Many social media platform algorithms tend to amplify transformation content, especially when it is emotional or visually dramatic. MARPE journeys fit perfectly into this format. Creators document daily expansion updates, compare their faces over time, and share reactions to the changes they notice.
However, many of these videos leave out crucial context. They often focus on the most dramatic stages of treatment and present personal experiences as universal outcomes.
Facial Changes: It’s Not Always the Expander
One of the biggest misconceptions online is that all facial improvements are directly caused by MARPE. In reality, weight loss, lifestyle changes, and natural facial growth often play major roles, especially in younger male patients.
Many of the creators showing dramatic “ascension” results are teenagers or men in their late teens and early twenties. Male facial growth can continue into the early to mid-twenties. During this period, it is normal for the jawline to become more defined, the cheekbones more prominent, and the face less rounded. These changes can occur with or without orthodontic treatment. When they happen at the same time as MARPE, it is easy to assume the appliance caused the transformation, even when natural growth may be a major factor.
Weight loss can also have a significant impact. People undergoing orthodontic treatment often change their eating habits, at least temporarily. They may eat softer foods, snack less, or become more health-conscious overall. This can lead to unintentional weight loss, and the face is usually one of the first areas where fat reduction becomes visible. A slimmer jawline, more visible cheekbones, and reduced facial puffiness can create a dramatic before-and-after effect, even if the skeletal changes are relatively modest.
The Risk of Over-Expansion
Another issue rarely discussed in viral videos is the danger of expanding beyond what is medically appropriate. Orthodontists plan expansion carefully based on bone structure, age, dental alignment and overall facial balance.
If MARPE is pushed too far, it can lead to bite problems such as a scissor bite, jaw joint discomfort, gum recession, tooth instability, and long-term orthodontic complications. Chasing a specific facial look seen on social media can result in treatment that prioritizes aesthetics over long term function.
Ask Yourself One Important Question
Before believing every “holy ascension” transformation you see online, it is worth pausing and asking a simple question:
Have you actually seen the long-term end results from these patients?
Most viral MARPE videos show the first few weeks of expansion, when changes are most noticeable. They may include temporary swelling, weight loss, early unrefined results, and carefully chosen lighting or angles. What they usually do not show is the final bite after full orthodontic treatment, long-term stability, gum health, jaw joint function over time, or the face years down the line once everything has settled.
Orthodontic treatment is not about how your face looks after thirty days. It is about how your teeth, jaw, and airway function for the rest of your life. A true result is measured in a stable bite, healthy gums and bone, comfortable jaw function, and long-term facial balance. Those outcomes can only be evaluated by a qualified orthodontist, not by untrained influencers documenting their personal journeys online.
Why Certain Social Media platforms are Not a Reliable Medical Source
Many of the creators driving the MARPE trend have no dental or medical qualifications. They share personal experiences that do not apply to everyone, use dramatic lighting or angles, and rarely discuss long-term outcomes. Some promote unrealistic expectations or present expansion as a cosmetic shortcut.
*Orthodontic treatment is highly individualized. What works well for one person may not work for another, may cause complications, or may require a completely different treatment approach.
The Most Important Step: Talk to a Professional
If you are considering MARPE or any orthodontic treatment, the first step should always be a consultation with a licensed specialist orthodontist. Proper scans and a full assessment are essential to determine what is appropriate for your specific anatomy, goals, and long-term oral health.
Making decisions based on viral trends, before and after videos, or advice from unqualified creators can lead to unrealistic expectations and, in some cases, real harm.
Final Thoughts
The MARPE “holy ascension” trend shows how quickly medical procedures can become part of social media culture. While some awareness can be positive, it also creates a space where misinformation spreads easily.
Facial changes seen online may be due to natural growth, weight loss, or camera effects, not just expansion. Over-expansion can cause real problems, and short term aesthetics should never outweigh long term function.
Your face, bite, and airway are unique to you. When it comes to treatment decisions, the safest and smartest approach is simple: speak to a qualified orthodontist, not untrained voices on social media.
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