For most people, braces or Invisalign are about straightening teeth and improving a smile. For Rachel Lynch, what started as this simple cosmetic goal turned into a life-changing journey — one that redefined her health, her confidence and her future. It began with placing her trust in the hands of her surgical team at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Nationally recognized surgical treatment close to home.
A surprising orthodontist visit
Lynch, a 30-year-old marine biologist who lives in New Bern, North Carolina, had braces when she was a child
“He said, ‘Let me guess, these are some of the other things you are experiencing, other than cosmetic concerns,’” Lynch recalled. “And he nailed every single one of them.”
Lynch didn’t just have an overbite; she had upper and lower jawbones that were misaligned and causing her a host of issues. On that list: A
“I didn’t realize all these things were connected,” she said.
The biggest news was yet to come: The orthodontist suggested Lynch may be a good candidate for orthognathic (or-thahg-NATH-ik) surgery — corrective jaw surgery that repositions the upper jaw (maxilla), lower jaw (mandible), or both, to fix misalignments that can’t be corrected with braces or orthodontics alone.
It was daunting news.
“But all these things together, once I knew that I could address all of them at once and they were connected by a common cause, I said, ‘I really want to do that,’” Lynch said.
A ‘mind-blowing’ consultation
What boosted her confidence was when she met with Dr. Michael Jaskolka, a craniofacial, oral and maxillofacial surgeon at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.
“It was mind-blowing,” Lynch said. “I was in this eye-opening consultation with him, and I left just feeling like I had been so seen.”
Jaskolka, who specializes in functional esthetic reconstructive surgery of the face, head and neck, performs 50+ jaw surgeries a year. For Lynch, he recommended both upper and lower jaw procedures, chin realignment and a nasal procedure called turbinate reduction to improve air flow through the n
Preparing with a special goal in mind
Preparing for the surgery would take two years. During this time, Lynch would receive braces and be treated by her orthodontist to line up her teeth over her jaws
As Lynch prepared, she had a particular goal in mind. She and her then-boyfriend, Walt, knew they wanted to get married in the future.
“I wanted to be fully physically, mentally and emotionally recovered from this whole journey by the time my wedding came around,” Lynch said. And, she added, Jaskolka and his surgical team supported her in making sure she would be healed and recuperated in time to say her vows.
A new smile and new freedom
Lynch underwent surgery in May 2024, spent two days in the hospital, then took seven weeks off work to mend. Recovering enough mobility in her jaw to eat and speak was a careful process, and she followed the surgical team’s rehabilitative guidance, working on jaw muscle exercises at home. And as she healed, she was amazed by what disappeared: all her sleeping and breathing problems, along with all the physical evidence of her surgeries.
“They changed the shape of my face — they literally changed my bone structure. And you can't tell by looking at me,” she said. “There's no external scars. There's no long-term bruising — nothing.”
Almost exactly one year after surgery, in April 2025, she and Walt were wed at the Shell Island Resort on Wrightsville Beach. The small island off the coast of Wilmington is also where they had their first date and where they became engaged.
The surgery and recovery were intense, but the outcome exceeded Lynch’s hopes. She had confidence in her new smile for her wedding day, and much more, too.
“It was everything,” she said. “I could say my vows while mic’d up for our videographer and not be thinking in the back of my head, while I’m trying to get married, about how my speech sounds and my lisp.”
Of course, the life changes have extended beyond her wedding day. Lynch said the first time she went to yoga class after her recovery, she was amazed by what it felt like to take a full breath
“Everything from eating to breathing to speaking — it was all these little things that I didn’t realize could feel easier,” Lynch said.
Lynch credits her transformation not only to the procedures but to the compassion and skill of her medical team. “I loved the entire team,” Lynch said. “I knew going into it that Dr. Jaskolka had a great reputation and all the nurses told me, ‘He’s an artist. He's so great at what he does.’ I heard that phrase so many times, and that was so true.”
Throughout the years-long process of preparing for, undergoing, then recuperating from surgery, Lynch connected and bonded with her surgical team. She and Walt joked about how she would get excited to attend her postoperative appointments to catch up with her care team. And following her wedding, she couldn’t wait to share her photos of the big day.
“Immediately, when I got my wedding photos, I said, ‘I have to say thank you to this amazing team,’” Lynch said.
What’s in the future
Next, Lynch is eager to return to something she loves. Scuba diving, once a personal and professional passion, had become uncomfortable because of the pressure it put on her jaw. Today, with her health restored, she’s excited to reclaim this part of her life.
Reflecting on the past three years, Lynch has no regrets. The journey wasn’t just about a smile. It was about a reset — one made possible by a team of experts who cared enough to walk beside her through every step of the process.
“It ended up being so much easier than I thought it was going to be. Not just physically to recover, but mentally and emotionally,” Lynch said. “The fact that Dr. Jaskolka made all these major changes, literally to my face, without changing the way I see myself, it's truly so impressive.”
