SurgicalDraft — pending clinician review
Jaw surgery (orthognathic)
Orthognathic surgery repositions the jaw bones, most often to correct significant bite misalignment. Because moving the jaws changes lower-face structure, it also affects appearance — but it is major surgery planned around function first, typically alongside orthodontic treatment.
What it is designed to change
- Bite alignment between upper and lower teeth
- Position of the upper jaw, lower jaw, or chin as part of the surgical plan
- Facial proportions that follow from jaw position
What it does not change
- Skin quality or soft-tissue aging
- Teeth themselves — orthodontics handles tooth position
- Anything reliably predictable from a photo alone
Typical candidate considerations
- Evaluation involves imaging, dental records, and often years of combined orthodontic planning
- Purely cosmetic goals deserve a frank discussion about whether smaller procedures fit better
- This is inpatient-level surgery with meaningful recovery
Common alternatives
- Orthodontics alone for some bite concerns
- Chin surgery (implant or genioplasty) when only the chin is the concern
- No treatment
Questions to ask a clinician
- Is my concern functional, aesthetic, or both — and what does that imply?
- Which jaw(s) would move, how far, and why?
- What is the full timeline including orthodontics?
- What are the airway, nerve, and relapse considerations in my case?
General recovery stages
- First weeks: significant swelling, modified diet, and limited activity
- First months: swelling gradually resolves; diet and activity restrictions ease per the surgical team
- Up to a year: final soft-tissue settling and bite refinement
Potential risks and limitations
- Bleeding, infection, or anesthesia reactions
- Numbness that can be prolonged or, in some cases, permanent
- Relapse or hardware issues
- Bite refinement needs after surgery
Factors that affect price
- Hospital or surgical facility fees
- Surgeon specialization and case complexity
- Orthodontic treatment before and after
- Insurance involvement when the indication is functional
Practical notes
- Durability
- Skeletal changes are long-lasting once healed and stable.
- Reversibility
- Not reversible; revisions are complex.
- Anesthesia
- General anesthesia in a hospital or accredited facility.
- When to seek urgent care
- After a real procedure, breathing difficulty, uncontrolled bleeding, fever, or severe pain warrant contacting the surgical team or emergency services immediately.
PlasticsForMe provides educational information and conceptual visualizations only. It is not medical advice, does not predict surgical results, and does not replace consultation with a licensed clinician.
This guide is draft editorial content. It has not yet completed clinician review, contains no statistics by design, and will list its author, reviewer, and sources when published under our editorial policy.