Better at 30 than at 16-17 for me. 11-13 years old is ok, everyone at middle school has them. Sucks in high school. As an adult, you should have enough confidence at this point not to worry about looks. Plus, they hurt, a constant ache and pressure, like having a one-year headache and even worse when they tightened them every month. Talking to other people, I found I was probably mid-pack regarding pain - some felt next to nothing, some were crying in the orthodontist's office. The worst were the spacers they put in between your teeth before the braces - I subsisted on pudding for a week. I did everything they told me to regarding maintenance/do's and dont's and got them off a year early. Have fun!