Luke McLuckie, a 24-year-old from New Islington, Manchester, has undergone life-changing jaw realignment surgery to correct a severe underbite that caused years of insecurity and mental health struggles. Mr. McLuckie began developing the underbite at age 13, which resulted in his lower jaw protruding centimetres in front of his upper teeth. During a routine dental appointment in 2015, he was informed that surgery would be necessary but would have to wait until he was at least 18, ensuring his skull was fully grown.

The waiting period proved challenging for Luke, as his underbite worsened and significantly impacted his mental well-being. He recalled feeling deeply insecure about his side profile, particularly when laughing or smiling. This self-consciousness led him to avoid social interactions from certain angles and held him back from fully engaging in university life, including joining societies or attending social events. He explicitly stated, "I was very insecure about my side profile." The underbite measured over 1.5cm, a significant deviation.

Cruel comments from strangers further exacerbated his distress. Luke recounted experiencing nasty remarks during nights out, with one particularly memorable incident at the Euros Quarter-final in 2021 where a drunk individual aggressively questioned his jaw. Such encounters made him deeply uncomfortable and reinforced his feelings of abnormality.

In July of the current year, Luke finally underwent the gruelling five-hour realignment surgery at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. The complex procedure involved cutting open his gums, shunting his top jaw 11mm forward, and moving his bottom jaw 4mm back. Titanium plates and screws were used to secure his jaw in its new position, leading to significant post-operative swelling and sharp nerve pain, which he likened to an open wound.

Recovery from the surgery was arduous and lasted several weeks. Luke was placed on a liquid diet for six weeks and was housebound for an entire month. He described the recovery as incredibly tough, feeling like a toddler again, consuming milkshakes through a cup. Psychologically, the inability to chew or derive pleasure from eating was challenging, coupled with numbness in his bottom lip and uncontrollable dribbling for the first month. "You can't feel your bottom lip for the first month or so, so there was a lot of dribbling.When you're walking around the house, you have to have a tissue to mop up," he explained.

It took seven weeks for Luke to gather the courage to leave his house. However, once he did, his confidence soared. Four months post-surgery, his appearance has changed so dramatically that his friends initially struggle to recognise him. He recalled seeing his new side profile in a pub mirror, realizing he looked like a completely different person with a perfect bite line, even though he was still swollen. Despite the initial adjustment period for his friends, Luke now loves his reflection.

Even with his newfound confidence, Luke's journey isn't over, as he will need to wear braces for up to a year. He is now determined to raise awareness for the stigma associated with facial deformities like underbites, as well as the accompanying physical issues such as difficulties with breathing and sleeping. He emphasizes that the physical effects only account for about 10 percent of the struggle, with the mental and self-perception aspects making up the rest. Luke hopes to educate others, highlighting that judgmental looks are just the tip of the iceberg for individuals suffering from these conditions.