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Skeletal Surgery

Orthognathic (Double Jaw) Surgery

3D virtual surgical planning for bite, breathing and facial balance.

Duration3–5 hours
AnesthesiaGeneral
Hospital stay1–2 nights
Soft diet~6 weeks
Final result6–12 months

What is orthognathic surgery?

Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper jaw (maxilla), lower jaw (mandible) or both — bimaxillary / double jaw surgery — to correct bite problems, sleep-disordered breathing and skeletal disharmony such as a receded chin, gummy smile or long-face pattern. Because the jaws set the framework of the lower face, the change is both functional and profoundly aesthetic.

3D virtual surgical planning

Every case is planned digitally from CT data: the osteotomies are simulated, the movements measured to the millimetre, and patient-specific cutting guides prepared before the operation. You see the planned change before surgery, and the plan transfers precisely to the operating room. Read more in our double jaw surgery guide.

Aesthetics and function together

Dr. Cömert's practice is unusual in combining orthognathic surgery with aesthetic facial surgery — so the plan considers the nose, chin, cheeks and soft tissues as one composition. Where a small refinement remains after skeletal correction, custom implants or rhinoplasty complete the result. Orthodontic preparation is coordinated with your orthodontist before and after surgery.

Genioplasty (chin surgery)

Genioplasty reshapes the chin at the bone to correct a receding (retrogenic), over-projected or asymmetric chin and to balance the lower face. In a sliding genioplasty, the chin bone is separated with a fine osteotomy and repositioned — forward, backward, up, down or rotated to correct asymmetry — then secured with titanium plates. Because it moves your own bone rather than adding material, the result is stable and completely natural, and it avoids the limitations of a chin implant.

Genioplasty is often combined with double jaw surgery to perfect the profile, or performed on its own when the bite is already correct but the chin needs more projection and a sharper jawline. It is carried out entirely through a small incision inside the mouth, so there is no visible external scar. Dr. Cömert plans every movement in millimetres from 3D CT data, treating the nose, lips, chin and neck as one aesthetic unit — and where extra definition is wanted, a custom chin or jaw implant can complement the result.

Multiple-piece (segmental) Le Fort I surgery

A standard Le Fort I osteotomy repositions the entire upper jaw (maxilla) as a single block. A multiple-piece — or segmental — Le Fort I divides the maxilla into two or three segments during the same operation, giving independent control over the front teeth, the width of the palate and the levels of the dental arch. This makes it possible to widen a narrow upper jaw (transverse expansion), level an uneven bite, close an open bite and refine the smile in ways a one-piece movement cannot.

Multi-piece Le Fort surgery is reserved for more complex cases: significant transverse (width) deficiency, marked asymmetry, or a combined vertical-and-horizontal discrepancy — usually as part of bimaxillary (double jaw) surgery. It relies on precise 3D virtual surgical planning and patient-specific cutting guides, which are central to Dr. Cömert's orthognathic protocol, and it is coordinated closely with your orthodontist so the segments heal into a stable, healthy bite.

Recovery, step by step

  • Days 1–2: hospital stay; swelling peaks around day 3.
  • Weeks 1–2: home rest; speaking and gentle activity return quickly. Numbness in the lip and chin is normal and fades over weeks to months.
  • Weeks 1–6: a staged liquid-to-soft diet protects the healing bone.
  • 6–12 months: bone fully consolidates and the final facial balance settles.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need braces before jaw surgery?
Usually the teeth are aligned with orthodontics before surgery so the new bite locks in correctly; in selected 'surgery-first' cases the order can be reversed. Your orthodontist and Dr. Cömert plan this together.
Is double jaw surgery painful?
Less than most people expect — patients report pressure, swelling and congestion more than sharp pain. Discomfort is well controlled with standard medication.
Will it change how my face looks?
Yes — that is often the point. Moving the jaws corrects the profile and proportions at their skeletal foundation; the change is dramatic yet looks entirely natural because it is your own anatomy, corrected.
Can it help sleep apnea?
Advancing the jaws enlarges the airway, and maxillomandibular advancement is one of the most effective surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea in suitable patients.
How long before I can travel home?
International patients typically stay about 10–14 days for the first follow-ups, then continue remote check-ins with photos and video calls.
What is the difference between genioplasty and a chin implant?
Genioplasty repositions your own chin bone, so it can move the chin forward, back, up or down and correct asymmetry — a permanent, natural change. A chin implant only adds forward projection to the existing bone. For asymmetry, height changes or larger movements, a sliding genioplasty is usually the better choice; the two can also be combined.
When is a multiple-piece Le Fort needed?
When the upper jaw is too narrow, uneven, or has a combined bite problem that moving it as one block cannot fix. Segmenting the maxilla lets Dr. Cömert widen and level the dental arch and refine the smile in the same operation, planned in 3D and coordinated with your orthodontist.

Start with a personal assessment

Send your photos and history through our guided online assessment — Dr. Cömert reviews every case personally and replies with his recommendations within 1–3 days.

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Medical information on this page is general in nature and not a substitute for a consultation; suitability, technique and recovery vary by individual. Op. Dr. Mehmet Cömert — Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, Beşiktaş, Istanbul. See our medical disclaimer.