NEED TO KNOW
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When Tayla Clement was just 11 years old, her biggest wish was simply to smile.
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Now 28 and from New Zealand, she was born with Moebius syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that leads to facial paralysis. This condition means her eyebrows and upper lip are immobile and her eyes don’t move side to side, preventing her from smiling.
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As a pre-teen, she underwent a procedure known as “smile surgery,” but unfortunately, it didn’t achieve the desired results.
Clement’s childhood was marked by her desire to smile. She recalls how her condition led to constant bullying and, at 11, she even attempted suicide. So when doctors mentioned a surgical option that could change her appearance, she was eager to take the chance.
“In my head, I thought, ‘If I can smile, then perhaps I’ll be accepted,’” she remembers. “I imagined having friends and not feeling scared going to school.”
Despite being informed about the risks of the surgery, she was resolute. The 10-hour operation involved extracting tissue from her leg to create the appearance of a smile on her face.
After the surgery, there was a tense four-day wait to see if it succeeded. During that time, nurses wheeled her to the bathroom and covered mirrors so she couldn’t see her reflection.
However, one day, a nurse “slipped up” and Clement caught a glimpse of her face. “I knew instantly it hadn’t worked,” she recalls, still feeling that heartbreak as she remembers the pain of that moment.
The following weeks were incredibly tough. Returning to school while still swollen from surgery only brought more bullying, which caused her to develop stress-related seizures.
By age 19, after being told she might never live independently because of her seizures, Clement decided to give her life another shot. She sought intensive therapy, and as she began to accept her appearance, her seizures gradually lessened.
“It wasn’t an easy path,” she confides. “Mental health struggles can be so debilitating. Unless you’ve faced similar issues, it’s hard to understand.”
A decade later, with over 100,000 followers on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Clement has a fulfilling life. She works for a medical device company, has a long-term partner, and they share a dog and a house together.
Now, oddly enough, she feels grateful that the surgery didn’t succeed, believing she has grown into a “better person” as a result.
“If you had told my 11-year-old self that I would find a partner who loves me and that we would own a home together, I wouldn’t have believed it,” she reflects. “I hope sharing my story helps others to be more accepting and challenges the stigma about needing to look a certain way.”
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges or needs someone to talk to, please call or text 988, or reach out at 988lifeline.org, available 24/7.
