TL;DR

Orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery) is a comprehensive treatment for skeletal jaw discrepancies — including underbite (Class III), overbite (Class II), open bite, facial asymmetry, and Long Face Syndrome — that cannot be resolved by orthodontic braces alone. It almost always requires a combined orthodontic-surgical treatment plan spanning 12–18 months: pre-surgical orthodontics (6–12 months) → surgery (Le Fort I osteotomy, BSSO, and/or genioplasty under general anesthesia) → post-surgical orthodontics (6–12 months). Hospital stay is typically 3–5 days. Recovery includes 2–4 weeks of intermaxillary fixation, 1–3 months of soft diet, and 6–12 months for complete bone consolidation. The most common complication is temporary lower-lip numbness from inferior alveolar nerve manipulation. For overseas patients, this procedure requires multiple coordinated trips between home country and the surgical center.

Quick Facts

Topics covered in this complete guide

1. Who needs orthognathic surgery — Class III (underbite), Class II (overbite), open bite, facial asymmetry, Long Face Syndrome; contraindications
2. Orthognathic vs braces alone — Skeletal vs dental discrepancy; why some cases cannot be solved by orthodontics
3. Core surgical techniques — Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy, BSSO bilateral sagittal split, genioplasty, single-jaw SSRO, combined approaches
4. Combined orthodontic + surgical treatment — Surgery First vs Pre-Surgical Orthodontics; 12–18 month timeline
5. Pre-operative assessment — 3D CT, lateral cephalometric x-ray, occlusion records, model surgery, 3D digital planning
6. Anesthesia and surgical process
7. Post-operative recovery timeline — Acute swelling (0–2 weeks), intermaxillary fixation, soft diet, bone healing, long-term outcomes
8. Risks and complications — Inferior alveolar nerve injury (most common), poor bone union, occlusion problems, TMJ issues, relapse
9. Cost and time investment — Domestic vs overseas comparison
10. Cross-border treatment for overseas patients — Full timeline of multiple coordinated trips
11. How to choose your surgeon — 5 essential criteria including ortho-surgical team and 3D planning capability
12. Frequently asked questions — Cost, long-term stability, relapse rate, speech/chewing impact, anesthesia safety

The complete clinical guide is being added in stages. For consultation in the meantime, please contact us.

About the surgeon

Dr. Liu Shuangli is a plastic surgeon at Ren’Ai Hospital, Shanghai, with over 20 years of clinical experience in facial contouring and orthognathic surgery. He coordinates with orthodontic colleagues to deliver combined surgical-orthodontic treatment plans for both domestic and international patients.

Related procedures

• Cheekbone Reduction Surgery — Soft tissue contouring for prominent zygomatic bones
• Jaw Angle Reduction Surgery — Lower jaw width reduction (different from skeletal correction)