Woman talks about her incredible transformation after an amazing facial surgery

Wales: A 20-year-old Welsh woman Ellie Jones who was born with a rare condition which prevented her jawbones from growing properly has under gone surgery and had her life transformed by pioneering surgery.

Ellie Jones was born with a facial deformity condition which meant her teeth were not aligned.

Ellie went to have her braces fitted to straighten her teeth when she was 14, but consultant orthodontist Joy Hickman then noticed her jaw had not grown since she was 8 years old.

In the following 6 years Miss Hickman worked with consultant maxillofacial surgeon Emma Woolley at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd to transform Ellie’s looks.

Ellie who underwent her first surgery at 16 and Ellie, and is now 20, said:

“It was really painful, but had to be done to sort the problem.

“I was on a liquid diet for about a month, which was really hard, and I couldn’t talk properly – I had to use a notepad to communicate.

“After a while I was able to mumble a few words, and had a lisp for a while due to how swollen my mouth was.”

The result of the surgery immediately paid off;

“About six months after it was my Year 11 prom and it looked good.”

Ellie's jaws were horizontally and vertically cut after which she underwent a more corrective surgery on her chin a year later which was also misshapen:

“I’d always felt like my chin was too small, so the second procedure, which was optional, made another big difference.

“I mostly just felt relieved – I finally felt like I could be myself.”

“I was shy but now I feel really confident. It’s changed my whole life.”