Man, 24, undergoes dramatic jaw surgery transformation after a decade of taunts

Luke McLuckie, 24, from New Islington in Manchester, underwent a five-hour jaw realignment operation in July at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham to correct an underbite that began forming when he was 13. Doctors told him he would need surgery to realign his jaw and that he would have to wait until he was 18 to ensure his skull was fully grown. The condition left his lower jaw protruding by more than 1.5 centimeters and became a constant source of self-consciousness during his teenage years.

Mentally, the taunts and social awkwardness took a toll. He said he avoided side-on photos, skipped social events, and felt unable to share milestones such as his graduation or cycling trips. 'I was very insecure about my side profile,' he said. 'When I laughed or smiled, it would be really obvious. In social settings I’d avoid talking to someone side-on.' He recalled cruel comments from strangers that worsened his condition.

In July, McLuckie finally had the corrective surgery at Queens Medical Centre. The operation involved moving the upper jaw forward by about 11 centimeters and repositioning the lower jaw back by 4 millimeters. The five-hour procedure was followed by significant swelling and sharp nerve pain as titanium plates and screws held the jaw in place. He was on a liquid diet for six weeks and housebound for a month during recovery.

'All the doctors were saying I looked like a different person and this is what I wanted to hear,' he recalled.

Four months on, the change has been dramatic. He said his friends still require a moment to recognise him when they first see him in public, and he described the moment he saw his new profile in a mirror as a turning point: 'I smiled and my bite line was perfect. I loved what I saw even though I was still swollen and not fully recovered.' The four months also brought social shifts; people around him adjust before reconnecting, he said.

Despite ongoing treatment, including braces for up to a year, McLuckie is determined to raise awareness about the stigma that can accompany facial deformities and the broader health implications, including breathing and sleep issues. He said only about 10 percent of the impact is physical, with the rest affecting mental health and self-confidence. 'We need to raise awareness of this condition and how bad it is to have an overbite, underbite or misaligned jaw,' he said. 'If you see someone on the street who doesn’t look quite right, remember the looks are the tip of the iceberg—the person may be struggling to eat, breathe or sleep properly.'