Aesthetic Orthognathic Surgery Chicago
A strong jaw line is a physical suggestion of confidence, youth, and vigor. Features of the lower-third of the face that are lacking in definition or symmetry can influence self-esteem in men and women alike. Aesthetic orthognathic surgery, more commonly known simply as jaw surgery, is a procedure to enhance the shape, size, and contours of the jaw, while simultaneously correcting any functional issues that may be present.
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR AESTHETIC ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY?
There are a number of factors that can attribute to a weak jaw line. Some people are born with smaller jaws, or mandibular hypoplasia (an underdevelopment of the jaw). You may have a retrusive jaw (one that is displaced backwards from a central position), or would just like to enhance or augment the size or shape of your jaw. Vertical maxillary excess, also known as a “gummy smile,” or too much teeth showing can be corrected with aesthetic orthognathic surgery.
Ideal candidates for orthognathic surgery are in generally good physical health, non-smokers, and do not have any medical conditions that may impede the healing process.
To best determine if you are a candidate for aesthetic orthognathic surgery, schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. In some cases, issues of the jaw line may be better treated with a different procedure, such as genioplasty, a neck lift, or liposuction.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR CONSULTATION
If you believe you are a candidate for aesthetic orthognathic surgery, contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago for a consultation. A board-certified plastic surgeon will review your medical history and perform a full facial evaluation to see if this procedure is the best treatment option for your aesthetic goals. We will take the time to explain all aspects of the procedure, including recovery, cost, any potential risks associated with aesthetic orthognathic surgery.
HOW IS AESTHETIC ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY PERFORMED?
After general anesthesia is administered, incisions are made, typically inside the mouth. From there, the process of performing the procedure varies. Aesthetic orthognathic surgery usually involves cutting either the upper or lower jaw, realigning the affected bones, and then using plates and screws to hold them in place. These techniques are used to improve the overall aesthetic balance of the face.
During the procedure, the jaw is typically wired shut with stainless steel wires to ensure that the bones are correctly positioned. After surgery, these wires are removed and rubber bands are used to allow the bones ample time to heal in the new positions.
Lastly, sutures are used to close the incisions. Oral sutures are usually absorbable, so they will not have to be removed later.
RECOVERY AFTER AESTHETIC ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY
Bruising and swelling at and around the surgical site is normal after orthognathic surgery. Your plastic surgeon will prescribe pain medication and give specific instructions regarding diet and physical activity. A liquid diet is typical in the days following the procedure, and patients should not perform any rigorous activity until they are cleared by their plastic surgeon to do so.
Rubber bands will be placed for a short period of time after the procedure to help keep the bones in their new positions while they heal. Your plastic surgeon will discuss this with you during your consultation so that you understand the full recovery process.
The results of aesthetic orthognathic surgery will be apparent after swelling and bruising go away completely, usually within two months after the procedure is performed.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF AESTHETIC ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY
Every surgical procedure involves some potential risk. The complications generally associated with orthognathic surgery include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Changes in skin sensation
- Mouth or lip numbness
You should always ensure that your surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before undergoing any surgical procedure, and that the surgery is being carried out in an accredited surgical facility.
WHAT DOES AESTHETIC ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY COST?
The national average cost for orthognathic surgery, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, is around $18,000. This figure will vary according to your location, the surgeon, and your particular aesthetic goals. In some cases, health insurance may cover some of the cost if the jaw is misaligned, under or overdeveloped, or if a congenital defect is apparent. You should speak with your health insurance provider before scheduling a consultation.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about aesthetic orthognathic surgery. If you believe you may be a candidate for this procedure, give us a call to schedule a consultation and speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.
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This is a great case to highlight the complexities associated with creating an aesthetic tip and how small changes can yield significant aesthetic improvement. In this case, the patient had a droopy tip, hanging columella, and too much nostril show. In the post-operative views you can visualize a tip that is lifted, more projected, and the presence of a more aesthetic alar-columellar relationship. Happy for this patient and her beautiful and natural result. Posted with permission.
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Proud of our research team for getting this published. In this article, we developed a unique risk assessment tool to predict major complications in facial aesthetic surgery. Thank you to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal for publishing our work.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #asj #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
The hardest type of rhinoplasties for plastic surgeons to perform are cleft rhinoplasties. A major reason is that the anatomy of the nose and midface are asymmetric, therefore, you have an asymmetric nose sitting on top of an asymmetric midface. In this case, I used rib cartilage to rebuild the cartilage of the nose and fat transfer to improve asymmetries of the midface and lips. In the post-operative frontal views, you can see a straighter nose, the tip has been lifted, and the right nostril has been brought down and inwards. On profile view, you can see the dorsal hump was lowered, the tip of the nose has been lifted, rotated, and refined. The fat was placed in the cheeks and upper lip to improve the midface deficiency that is common in cleft lip patients. Posted with permission.
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Plastic surgery can be dramatic or understated. This is a before and after with subtle changes to improve the proportions and aesthetics of the nose in a natural way. This patient wanted only small changes of the dorsum and tip. In the post-operative photos, you can visualize the dorsal hump has been removed and the tip has been refined, slightly rotated and projected. Posted with permission.
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Couldn’t be happier for this beautiful patient and her natural before and after results. This patient is 3 months out from a deep plane or sub-SMAS facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer. Pay close attention to the neck, jawline, and midface or cheeks. In the post-operative views you can see a well-defined neck and jawline. The face appears less bottom heavy, there is restoration of the midface volume, and the overall facial configuration is more heart-shaped and youthful. Posted with permission.
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It’s been a minute but this is a great before and after of a facial feminization case and this patient is only 6 weeks out from surgery. Pay close attention to the hairline, the forehead, orbital rims, eyebrows, nose, chin and jawline. Does this patient look like they had major surgery 6 weeks ago? Posted with permission.
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Check out this interesting rhinoplasty case where I performed a combined primary rhinoplasty and sliding genioplasty. Fixing the crooked or deviated nose is very challenging for all rhinoplasty surgeons and the goal is to achieve a straighter nose because a perfectly straight nose does not exist. On the frontal view, you can see a nose that is midline and with beautiful dorsal aesthetic lines. On the profile view, you can visual a nice nasal profile with a slight break at the tip. The sliding genioplasty complements the nose and improves the overall proportions and balance of the face. A chin implant would not be able to achieve this amount of chin augmentation or chin length. Posted with permission.
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It’s never too early to starting thinking about that summer body. This patient underwent a mommy makeover or a breast reduction/lift and tummy tuck. Pay close attention to the belly button, this patient had an umbilical hernia, which made the reconstruction of her belly button even harder. Most plastic surgeons take their time trying to make the belly button look as natural as possible since the appearance of the belly button can be an obvious sign that the patient had a tummy tuck. Posted with permission.
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