Woman who had a severe underbite reveals her transformation after undergoing double jaw surgery

Publish date: 2024-08-14

A woman who suffered from a severe underbite has revealed her incredible transformation two years after undergoing double jaw surgery.

Katie Johnson, 21, from Tennessee, shared photos of her jawline before and after the life-changing procedure in a TikTok video that has been viewed more than 13.6 million times. 

'Can’t believe it’s been two years since I said goodbye to my biggest insecurity. #doublejawsurgery #transformation,' she captioned the clip. 

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Transformation: Katie Johnson, 21, from Tennessee, took to TikTok to share photos of her jawline before and after she had double jaw surgery to fix her severe underbite Transformation: Katie Johnson, 21, from Tennessee, took to TikTok to share photos of her jawline before and after she had double jaw surgery to fix her severe underbite

Transformation: Katie Johnson, 21, from Tennessee, took to TikTok to share photos of her jawline before and after she had double jaw surgery to fix her severe underbite 

Looking back: Katie has surgery to fix her underbite nearly two years ago in June 2018

Looking back: Katie has surgery to fix her underbite nearly two years ago in June 2018 

An underbite, also called a Class III malocclusion or prognathism, is a dental condition in which the lower teeth and jaw protrude in front of the upper teeth.  

Katie's transformation video begins with photos that show how her bottom jaw jutted out before she underwent surgery. 

She also includes footage of herself opening and closing her mouth, revealing that her upper and lower teeth didn't line up at all.  

Katie marks the start of her transformation with a snapshot of herself in the hospital after her surgery. 

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Share Before: An underbite, also called a Class III malocclusion or prognathism, is a dental condition in which the lower teeth and jaw protrude in front of the upper teeth Before: An underbite, also called a Class III malocclusion or prognathism, is a dental condition in which the lower teeth and jaw protrude in front of the upper teeth

Before: An underbite, also called a Class III malocclusion or prognathism, is a dental condition in which the lower teeth and jaw protrude in front of the upper teeth

Recovery: Double jaw surgery is when an oral surgeon performs surgery on both jaws simultaneously to correct skeletal issues, including a protruding jaw

Recovery: Double jaw surgery is when an oral surgeon performs surgery on both jaws simultaneously to correct skeletal issues, including a protruding jaw

Before and after: Katie said her underbite was her 'biggest insecurity' growing up Before and after: Katie said her underbite was her 'biggest insecurity' growing up

Before and after: Katie said her underbite was her 'biggest insecurity' growing up

The video ends with pictures of her healed jaw, including her flashing a megawatt smile. 

More than 1.9 million TikTok users have liked the clip, and she explained in the comments that she lost the feeling in her bottom lip, chin, and gums after the surgery. 

'I got used to it, so it doesn't really bother me,' she said. 

Double jaw surgery, also known as bi-maxillary osteotomy, is when an oral surgeon performs surgery on both jaws simultaneously to correct skeletal issues, including a protruding jaw.

@katiejohn23

Can’t believe it’s been 2 years since I said goodbye to my biggest insecurity. ##doublejawsurgery ##transformation

♬ something traumatic - courtneyleehewitt
tiktok Privacy Policy Picture of confidence: Katie ended her video with footage of her flashing a megawatt smile Picture of confidence: Katie ended her video with footage of her flashing a megawatt smile

Picture of confidence: Katie ended her video with footage of her flashing a megawatt smile 

Looking back: Last year Katie opened up about how she was made fun of because of her underbite in an emotional Facebook post. She is pictured after her surgery

Looking back: Last year Katie opened up about how she was made fun of because of her underbite in an emotional Facebook post. She is pictured after her surgery 

Hard to handle: She recalled how people would say, 'You look like a bulldog,' or ask, 'Why is your chin so long?' She is pictured before her surgery Hard to handle: She recalled how people would say, 'You look like a bulldog,' or ask, 'Why is your chin so long?' She is pictured before her surgery

Hard to handle: She recalled how people would say, 'You look like a bulldog,' or ask, 'Why is your chin so long?' She is pictured before her surgery 

Last year Katie opened up about how she was made fun of because of her underbite in an emotional Facebook post. 

'As a young girl I was made fun of for something I couldn’t help,' she wrote, recalling how people would say, 'You look like a bulldog,' or ask, 'Why is your chin so long?' 

'I avoided pictures for what seems like most of my life,' she admitted. 'I made sure my head was tilted just right so that you couldn’t tell my jaw was crooked. You would NEVER see a side profile picture of me. 

'I held my mouth in the right position so that my bite wouldn’t look "as bad," which caused me so much discomfort. I hated looking in the mirror. I constantly felt self-conscious when talking or eating around other people. I felt that people only [saw] my underbite.' 

Worth it: Katie said she had to relearn to talk and eat after the painful surgery, but she doesn't have any regrets Worth it: Katie said she had to relearn to talk and eat after the painful surgery, but she doesn't have any regrets

Worth it: Katie said she had to relearn to talk and eat after the painful surgery, but she doesn't have any regrets 

Happy: 'I never thought I’d see the day that smiling would be one of my favorite things to do,' she said

Happy: 'I never thought I’d see the day that smiling would be one of my favorite things to do,' she said 

Katie said deciding to undergo double jaw surgery in June 2018 was one of the 'hardest decisions' she ever had to make.   

'I backed out at least three times before pushing myself to go through with it,' she admitted. 'It’s changed my life. The recovery was anything but easy, but totally worth it. I had to learn to talk, and eat all over again.'

She shared the candid post one-year post-op, saying she is 'as happy as ever.'   

'Someone asked me if I would recommend someone to go through this, and I said absolutely,' she recalled. 'It’s not only made me happier, but a whole lot stronger. It showed me how far I can be pushed physically and mentally. 

'I never thought I’d see the day that smiling would be one of my favorite things to do and eating is SO much easier.'

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