Kirsten Rendell, a 23-year-old woman, has captured the attention of thousands online by documenting her intense, years-long orthodontic journey. From the very first X-rays to the final reveal after surgery, her transparency and emotional honesty have turned her personal struggle into a source of inspiration for others. At one point in the process, her front teeth were separated by a 17-millimeter gap, and her upper and lower teeth didn’t meet—an extreme and uncomfortable condition that affected nearly every part of her life.
Born with a narrow palate and a pronounced underbite, Kirsten faced challenges from early childhood. Her condition caused a speech impediment, difficulty chewing, and even trouble breathing. As she grew older, it began to shape her social experiences, too. She was bullied in school, avoided cameras, and felt like she had no control over how her jaw appeared in photos. Her self-image suffered, and her underbite became a defining element of her daily life. It impacted how she interacted with people, shaped her confidence, and became a barrier in ordinary routines.
By the time she reached her late teens, Kirsten knew she had to seek medical help. In 2019, she began the long process of treatment, which included multiple consultations with orthodontists and surgeons. The early stages focused on imaging, X-rays, and preparing treatment plans. She was informed early on that palatal expansion would likely cause a large gap in her front teeth and that due to gum recession, that gap might not fully close. Her surgical team aimed to move her upper jaw forward, her lower jaw back, and adjust her chin to center everything.
As her journey progressed, she frequently posted updates to social media, initially for personal tracking, but later to raise awareness. In early 2020, she entered a critical phase involving expansion of her upper jaw. This phase led to a dramatic shift in her appearance: her front teeth were visibly pulled apart, eventually forming a 17-millimeter space. By May 2022, the vertical gap between her upper and lower teeth reached 7 millimeters, and new dental molds were being prepared for surgery.
View this post on Instagram
But there were setbacks. The hospital’s maxillofacial department became overwhelmed, pushing her surgery further into the future. In February 2022, she shared a post that revealed how mentally exhausting the wait had become. “The last couple weeks have probably been the hardest mentally so far,” she wrote. “Coming to terms with the fact I most likely won’t be getting my next surgery as soon as I had thought has made things hard.” She added that her self-esteem was crumbling, and she hadn’t prepared for how difficult the emotional toll of this journey would be.
Despite her struggles, she remained committed to sharing her experience. By May 2023, she explained that helping even one person through a similar journey would make it all worth it. Her TikTok following began to grow as more people resonated with her honesty. What started as private documentation transformed into a public narrative that encouraged others and brought visibility to the often hidden realities of orthodontic and facial reconstruction.
By March 2023, Kirsten reflected on how far she’d come. “Never in a million years did I think I’d be where I am right now,” she said. “If you told me two years ago that I would be posting videos and documenting this journey to over 100,000 people, I’d probably laugh.” The encouragement she received from her online community helped her gain the confidence to show her smile, despite the 17mm gap that once made her hide her face.
In mid-2024, the moment she had been building toward finally arrived: double jaw surgery. Also known as bimaxillary osteotomy, the procedure involves repositioning both the upper and lower jaws, typically done when skeletal misalignment is too severe for braces alone. Kirsten’s operation took seven and a half hours. On July 9, 2024, she posted from her hospital bed with a message that celebrated her progress: “After a 7 1/2 hour surgery I am finally on the road to recovery with no underbite!! I cannot thank everyone enough for the support and messages.”
The weeks following surgery were tough. She shared videos showing her progress, from pre-op to early healing. On August 5, she posted a video reflecting on how the condition had affected her life and how the surgery had opened a new chapter. She was just two weeks away from beginning speech and chewing therapy. Though she still had a long road to full recovery, the surgery gave her a chance to rebuild not just her face, but her confidence and functionality. “It’s been a mental battle,” she admitted, thanking her friends, family, and online followers for supporting her.
As 2024 drew to a close, Kirsten began incorporating more physical activity into her life. On September 23, she posted a light-hearted video of herself running, and later in December, she shared a photo of a handstand during a visit to her mom. These glimpses into her day-to-day life showed a new energy and movement that had once been impossible during the hardest phases of her treatment.
In March 2025, she shared a montage video that documented her transformation from start to finish. The post went viral, and her caption read, “5 years, 2 surgeries later! Palatal expansion, wisdom teeth removal & double jaw surgery. It’s been a long 5 years, but I did it and I love each and every single person who has supported me.” Thousands of comments poured in. “You look so gorgeous,” wrote one user. Another said, “A smile to light up a room! You’re such an inspiration.” Others praised her strength and beauty, and her side-profile photos sparked similar admiration.
Now, at 23 years old, Kirsten continues to post updates for her audience of over 119,000 TikTok followers. Her videos have earned over 10.6 million likes, and she remains committed to sharing her journey—not for fame, but to offer a sense of hope to anyone facing their own long road toward healing.
