This operation was made necessary due toa rare condition called idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) who has caused the bones in his jaw to break. Since the age of eight, Izzy suffered from severe jaw and joint pain, which led her to consult numerous orthodontists and wear braces regarding six times in her life. Despite her efforts to resolve her jaw issues, she was bullied and left school at the age of 15.
Izzy’s disease was diagnosed in June 2020, when one of her doctors noticed that her TMG joint – the two joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull – was “non-existent”. The pain she endured was described as “excruciating”, which made everyday life difficult for Izzy in preventing him from eating, breathing and sleeping normally. She hasn’t been able to crunch or bite with her upper teeth since she was 10, and she hasn’t been able to bite into an apple since she was eight. These problems had a considerable impact on his social and emotional life, as she was bullied and harassed because of her appearance (source 1).
Eventually, Izzy suffered a bilateral total jaw joint replacement surgery, which took 12.5 hours. During the operation, his jaw was cut in four places, then removed and replaced with custom-made prostheses. To cushion its new TMG articulation, fat grafts from his stomach were also performed. Although the operation was difficult, Izzy is now “happy” with the way her new face looks and hopes to be able to bite into a caramel apple for the first time in 14 years. The repercussions of this operation go far beyond Izzy’s physical appearance. She said it had changed his life allowing him to eat, breathe and sleep normally. She no longer needs braces and can eat solid foods that were forbidden to her for years. It has also had a positive impact on her emotional life, as she now feels more confident and comfortable in their own skin.