Twenty-year-old Ellie Jones was born with a rare jaw deformity that also caused issues with the alignment of her teeth. A routine visit to her orthodontist at fourteen years old, uncovered that Ellie’s jaw had not grown in over six years.
At sixteen, Ellie went through a pioneering jaw surgery that completely changed her life. As part of the procedure, surgeons had to cut her jaw vertically and horizontally, before performing corrective chin surgery. The operation left her temporarily unable to talk, in significant pain, and on a liquid diet for a month. Ellie’s only means of communication with her family and friends was a pen and note pad.
However, the surgery was a complete success and Ms Jones now hopes to be crowned the new Miss Wales at next year’s competition. The aspiring beauty queen saw the pageant advertised on Facebook and, with her new-found confidence, decided to give it a go. Ellie’s mum Natalie spoke to the Daily Mail about the dramatic change she has seen in her daughter since the surgery, “The surgery has not only changed the way Ellie looked, but also the way she portrays herself. Her confidence has grown and she’s blossomed into a beautiful young lady.”