Jaw Surgery

Jaw Surgery at Cosmetic Surgery Partners London

Jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic surgery, is undertaken to either correct misalignments or abnormalities of the jaws and teeth or to aid in the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnoea. This procedure will be overseen by an orthodontist who is needed to ensure the bite between the top and bottom teeth are correctly aligned.

Jaw surgery can be a transformational procedure for patients with an underdeveloped or overdeveloped jaw. As well as benefitting facial appearance and correcting the jaw misalignment, it treats the problematic bite and resulting difficulty with chewing and eating that patients will have.

For patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea, jaw surgery can be life changing. If tests show that you could benefit, it should mean never having to use your CPAP ventilator machine at night transforming the life of such patients. The decision and plan to undertake such surgery, potentially alongside additional procedures, will always be with a respiratory/sleep physician and following appropriate sleep studies and scans.

What Is jaw (orthognathic) Surgery?

Jaw surgery involves the surgical repositioning of one or both jaws to improve their alignment and function. This surgery may be combined with chin surgery (genioplasty) to achieve optimal facial harmony and carried out in one combined procedure.

Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and involves the precise surgical cutting and repositioning of the jawbones using scarless techniques entirely through the mouth only. The goal of the surgery is to achieve a more balanced and proportionate facial appearance whilst improving the patient's bite and jaw function.

Some common conditions that may be treated with orthognathic surgery include:

• Jaw misalignment
• Misalignment of the teeth/bite that cannot be corrected by orthodontics alone
• Facial asymmetry
• Sleep apnea or other breathing problems

Can jaw surgery be performed straight away?

Before undergoing orthognathic surgery, patients will see an orthodontist alongside a surgeon. Ensuring the teeth and bite are correct at the end of treatment is imperative. This will mean some degree of orthodontic treatment before, after or both to ensure this is achieved correctly. This is also critical to allowing safe and successful surgery whilst the jawbones heal.

As part of the joint consultation and examination with your surgeon and orthodontist, X-rays or CT scan and moulds of your teeth will be taken to allow a personalised treatment plan to be offered.

What to Expect from Jaw Surgery?

Jae Surgery can have significant aesthetic benefits. In addition to correcting functional issues with the bite and jaw alignment, the procedure can also improve the appearance of the face and enhance facial symmetry and harmony. Specific aspects include:

• Improved overall facial balance and harmony
• Correction of jaw proportion/size and symmetry
• Improvement to the teeth/smile correcting more severe imbalances and appearance
• Better support to the soft tissues of the face (lips, cheeks and tip of nose)

By improving facial aesthetics in addition to correcting functional issues, Orthognathic surgery can have a truly transformational effect far beyond what a facelift or a rhinoplasty alone may have. If you're considering Orthognathic surgery, be sure to discuss your aesthetic goals as well as your functional concerns with your surgeon to ensure that your treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs and preferences.

Jaw Surgery Recovery

Jaw surgery is a major procedure that requires a significant recovery period. Patients however only spend 1-2 nights in hospital following surgery. In some limited cases involving just one jaw, some patients may be able to safely go home the same day.

Swelling is the principle aspect of the early recovery period. This will peak on day 3 following surgery before improving. Your surgeon will discuss all the possible methods by which this can be minimised. Additionally, you will be prescribed all necessary pain relief from the moment your surgery starts through to after you have been discharged.

Following discharge from hospital, patients will be restricted to light duties only for the first week. During this time, it is critical to ensure a soft diet whilst and maintain good oral hygiene. You will be prescribed a medicated surgical mouthwash and antibiotics to help prevent infection.

During the first month after surgery, you may need to see the orthodontist to check the fine alignment of you teeth with any adjustments as necessary.

Whilst the recovery process can be more challenging than for other procedures, patients find that the results of treatment are well worth the effort. With the combined improvements in facial appearance and dental function, they can enjoy a much improved quality of life and greater confidence.

Choosing a Surgeon for Jaw Surgery

Jaw surgery is a complex procedure that requires specialised training and expertise. When choosing a surgeon for this procedure, it's important to look for a UK registered specialist facial plastic surgeon with oral and maxillofacial training.

Our surgeon, Mr Andrew Douglas, has undergone rigorous and extensive UK training in facial surgery. With an expert knowledge of the anatomy and a track record of achieving safe, successful outcomes for patients we are privileged to have him as part of our team at Cosmetic Surgery Partners. He will be able to provide you with detailed information about the procedure and what to expect before, during and after surgery.

At Cosmetic Surgery Partners London, we offer comprehensive jaw surgery to help our patients achieve a more balanced, functional, and attractive smile and overall facial appearance. Mr Andrew Douglas has many years of experience in facial surgery. Together with our award-winning team, we have the expertise and knowledge to provide personalised care and exceptional results for every patient. Contact us today to book a consultation and learn more about how orthognathic surgery can benefit you. Please call 020 7486 6778 or use our contact us to make an appointment or indeed ask any further questions.

As part of the Cosmetic Surgery Partners patient journey, we provide a psychological assessment before surgery. This step is to prepare the patient, enhance their cosmetic surgery journey and support them psychologically if there are any mental health concerns.