Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery
Corrective Jaw Surgery
In a certain percentage of the population, the facial skeleton fails to develop in the usual manner. This results in both a functional and an esthetic deficit. The exact deformity can vary, but usually follows a handful of patterns of growth.
Common facial patterns of growth include:
- Open bite (apertognathia)
- Upper jaw is too big or too small (maxillary hyperplasia or hypoplasia)
- Lower jaw is too big or too small (mandibular hyperplasia or hypoplasia)
- Long face
- Asymmetry
- Narrow upper or lower jaw
Commonly used procedures include:
- LeFort I Osteotomy
- Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO)
- Vertical Ramus Osteotomy (VRO)
- Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (SARPE)
- Genioplasty
Our procedures are performed in a hospital setting in Manhattan ensuring patient safety and comfort. Immediately after surgery, most patients will spend 24-48 hours recovering in the hospital - in a telemetry unit or ICU setting. This will ensure the best possible care after surgery, where adequate comfort measures can be taken, in a safe and pleasant environment. It is a transformational procedure that will not only correct your bite, but has the ability to enhance your appearance and profile dramatically.
In addition, it is common to perform facial contouring procedures in conjunction with your orthognathic surgery. These can include esthetic modifications to your cheek or chin. Please schedule for a private consultation with Dr. Sunwoo to discuss your specific case further.
The ideal way to correct for this discrepancy is by surgically realigning the upper and lower jaws - referred to as orthognathic surgery.
Case Study in Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery
The above patient has a condition known as maxillary hypoplasia, a form of skeletal malocclusion - in which her upper jaw is in a retruded configuration compared to her lower jaw. This can result in significant masticatory dysfunction making it difficult to chew properly. There can be adjunctive difficulty in speech. In addition to these functional deficits, there often co-exists esthetic and social challenges. If left untreated, these symptoms can become significantly worse.
In order to correct the patient's bite, the upper jaw was osteotomized (controlled fracture) and advanced forward; thereby creating a more functional occlusion and an enhanced facial profile. The name of the surgery is a LeFort I Maxillary Advancement. It is a commonly performed jaw surgery.