I had braces for almost over 6 years. I got braces in my 30s, so having them on the outside felt a bit awkward, so I got braces on the inside for both the upper and lower teeth. Looking at it now, honestly, I wonder what changed that much. Of course, compared with photos from before, it did change a lot. Maybe because it changed little by little, I don't feel it myself. Sometimes when I take a smiling selfie, I do feel to myself that my teeth are really even.
However, keeping the retainer on continuously is a bit bothersome. It's not like it's uncomfortable in daily life... if I start being aware of it, I notice it, and if I live without paying attention to it, I don't remember it at all. That's about it.
When I think about the cost, orthodontic treatment really is not much different from a typical cosmetic surgery. If you're going to do it, I think it's better to do it when you're a bit younger.
This review is a surgery review pursuing reconstruction.