Arrived for a dental consultation – and claims her face was deformed
A 24-year-old Chinese woman claims she went to a hospital for a dental consultation regarding a slight protrusion of her lower jaw. However, she alleges that a specialist convinced her to undergo a complex surgery. According to her, the plan to move the jaw back by two millimeters turned into a procedure where it was moved more than 13 millimeters in the opposite direction.
The young woman, identified in reports by the pseudonym Xiao Yu, arrived in 2025 at the Wuhan University School of Stomatology. According to her, she initially wanted to inquire about options for a filling, a dental implant, or standard orthodontics, since the protrusion of the jaw was mainly visible in profile and her face looked almost normal from the front.
The doctor who examined her determined that she needed orthognathic surgery and referred her to the department specializing in jaw surgery. According to the young woman, the tests conducted before the surgery showed that the lower jaw protruded by about two millimeters and that the plan was to move it slightly backward. However, she claims that images taken after the procedure show that the jaw was moved forward by more than 13 millimeters and even deviated to the side. According to her, the procedure created a noticeable asymmetry between the two sides of her face.
Xiao Yu said she noticed the deformity within less than a month of the surgery. According to her, her face tilted to one side, and its lower part became longer and more prominent than it was before the surgery. She turned to several hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai, claiming that the doctors who examined her determined that the procedure performed did not match the original plan. The young woman claims that the damage is not only aesthetic. According to her, one of the screws inserted during the surgery damaged the root of a tooth and caused gum recession, while her nasal septum became crooked to the left, making it difficult for her to breathe through one of her nostrils. She estimates that she will need about seven additional procedures to repair the damage, and that the cost of rehabilitation could reach 300,000 yuan (about 44,000 dollars).
After receiving additional opinions, Xiao Yu returned to the surgeon and presented him with the findings. In the documentation she published, he is heard saying:
«I like this face shape. The current face shape is more fashionable than the one before.»
He added that she should accept the new look and that the other option is to undergo another surgery. According to Xiao Yu, she paid about 80,000 yuan (about 12,000 dollars) for the surgery. After the case caused a stir online, the hospital announced that it had set up a special team to investigate the claims. The doctor involved has stopped seeing patients and is cooperating with the investigation. The hospital management promised to correct any deficiencies found and to take measures in accordance with the law. At this stage, the findings of the investigation have not been published.
