Orthognathic surgery, commonly called jaw surgery, is a surgical procedure that addresses concerns related to jaw bones and teeth.
Dr. John Oubre and Dr. Matthew Oubre are best known for creating straight smiles you’ll see all around Lafayette, LA; both with braces or Invisalign. However, they also offer jaw surgery to improve facial symmetry for patients who want to improve jaw function, such as eating and speaking, correct facial asymmetry, and even help with sleep apnea.
Curiously enough, another important aspect of orthognathic surgery is that it can have psychological benefits, too. It can, for instance, have a noticeable impact on your facial aesthetics. For instance, it can improve the definition of your jawline or even change the position of your chin.
We’ll discuss the changes brought by jaw surgery and how it can affect your facial appearance.
Pre-surgery Facial Structure
Before we dive into the changes brought by jaw surgery, it’s important to understand the normal facial features. A balanced face has a symmetrical and well-defined jawline and chin. However, some people may have structural issues, such as malocclusions or tooth and jaw misalignments. Common issues requiring jaw surgery include overbites, underbites, open bites, and uneven jaws.
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3 Changes to Facial Appearance After Jaw Surgery
Correcting these issues through jaw surgery can have noticeable changes in your facial appearance:
1. Jaw surgery helps improve facial symmetry and contouring. This is because it corrects the misaligned jaws, which helps create symmetrical facial features.
2. Jaw surgery enhances the definition of the jawline, making a more well-defined and balanced appearance. Jaw surgery also corrects underbite or overbite, which can significantly impact your smile and speech.
3. Jaw surgery changes the position of the chin, which helps improve overall facial balance and can give the face a more proportional appearance.
Psychological Effects of Facial Changes
The impact of jaw surgery on your overall appearance can also have psychological benefits.
For example, jaw surgery can boost self-confidence and self-esteem, as it corrects facial structure issues that may have caused emotional distress. It can also improve facial aesthetics, increasing social and professional opportunities.
Jaw surgery can also have a significant impact in help patients who suffer with obstructive sleep apnea due to a constricted airway. Surgery can often be the only true corrective treatment for these types of conditions rather than things like CPAP machines or sleep appliances which are mostly used to manage the condition rather than treat it.
However, it’s important to note that adjusting to a new appearance can be challenging. It’s important to discuss this with your dental practitioner before surgery.
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Recovery and Long-Term Changes
The recovery period after jaw surgery is crucial; the surgery results can be seen as early as three months, with full results showing after six months to a year. Swelling reduction is an essential part of post-surgery healing. After recovery, maintain good dental hygiene and regular follow-up with your dental practitioner.
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Although our office offers Invisalign and braces in Lafayette, LA, we also offer a range of other services, which include jaw surgery. This is an effective way to correct facial structure issues, and the changes it brings can improve your facial aesthetics and overall well-being. Consult with Dr. John Oubre and Dr. Matthew Oubre to understand this surgery's risks and potential benefits.