Her Jaw Disintegrated | TMJ & Facial Reconstructive Surgery

How do you fix a face that’s falling apart? In Rachel’s case, you break it even more. What started as trouble swallowing as a teenager turned into a full facial reconstruction. Rachel’s TMJ deterioration left her unable to eat, breathe properly, or even recognize her own face. With her airway down to just 2 millimeters (when it should be 11!), doctors had no choice but to break and rebuild her entire jaw. In this episode, Rachel walks us through her insane surgical journey—from bone saws to gold weights implanted in her eyelid, the facial paralysis that followed, and the emotional rollercoaster of waking up with a face that felt like someone else’s. This is a story about identity, survival, and the body’s wild ability to rebuild itself.

Be sure to catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube!