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Original poster

Double chin woes (with photos)

206 replies

DoubleChinWoes · 03/08/2021 22:08

I'm completely depressed about my double chin and chubby face. Whatever I weigh, it doesn't change my face at all. I have no cheekbones and multiple chins.

My friends wedding photos came back today and every single photo of me is ruined by my chins and face. It makes me feel so low.

My side profile is awful, because I have a receding chin and no jaw. My dentist has commented on my jaw, saying I could get it broken and reset but I would need to have my jaw wired shut for weeks and eat through a straw. Hardly practical.

My BMI is within a healthy range (just) but my face just constantly looks awful because it's so chubby. the photos look like someone much heavier than me I think. I don't look like a healthy BMI when you just see my face.

I have had to delete Instagram and Facebook because I obsessively look at plastic surgery accounts and research people who had their profile changed with liposuction and chin implants or fillers. I'm generally anti surgery and wouldn't have the money anyway.

I try to convince myself it doesn't matter. I have good skin, people say I'm a laugh and nice, I have a husband who says I'm gorgeous and kids that appear to adore me (they are 1.5 and 3yrs old so don't know I'm ugly yet).

I have been working from home in a new job since the lockdown first happened so not met anyone in real life. I'm horribly anxious to meet people as I've tried to angle my camera to not show it so obviously.

It's getting worse as I get older (I'm 35) and soon, I'll have saggy skin there too and will end up looking like Kathy Burke. Who I love! She's amazing. But I don't want to look like her, which is probably horrible and vain.

If I can't afford fat freezing, lipo, filler or chin implants, and who knows if these would even help, and losing weight makes no difference my only hope is to start not caring I think.

What am I posting for? I have no idea. Is there something else that can be done? Or do I need to save money for procedures, or let my obsession go somehow?

If you recognise me, please don't tell me or mention it to me in RL. I'm horribly embarrassed.

[Note from MNHQ: we've agreed to remove the pics for the OP, a year or two down the line]

OP posts:
Tinkerbellfluffyboots79 · 04/08/2021 06:57

I have a very short jaw/no chin or had.
I had surgery at 19/20 as it was quite severe. I had train tracks braces on 4 yrs prior and 5 months afterwards. The op was on my jaw and a chin implant. Nothing was wired together though, it wasn’t sore but uncomfy afterwards but healed well, ate soft foods to begin with then normal food once healed. Big op, time in itu/hdu and it was worth it it made a massive difference to my appearance and life. I think though op, you’re lovely and your chin/profile is fine - compared to mine.

But totally understand it’s your own perception of yourself you’re battling with. It’s really hard when your appearance makes you feel like that, I think you should explore options if you feel strongly enough.

Baycitystroller · 04/08/2021 06:58

Second what people say…you are very pretty. We all look different. We all have ‘flaws’.

Social media bombards us with images of the accepted standards of beauty. It’s hard not to compare yourself.

I have a receding jaw. I also have far from perfect teeth, a bit of menopausal sagging and big ears. It would take a lot of time and money to change and actually I think I look ok despite that!

Focus on your good points!

faithfulbird20 · 04/08/2021 07:00

You look very beautiful. Please don't think about breaking your jaw. Kathy Burke is not whom you're going to look like. I also wouldn't have noticed anything had you not mentioned it.

stillcrazyafterall · 04/08/2021 07:07

@66babe

I don't agree If you never mentioned the chin - I'd have looked at that pic and said what a genuinely happy natural pretty young lady Love the hair and make up colouring

Please don't do this to yourself
It's so not worth it , honestly ❤️

This! We will always find something about bodies we are not happy with, but I genuinely would not have looked at you and thought 'hmmm'. Really.
dudsville · 04/08/2021 07:08

I echo pps who say you look happy and beautiful. I'm sorry when folks feel a need to undergo surgery for self perceived flaws, but I understand this is your decision to make.

Hoosi · 04/08/2021 07:13

OP, you look very lovely.

For those who know, outside of the aesthetic reasons, when does the surgery become worth doing for health reasons? I have been having a lot of pain in my jaw joint, and I can hear grittiness as I move my jaw around, on one side. My jaw is definitely misaligned, I can consciously move it forward to a better alignment but it takes effort. My dentist said my bite is basically focused on a couple of teeth at the back of my jaw (which have crumbled, I have two matching crowns in my upper and lower jaw on the side that is painful).

How do I find a specialist to see about it?

EarringsandLipstick · 04/08/2021 07:22

Oh OP. I haven't read all the replies, but have read your posts.

I'm so sorry you feel like this. You look beautiful. Honestly. A really warm happy face & smile.

It doesn't seem like you see this.

If your dentist thinks medically that you might benefit from work on your jaw, then of course, discuss that. But make sure that any decision is based on a good medical reason, not cosmetic. You might be able to effect some change but risk losing your own natural features that make you, you.

All of us have something we focus on that others don't. But truth is that often our beauty & what makes us individually appealing lies in our personal idiosyncrasies & unusual features.

You're gorgeous OP. I wish you could see that ❤️

EarringsandLipstick · 04/08/2021 07:23

my DSis calls it my 'wattle

Those comments sound much more at the heart of why you feel like this.

What a bitch 😡

prettypinkflamingo · 04/08/2021 07:26

I think you look lovely...your smile is genuine and warm. However, I know what it's like to focus on one part of your body. I know someone who had the jaw surgery and it changed her view of herself and her life. She was thrilled with the results. It changed her whole outlook and feelings of self worth. If you've been offered it before then maybe investigate it further?

spartanthehorse · 04/08/2021 07:28

You look lovely. Just showed my husband and he said - she's really gorgeous.

prettypinkflamingo · 04/08/2021 07:28

Oh, and whoever calls it your wattle can fuck right off!!

Isthissteangeitfeelsweird · 04/08/2021 07:33

I have spent my life thinking it's the only thing people see when they look at me. It'll take more than a few posts to get over it

Do you think youd benefit from some counselling? Somtimes it really helps and they can give you tools to help quieten those horrible thoughts about the way you look

Our thoughts are not our reality, their just thoughts X

ElliePhillips · 04/08/2021 07:34

OP I had the jaw surgery two years ago and it was the best decision for me.

Not the same situation as you, I had an open bite and prominent overbite. Eating through a straw for weeks was tedious but had some benefits- I lost weight! And I absolutely LOVE my new profile and feel much happier.

My orthodontist referred me to a specialist maxillofacial surgeon. I think that might be who you should speak to, not just a dentist.

Ask if you have any questions about my surgery. Life is too short to be unhappy about something which could be fixed (you are very cute and pretty though). Best of luck!

Starbucksbasic123 · 04/08/2021 07:34

Look up the Skinny confidential, she had jaw surgery. It takes about two years to heal. Lipo and then chin filler would be less evasive. I understand you’re anti surgery but we could all say you have lovely eyes, a great smile etc but you’ll still obsess over your chin even though you look lovely.

Bryonyshcmyony · 04/08/2021 07:36

Nothing to add except you look absolutely lovely in those photos
What a happy, beautiful face. Good luck with whatever you decide to do OP

Original poster
DoubleChinWoes · 04/08/2021 07:36

I can move my chin to the 'right position' too @Hoosi, and I instantly have a jaw line.

I've looked again this morning at these photos and I just can't believe it's not the most obvious thing about me and it looks so awful to me. Maybe I do need to think about BDD..?

OP posts:
atajs · 04/08/2021 07:37

It's so sad to to see the pictures of you, which are really so beautiful and natural and warm, and read how you view yourself in them :(

I hope this thread helps you love yourself as you are very attractive and photogenic!

Bryonyshcmyony · 04/08/2021 07:38

I also obsess over my looks. I absolutely hate photos of myself.

Sorry I haven't read the thread but if you want to treat it can you have lipo would that be less invasive??

Russell19 · 04/08/2021 07:44

You look absolutely gorgeous,I never even noticed the issues you're referring to.

picklemewalnuts · 04/08/2021 07:46

I genuinely looked up and down for more photos- I didn't think those could be the ones you were worrying about.

No one is perfect, and those minor imperfections add interest to faces. I have a bump in the middle of my nose, and my lower lip is so full I look bad tempered. I don't suppose you'd notice those things when you look at me though.

You are particularly pretty, don't sweat the small stuff.

Livebythecoast · 04/08/2021 07:51

Hi OP. Another one saying when I clicked on the photos I just thought what a lovely pretty lady with kind smiling eyes. If you had posted 'what do you think I don't like about myself?' I would have just thought you were fishing for compliments cos hand on heart, I honestly would not notice.
However, it's about how YOU feel and I'm sorry you view yourself in this way and sometimes we focus on our imperfections too much.
I hope whatever you decide to do makes you happier because you honestly look so lovely Flowers

LizzieSiddal · 04/08/2021 07:55

I agree with everyone else that your chin is not the first thing you notice in those photos. I read your OP then went back to the photos twice thinking “Have I misread this, I can’t see what’s she’s taking about”. You’re a beautiful woman who looks glowing.

Your jaw does an amazing job of allowing you to eat and speak! It’s an incredible part of your body no matter what it looks like.

Finally your sisters comment is just horrible, and you should tell her to stop using it.

littlebilliie · 04/08/2021 08:08

I looked at your picture and thought it was an advert.

Please don't spend your youth worrying about small things. In a decades time you will wonder what you were worried about.

littlebilliie · 04/08/2021 08:11

Can I also say that surgery comes with risk, infection or positioning with teeth. Please don't rush into surgery

Summerfun54321 · 04/08/2021 08:13

I think there’s a big difference between having major surgery when you’re single without children and you can just focus on yourself, and having major surgery when you have young children (I say this from experience). If I were you I’d get counselling first. Surgery and health problems when I had young kids was pretty traumatic for me. There’s no way I’d go through that for cosmetic reasons.