How Can I Know What I'll Look Like After Jaw Surgery?

Corrective jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, is a big step. Naturally, patients who are considering taking that step to resolve functional and appearance issues related to jaw size and/or positioning are often a bit apprehensive about the process. When it comes to jaw surgery, Singapore patients are often most anxious about what sort of changes they can expect in their appearance. So how can a patient know what they'll look like after jaw surgery?

Jaw Surgery Singapore: How It Can Improve Your Appearance

Jaw surgery is done to correct problems caused by misaligned jaws, which can include overbite, underbite or cross bite, among other conditions. These conditions can be the source of functional problems, making biting, chewing and speech difficult, and often cause aesthetic issues as well.

For instance, an underbite, in which the lower teeth overlap upper ones when the mouth is closed, can make the chin appear overly prominent or the lower jaw to appear elongated. An overbite, in which the upper teeth overlap the lower, can cause the chin to recede and the upper front teeth to appear abnormally large and prominent. Cross bite can give the face a twisted, asymmetrical appearance. All three disturb facial proportion and harmony, an effect that, depending upon the severity of the jaw misalignment, cause changes in the shape and appearance of the face ranging from mild aesthetic issues to disfiguring ones.

After jaw size and/or position is corrected by surgery, Singapore patients typically see marked improvement in those aesthetic issues. As the jaws are reshaped or repositioned to correct the bite, jutting chins or elongated jaws caused by underbite are reduced or eliminated, receding chins caused by overbite are brought forward and asymmetrical facial appearance prompted by cross bite can be reduced or resolved.

How Can I Know What I'll Look Like After Jaw Surgery? Cutting-Edge Technology Can Help

While patients once could only imagine what they might look like with properly aligned jaws, today's 3-D imaging and computer technology can make visualizing those changes a much easier and more accurate endeavor. Using comprehensive facial X-rays and computer video imaging, your Singapore oral surgeon can create an interactive, three-dimensional model of your facial structure to show you exactly how your surgery will be approached, how your jaw alignment and bite will be improved, and give you an idea of how those changes will influence how look after surgery.

So how can you know what you'll look like after jaw surgery? By choosing a Singapore oral and maxillofacial surgeon who – like Dr. Chan – has invested in state-of-the-art technology to ensure the highest level of patient comfort, safety and satisfaction.