Last year, 24-year-old Xiaoyu from Wuhan underwent orthognathic surgery to improve her slight “protruding jaw”, but during the operation, the doctor performed a reverse operation, pulling her mandible bone outward by more than 13 millimeters. This resulted in a change in her appearance, giving her a “shoe horn face”, with damages to her bite and jawbone. Despite striving for her rights, she has yet to receive a proper resolution.
According to a report by “First Scene” on July 24th, when interviewed, Xiaoyu stated that the original surgical plan was for her mandible to move back by 2 millimeters, but in reality, her mandible was moved forward by 13 millimeters. She mentioned, “I sought verification from many hospitals, and each one confirmed that indeed the operation was done incorrectly.”
The surgery not only brought about changes in her appearance but also led to damages to her teeth and nasal functionality. Xiaoyu explained, “The screws pierced through the roots of my teeth, causing gum recession and my teeth to become protruding. Also, my nasal septum shifted to the left, making it difficult for me to breathe through my nostrils.”
After the incident, Xiaoyu sought justice from the hospital involved and the local health commission. The chief surgeon evaded responsibility citing personal aesthetics, saying, “I like your current facial shape, now it looks more stylish than before. This is the new facial structure you should accept. After achieving this effect, your mouth is not protruding. If you don’t accept, then there’s only a need for a second surgery.”
Xiaoyu mentioned in reports that multiple dental hospitals assessed the situation and deemed that a second repair for Xiaoyu would be extremely difficult, with the entire restoration process taking at least four to five years and estimated costs exceeding 300,000 yuan. What’s even more challenging is that routine pre-orthodontic treatment cannot currently be carried out, leaving her temporarily without the conditions for a second surgery. Currently, Xiaoyu has submitted the relevant materials to the local health commission, which is in the process of verification.
Based on reports from mainland Chinese media, prior to this incident, Xiaoyu only had a slight bone protrusion on the side of her mandible, with no significant abnormalities in her frontal appearance. Her original intention was only to seek advice from a dental clinic regarding tooth restoration, dental implants, or conventional orthodontic treatments. However, after examination by the attending doctor, it was determined that she needed orthognathic surgery and she was directly referred to the hospital’s orthognathic department.
In 2025, after undergoing orthognathic surgery at the Wuhan University Stomatological Hospital, Xiaoyu suffered severe complications. Various authoritative medical institutions evaluated the surgery, concluding that there were issues such as misdiagnosis, over-medication, intraoperative errors, and postoperative care negligence.