Bullies used to call me ‘horse face’ because of my overbite so I paid £25,000 to fix it – now people say I look like Kate Beckinsale
A woman who was branded ‘horse face’ because of her extreme overbite says a £25,000 jaw operation has made her feel like a new woman – and she has even been compared to Kate Beckinsale.
Olivia Boardman, 29, who lives in Wembley, London, has been bullied by bullies since the age of 10, when fellow pupils first noticed her overbite, which occurs when the front teeth protrude far beyond the bottom row of teeth.
But the cosmetic problem quickly turned into a health problem when Olivia started experiencing sleep apnea and lower oxygen levels in her brain – both caused by her overbite.
The film and TV trailer maker, who is originally from Manchester, said the condition left her feeling constantly confused and tired, and things became so dire that she even swore off dating.
But now that she has gone under the knife, Olivia says she has a new lease on life and is flattered at being mistaken for a ‘supermodel’.
Olivia Boardman (pictured), 29, from Wembley, London, spent £25,000 on double jaw surgery after bullies branded her ‘horse face’
Olivia said she’s been taunted by bullies since she was 10, when fellow pupils first noticed her overbite – but now strangers say she looks like actress Kate Beckinsale
She said: ‘I’m so happy so far. It was so strange to see myself, I was so happy and relieved. I can’t stop looking at my side profile.
‘One person said I looked like Kate Beckinsale online, it’s ridiculous. Someone even called me a supermodel, which I don’t think I am at all, it’s just a dream.
‘My breathing is crazy now. I feel so much more awake and fresh, it feels effortless to breathe.
‘I still have a lot to heal, but I can already say that my self-confidence has increased a lot, I am so happy with it.’
Olivia’s newfound confidence is thanks to a life-changing £25,000 double jaw operation, half of which was covered by her health insurance.
On September 27, Olivia underwent a grueling six-hour surgery to fracture and advance her upper and lower jaws, as well as a genioplasty to change the position of her chin.
After a two-day stay in the hospital, four weeks off work and a month of liquid dieting, Olivia finally has the jaw of her dreams.
Although she won’t see the full results of her surgery for another six months to a year, she admitted that she was initially scared of what her new face would look like.
For Olivia, the cosmetic problem quickly turned into a health problem when she suffered from sleep apnea and lower oxygen levels in her brain – both caused by her overbite. (Photo: Olivia from left to right before and after oral surgery)
The film and TV trailer maker said the condition left her feeling constantly confused and tired, and the situation became so dire that she even swore off dating (Picture: Olivia with an overbite)
She recalled her misery before the operation: ‘It got to the point where it was unbearable, it hurt to talk.
‘I felt so ridiculously tired. I couldn’t get my words out and my jaw hurt. It had such an impact on my daily life.
‘The sleep apnea caused me so much anxiety that I couldn’t even walk across the street because there was hardly any oxygen getting to my brain.
‘I was so fed up, the world felt like a blur to me. The surgery wasn’t just for aesthetics, it was also for my health.
‘I was so afraid that I would no longer like my face after the operation. You get so used to seeing yourself.’
Olivia said she became desperate to have the operation after being tormented by cruel bullies at school and college because of her protruding jaw and larger teeth.
The mocking comments continued into her late twenties, which negatively affected her social and romantic life.
Olivia’s newfound confidence is thanks to life-changing £25,000 double jaw surgery (Pictured: Olivia recovers after surgery)
On September 27, she underwent a grueling six-hour operation to fracture and advance her upper and lower jaws.
Olivia also had a genioplasty to change the position of her chin (photo: Olivia shortly after her surgery)
She said she reached the breaking point when she had difficulty walking and speaking due to the overbite that affected her airway.
“It was something that was a constant for me every day,” Olivia said.
‘I was bullied at school, I was very aware of that. It probably started when I was 10 or 11. They called me horsehead, beaver and all that typical stuff.
‘At some point it got really bad. I was bullied all through high school, all through college, even in college.
‘I was so aware that my face looked so different from everyone else’s. My nose was not shaped properly because of my jaw and my eyes did not sit properly.
‘I just didn’t want to date. I dated nice people and always got dumped. That always gave me an insecure feeling, it made me think ‘what is wrong with me?’.
“It had such a big impact on my self-confidence.”
Olivia remembered visiting a dentist at the age of 27, hoping it would be the solution to all her problems.
After two days in the hospital, four weeks off and a month of liquid dieting, Olivia finally has the jaw of her dreams (Photo: Olivia after some of the swelling went away)
Olivia said she won’t see the full results of her surgery for another six months to a year, but she’s pleased with the results so far (Olivia poses after surgery)
The content creator has stunned social media users with her new transformation, with many comparing her new face to that of stunning actress Kate Beckinsale
But when her dentist wondered how to fix the overbite, she accepted fate – albeit briefly.
“I turned 27 and 28 and it started to become difficult to eat,” she added. ‘It was difficult to talk and my anxiety was enormous.
“I knew something was wrong.”
But that was in the past, and Olivia’s new surgery has left her feeling rejuvenated and a brand new woman.
It’s been weeks since the surgery and Olivia said she has been given a new lease on life – praising both the health and cosmetic benefits of the surgery.
She said, “I have a new burst of energy, which no one really prepares you for.
‘I have been given a new life’.
The content creator has stunned social media users with her new transformation, with many comparing her new face to that of stunning actress Kate Beckinsale.