NEED TO KNOW
- Zachary West is a 20-year-old college sophomore who struggled with sleep apnea for much of his life
- Growing up, he also endured persistent bullying over his “double chin,” which he tells PEOPLE deeply impacted his self-esteem
- In December 2025, West underwent double-jaw surgery, dramatically improving both his breathing and his confidence
Growing up, Zachary West faced frequent bullying over his “double chin” — an experience that steadily wore down his self-esteem.
Over time, these emotional struggles were compounded by physical ones, as he developed breathing difficulties and obstructive sleep apnea as a result of his receding jawline.
“My bottom jaw pressed up against my airway, no matter whether I sat or lay down,” West tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Sleep apnea, in my case, caused me to gasp for air at times. Worst case scenario, I pretty much lost my breath at times.”
On Dec. 18, 2025, after consulting with an orthodontist, the 20-year-old chose to undergo double-jaw surgery to address both the underlying cause of his health issues, as well as his deepest insecurity.
“The surgery was insanely nerve-wracking,” West admits. “The overall surgery process took just about four hours, and the procedure essentially entailed my surgeon breaking my jaw in order to move it and rotate it to where it should be.”
Not only did the college sophomore need surgery on both jaws, but he also required a genioplasty — a procedure that reshapes the chin — to improve his jaw structure and enhance the overall balance of his facial features.
“I think the most unexpected aspect of post-surgery life was seeing that I had an ‘actual’ chin for the first time,” West admits. “I cannot stop looking at it, even though it might be fake.”
Zachary West
The recovery process, however, was challenging for West, as he had to endure significant pain, and the swelling made healing even more difficult.
“My neck turned so yellow to the point where I was even surprised. I was told it was going to bruise a lot, but I didn’t think it was going to bruise that much,” he explains. “I remember having to ice my face every hour for at least the first week. I think the worst part was how exhausted I was.”
West recalls taking naps multiple times a day – something he says he had “never done” in his life before the surgery.
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Nevertheless, the procedure proved transformative, significantly improving West’s breathing while also restoring his confidence and overall sense of well-being.
“I can finally look into a mirror and not be self-conscious about my jaw and wondering if I would ever be able to breathe again,” he says. “Not only that, but I feel like, overall…I look a little attractive for the first time in my life.”
Zachary West
Without the surgery, West would have faced a higher risk of heart strain, which could have led to a heart attack or stroke – risks that likely would have become more apparent by the time he reached 30.
“Overall, the surgery made me feel 10 times better. I can finally breathe properly for the first time since I was maybe 13 years old,” West reveals. “It’s helped me in ways nobody could imagine. I sleep so much better now, and overall quality of sleep has drastically increased.”
Throughout the journey, West was most surprised by the response he received online after sharing his transformation on TikTok.
“I was not expecting the attention it was going to get,” he admits. “I posted the video thinking that only my close friends were going to see how much of a difference this surgery had on me.”
Yet, his before-and-after video ended up amassing over 1 million views, with more than 50,000 likes.
“I highly recommend this surgery, but make sure your jaw is the cause of your sleep apnea,” he tells PEOPLE. “There are other cases, unlike mine, where it might not be as easily reversible. I got lucky because we found this pretty ‘early’ into my life.”
