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.
The consequences documented in these news articles include:
- Chronic, unrelenting pain making daily life unbearable
- Loss of normal facial function—difficulty chewing, speaking, or closing mouth comfortably
- Severe complications including nerve damage, hardware failure, blood clots, airway obstruction
- Psychological trauma leading some patients to suicide
The patients in these articles were told surgery would improve their lives. For many, it instead destroyed them.
Heartbreak as healthy Yorkshire woman, 27, dies just hours after routine jaw operation
“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.”
Laura Broadwell, a healthy 27-year-old woman, died from a blood clot that formed during double jaw surgery. What was presented as a routine procedure to correct her bite ended her life within hours of the operation.
Girl dies after jaw surgery due to medical blunder at Japanese hospital
“A girl under 20 years old died after undergoing lower jaw surgery to correct her bite at a hospital in this western Japan city.”
Two days after the surgery, severe facial swelling prevented the patient from breathing. The swelling obstructed her airway, resulting in a fatal brain injury. A young life lost to a procedure meant to correct a bite.
Romanian woman mutilated by an American surgeon
“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.”
“The screw had moved all the way under her eye,” causing chronic facial pain with permanent impairment to chewing and speaking. Nearly $100,000 spent, and a lifetime of suffering in return.
Orthognathic surgery: The definitive answer?
“The potential for relapse and complications in orthognathic surgery conspire to make it the least desirable treatment modality at our disposal.”
“Professor William Bell, ultimately described orthognathic surgery as ‘too complicated, too invasive, too time-consuming, too expensive and too unpredictable.’” Even leading figures in the field have acknowledged that the surgery is fundamentally flawed.
Experts Warn South Koreans About Cosmetic Jaw Surgery
“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.” More than half of patients in this study experienced major sensory problems—a staggering complication rate that should give any prospective patient pause.
Double Jaw Surgery In South Korea A Dangerous New Fad
“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.”
“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.”
Woman commits suicide, blames doctors
“A 31-year-old woman committed suicide as she was heart-broken over not getting married, but placed the blame on the cosmetic surgery that she had undergone eight months ago.”
“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.” A procedure meant to improve her life instead took it from her.
What These Stories Show
These are not isolated incidents. They represent the inherent dangers of a procedure that is routinely presented as safe and predictable:
- Persistent nerve pain and altered sensation
- Reduced jaw function affecting chewing, speaking, and swallowing
- Permanent disfigurement or unnatural facial changes
- Psychological challenges: depression, anxiety, regret, lost identity
- Death during or after the procedure
These stories make one thing clear: jaw surgery can take far more than it ever gives.
More From Avoid Jaw Surgery
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Understanding the nerve damage, bone trauma, and chronic pain that follow orthognathic surgery.
Read more →My Story – A Jaw Surgery Victim / Survivor
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Read more →Living A Life With An Imperfect Bite
Why accepting your natural bite is often the healthiest and safest choice you can make.
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