

Around the world, jaw surgery has been promoted as a way to “fix” bites, improve breathing, or enhance appearance. But behind the marketing are stories of permanent pain, worsened facial function, and even death.

These news reports—spanning multiple countries and years—document the harsh reality:

Chronic, unrelenting pain that can make daily life unbearable.
Loss of normal facial function—difficulty chewing, speaking, or even closing the mouth comfortably.
Severe complications like nerve damage, hardware failure, blood clots, and airway obstruction.
Psychological trauma so deep that it has led some patients to take their own lives.

The patients in these articles were told surgery would improve their lives. For many, it instead destroyed them. If you are considering jaw surgery, you should know the truth before making an irreversible decision.

Heartbreak as healthy Yorkshire woman, 27, dies just hours after routine jaw operation

Mirror – Nov 8, 2023

Excerpt: “Laura Broadwell was undergoing surgery at Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire to correct alignment to her teeth and collapsed hours later while going to the toilet. Despite attempts to resuscitate the 27-year-old, she was rushed into intensive care and died shortly later.“

Synopsis: Laura Broadwell died only hours after a double jaw surgery meant to align her teeth. A blood clot formed during the procedure, ending her life the same day. Her story is a stark reminder that even “routine” jaw operations carry the ultimate risk—death—before any promised benefits to function or appearance can ever be realized.

Girl dies after jaw surgery due to medical blunder at Japanese hospital

The Mainichi – February 18, 2023

Excerpt: “A girl under 20 years old died after undergoing lower jaw surgery to correct her bite at a hospital in this western Japan city, it was announced on Feb. 17.”

Synopsis: Just two days after lower jaw surgery to correct her bite, the patient’s face swelled so badly she couldn’t breathe. The damage left her with a fatal brain injury. This tragic case shows how quickly post-surgical complications can rob patients of both the ability to ever use their jaws normally again and life itself.

Romanian woman mutilated by an American surgeon.

antena3.ro – August 16, 2017

Excerpt: “A Romanian woman paid nearly $100,000 and was left mutilated for life. She underwent surgery in New York, but during the surgery, the device implanted in her jaw broke. She found out after months of unbearable pain. When she saw the X-rays, she was shocked: the screw had moved all the way under her eye. Now, the woman is suing both the US doctor and the German manufacturing company.“

Synopsis: A $100,000 jaw surgery in New York left a Romanian woman in agony when implanted hardware broke. A screw migrated from her jaw into her sinus, causing chronic pain in her eye, temple, and face. Her ability to chew, speak, and live without constant discomfort is permanently impaired.

Orthognathic surgery: The definitive answer?

Dental Tribune – May 20, 2014

Excerpt: “The potential for relapse and complications in orthognathic surgery conspire to make it the least desirable treatment modality at our disposal. Prolific researcher and the ‘Godfather of orthognathic surgery’, Professor William Bell, ultimately described orthognathic surgery as ‘too complicated, too invasive, too time-consuming, too expensive and too unpredictable.’ “

Synopsis: Large-scale studies show a troubling rate of relapse and serious complications from jaw surgery. Even respected experts admit the procedure is too invasive, unpredictable, and damaging—often leaving patients with chronic pain, worsened bite function, and no lasting benefit.

Experts Warn South Koreans About Cosmetic Jaw Surgery

Dentistry Today – May 30, 2013

Excerpt: “About 52 percent of the women encountered major sensory problems after the surgery. Some of the other problems include misaligned teeth, chewing issues and jaw pain. There was even a case in which a woman committed suicide after surgery based on the depression she felt from serious jaw pain.“

Synopsis: In South Korea, where cosmetic jaw surgery has become a trend, over half of patients report lasting sensory loss. Many suffer jaw pain, misaligned teeth, and difficulty chewing. In one case, post-surgical depression from pain led to suicide. These are not rare events—they are part of the risk profile.

Double Jaw Surgery In South Korea A Dangerous New Fad

HuffPost – May 27, 2013

Excerpt: ” ‘It’s a very complex, potentially dangerous surgery … it’s disturbing to see people with no real dental flaws daring to go through it just to have a pretty face,’ said one professor of dentistry. A Seoul lawmaker in January proposed setting a minimum age limit for plastic surgery, noting the danger of ‘bone-related surgeries’ in particular. Last August, a 23-year-old college girl who underwent double-jaw surgery killed herself. She left a suicide note explaining her desperation after the surgery left her unable to chew food or stop crying due to nerve damage in a tear duct.“

Synopsis: Despite having no serious dental flaws, young patients are undergoing double jaw surgery for cosmetic reasons—only to end up with nerve damage, inability to chew, and constant facial pain. Some have been driven to suicide. Surgeons and lawmakers are now calling for age restrictions to prevent more harm.

Woman commits suicide, blames doctors

The New Indian Express – May 15, 2012

Excerpt: “A 31-year-old woman committed sucide as she was heart-broken over not getting married, but placed the blame on the cosmetic surgery that she had undergone eight months ago. In her suicide note Valarmathi said that the corrective jaw surgery performed at the Saveetha Dental College and Hospital had left her with impaired vision and that was coming in the way of finding a groom.“

Synopsis: Eight months after corrective jaw surgery, a woman in India was left with impaired vision and reduced quality of life. Unable to marry and heartbroken, she ended her life. Her letter blamed the surgery for taking both her health and her future.

What These Stories Show

These accounts are not isolated tragedies—they reflect the inherent dangers of orthognathic surgery itself. Even when performed by skilled surgeons, cutting and repositioning jaw bones can set off a cascade of irreversible harm:

Persistent nerve pain and altered sensation.
Reduced jaw function that makes chewing, speaking, and swallowing harder—not easier.
Permanent disfigurement or facial changes that feel unnatural and distressing.
Psychological challenges, including depression, anxiety, regret, and a sense of lost identity when the face no longer feels or functions like one’s own.
And in the worst cases, death during or after the procedure.

When weighed against these possibilities, many functional or cosmetic concerns simply do not justify the gamble. These real-world outcomes are a warning: jaw surgery can take far more than it ever gives.