What is a mandibular osteotomy and what does it correct?
A mandibular osteotomy is an operation in which the surgeon cuts the lower jaw (the mandible) and moves it into a new position, then fixes it there with small titanium plates and screws. It is used to correct a lower jaw that sits too far back (an overbite or a receding chin), too far forward (an underbite), or off-centre (a crooked bite or facial asymmetry). Because the teeth meet differently afterwards, it changes how you chew and speak as well as how your profile looks.
It is a form of corrective jaw surgery, and for many patients the operation is part of a plan with an orthodontist. See our overview of orthognathic surgery for the full picture, including upper jaw and double-jaw operations, and browse all dental treatments in Turkey.
How is the jaw cut and moved?
The most common technique is the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, often shortened to BSSO. Through incisions inside the mouth, behind the back teeth, the surgeon splits the jaw bone lengthwise on each side so that the front part carrying the teeth can slide forward or backward while the nerve that supplies the lip and chin stays in the rear segment. Other cuts are used for particular problems: a vertical ramus osteotomy mainly sets the jaw back; a genioplasty reshapes the chin bone alone; and a body osteotomy, rarer, removes a section of the jaw. The plan, based on a CT scan, dental models and often three-dimensional software, defines how many millimetres each side moves. A splint may be used to position the teeth during the operation.
What happens before and during the operation?
Treatment usually begins with orthodontic braces for 6 to 18 months to line up the teeth so that they fit together after the jaw moves. The surgeon then confirms the plan with X-rays and a CT scan. Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia in hospital and takes roughly 1.5 to 3 hours for the lower jaw alone. There are no external facial scars because the cuts are made inside the mouth. You stay in hospital 1 to 3 nights. Wisdom teeth, if still present, are often removed several months earlier so that the bone is healed; our guide to wisdom tooth removal explains this step.
Does mandibular osteotomy work, and how permanent are the results?
For skeletal jaw problems it is the only treatment that moves the jaw itself; braces alone can only tilt the teeth. Studies of BSSO show good correction of bite and profile and high patient satisfaction when the case is well planned. Results are mostly lasting, but the lower jaw can drift slightly back toward its old position during the first year, especially after a large advance, which is why surgeons fix the bones firmly and follow up with orthodontic checks. Nothing about the operation can change your underlying bone structure beyond the planned moves, and the final look depends on soft tissue, weight and age. A reputable team will show you a prediction but will not promise a specific face.
Mandibular osteotomy cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
These are approximate ranges for lower-jaw surgery alone, not hospital quotes. Double-jaw surgery costs more; braces are usually charged separately. In the UK and Germany the operation is often funded by the health system when it is medically necessary, so the private figures apply mainly to people paying themselves.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €3,500 – €8,500 |
| United Kingdom | €9,000 – €18,000 (private) |
| United States | €20,000 – €45,000 |
| Germany | €6,000 – €14,000 |
The price depends on whether one or both jaws are operated on, the use of three-dimensional planning and surgical guides, the type of anaesthesia, the number of hospital nights and implants such as titanium plates. A package may include scans, the operation, the anaesthetist, hospital stay, medication and transfers; braces and follow-up orthodontics are usually separate, so ask for each item in writing.
Lower jaw only, upper jaw or both: how do the options compare?
| Operation | Suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Mandibular osteotomy (lower jaw) | Underbite, overbite from a short lower jaw, chin asymmetry | Cannot correct an upper jaw problem or open-bite of upper origin |
| Maxillary osteotomy (upper jaw) | Short or long upper jaw, gummy smile, open bite | Different incision and healing; may be combined |
| Bimaxillary (both jaws) | Combined problems or large changes in profile | Longer operation and recovery; higher cost |
Some people ask whether a chin implant or filler can substitute for the operation. Those options change contour but not the bite, so they suit cosmetic goals only. Related procedures in this category, such as sinus lifting, are different treatments for different problems.
Who is a good candidate for lower jaw surgery?
Good candidates are adults whose jaw growth has finished, usually from about 17 to 18 in women and a few years later in men, who have a functional or facial problem that braces cannot correct: difficulty biting or chewing, jaw pain, a pronounced underbite or overbite, or facial imbalance. You must be healthy enough for general anaesthesia, have good oral hygiene and be prepared for orthodontics before and after. People who smoke should stop before surgery to help bone healing. Treatment is not suitable if the aim is only a small cosmetic change that can be reached with a chin procedure or braces.
How long is recovery, and how many days should I stay in Turkey?
Swelling and bruising peak at 2 to 3 days and mostly settle in 2 to 3 weeks. Most overseas patients stay 5 to 8 days so the surgeon can check the bite, the wound and your diet before the flight.
- First 1–2 weeks: swelling, a liquid or blended diet, careful mouth rinsing, rest with the head raised.
- Weeks 2–6: soft foods, light activity, return to desk work at about 2 to 3 weeks.
- Weeks 6–12: gradually normal food and exercise when the surgeon agrees.
- 6–12 months: numbness reduces, final contour settles and braces are finished.
Most surgeons today use rigid plates, so the jaws are not wired shut, although guiding elastics may be used. Short flights are usually allowed after about a week with the surgeon's approval.
What do mandibular osteotomy before and after results look like?
Photographs after healing show a more balanced profile, a more symmetrical lower face and a bite where upper and lower teeth meet properly. They do not show how chewing feels, or whether numbness remains, and they cannot show the months of orthodontics that come with the operation. Swelling hides the final shape for several months. Ask the coordinator for photographs of patients with a similar jaw problem and for a digital prediction of your own profile, and keep in mind that it is a plan, not a promise.
What are the risks of mandibular osteotomy?
As with any operation under general anaesthesia there are risks of bleeding, infection and anaesthetic problems. The risk specific to the lower jaw is injury to the inferior alveolar nerve, which gives feeling to the lower lip and chin; temporary numbness or tingling is common, and a small number of patients have lasting changes. Others include an unfavourable split of the bone, a change in the bite that needs further orthodontics, relapse toward the old jaw position, jaw-joint symptoms, plate problems and the need for a second operation. Professional bodies such as the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons advise treatment by a trained specialist.
How do I choose a surgeon, and what are the red flags?
Look for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a plastic surgeon with a dedicated jaw-surgery practice, working with an orthodontist, in a licensed hospital with intensive-care facilities. You should receive a CT-based plan and a written quote before paying a deposit. Red flags include surgery proposed without orthodontic planning, a quote with no list of inclusions, guarantees of a particular face, and refusal to explain nerve risks. Read how our process works and request a plan through our free quote page.
Questions to ask the clinic
- Which technique will be used, and why is it right for my bite?
- Who plans the orthodontics, and how long will braces be needed?
- Will you provide a three-dimensional prediction of my result?
- How many mandibular osteotomies has the surgeon performed this year?
- What happens if I have numbness or a bite problem after I go home?
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is surgery that cuts the lower jaw and moves it into a better position, then holds it with titanium plates and screws. It corrects underbite, overbite from a short lower jaw and some forms of facial asymmetry.
Yes, for skeletal jaw problems it is the only way to move the jaw itself, with good bite and profile correction reported when the case is well planned. A small amount of relapse can occur in the first year.
Roughly €3,500 to €8,500 for the lower jaw alone, against about €9,000 to €18,000 privately in the UK. Braces and double-jaw surgery are usually extra, and the hospital confirms its price in a written quote.
Expect a more balanced profile, a more symmetrical lower face and a bite that closes properly. Swelling hides the final shape for months, so judge results at 6 to 12 months.
Swelling settles over 2 to 3 weeks and many people return to desk work then. Diet moves from liquid to soft food, normal eating returns at 6 to 12 weeks, and numbness and final shape settle over a year.
Pain is usually moderate and controlled with medication; swelling and tightness are more noticeable than sharp pain. Numbness of the lip and chin is common at first and can last weeks or months.
Usually not. Modern surgeons fix the bones with titanium plates and screws, so the jaws can move, although light elastics may guide the bite for a few weeks.
It is a well-established operation, but it has risks including nerve numbness, bleeding, infection and bite changes. A specialist surgeon and a licensed hospital reduce, but do not remove, these risks.
Most people do. Braces line up the teeth so they fit after the jaw is moved, and treatment often takes 6 to 18 months before surgery and several months afterwards.
Plan for 5 to 8 days: 1 to 3 nights in hospital, then a few days for wound and bite checks and diet advice before flying home.