Correcting jaw alignment changes how everything works — your bite, your breathing, your profile. The difference is structural.
When the upper and lower jaws do not fit together properly, braces alone cannot fix it — the skeleton needs to move. Orthognathic surgery repositions one or both jaws to correct the bite, improve breathing, and balance the facial profile. Thailand's maxillofacial surgeons perform these procedures at JCI-accredited hospitals using 3D virtual surgical planning, with savings of 60–80% over Western prices that make the trip financially transformative for a surgery this significant.
Free, no-obligation — you pay the hospital directly with no markup.
Orthognathic surgery corrects skeletal irregularities of the upper jaw (maxilla), lower jaw (mandible), or both. These irregularities cause difficulty chewing, chronic jaw pain, obstructive sleep apnoea, and facial imbalance that orthodontics alone cannot address. The procedure repositions the entire jaw segment and secures it with titanium plates.
Planning uses cone-beam CT scans and virtual surgical planning software to simulate every millimetre of jaw movement before surgery. Custom cutting guides and pre-bent fixation plates transfer the digital plan to the operating room with precision. This technology has made outcomes more predictable and recovery smoother than the era of manual planning.
Orthognathic surgery is one of the most expensive procedures in dentistry. In Thailand, the same surgery at the same standard costs 60–80% less, and the waiting lists are measured in weeks, not years.
JCI Accredited
Hospital-Level Facilities
Our partner hospitals hold JCI accreditation with dedicated maxillofacial surgery units, ICU backup, and in-house 3D planning capabilities. These are full-scale hospitals, not ambulatory clinics.
60–80%
Substantial Savings
Jaw surgery at $5,000–$10,000 in Thailand versus $15,000–$30,000 at home. Bimaxillary cases offer the largest savings — often exceeding $20,000 compared to equivalent surgery in the US or UK.
Weeks
Rapid Access
No twelve-month NHS waiting lists. From initial consultation to surgery date is typically four to eight weeks, depending on whether pre-surgical orthodontics is already complete.
Specialist
Direct Surgeon Communication
English-speaking maxillofacial surgeons discuss your CT findings, surgical plan, and expected outcomes directly. Your care coordinator handles all logistics and post-operative support.
We do not charge for our service — you pay the hospital directly with no markup. Here is what orthognathic surgery costs and how it compares internationally.
Your Quote Will Include
Prices are approximate and vary by technique, surgeon, and hospital. Your personalised quote will include a full cost breakdown.
Orthognathic surgery in Thailand typically costs between $5,000 and $10,000, depending on whether one or both jaws are involved and the complexity of the case. Single-jaw procedures sit at the lower end. Bimaxillary osteotomy with virtual surgical planning sits at the higher end. The price includes the surgeon's fee, hospital stay, anaesthesia, and fixation hardware.
The total cost covers the maxillofacial surgeon's fee, general anaesthesia, hospital stay with nursing care, 3D imaging and virtual surgical planning, custom cutting guides and pre-bent plates, titanium fixation hardware, post-operative medications, and follow-up appointments. Pre-surgical orthodontic treatment is separate and typically completed at home.
The main variables are single-jaw versus bimaxillary surgery, the complexity of the virtual surgical plan, and the hospital chosen. Bimaxillary surgery costs more because it is a longer operation involving two jaw segments. Cases requiring segmental osteotomy or genioplasty (chin surgery) alongside the main procedure add to the total.
Pricing varies by the complexity and scope of the procedure. Typical ranges at our partner hospitals in Thailand:
Exact pricing is confirmed after your consultation and treatment plan are finalised.
Orthognathic surgery in Thailand costs 60–80% less than the same procedures in the US ($15,000–$30,000), Australia (A$14,000–A$27,500), and UK (£12,500–£25,000). Even after adding flights, accommodation, and a three-week stay, patients typically save $10,000–$20,000 on a bimaxillary case.
Which jaw moves — and in which direction — depends on where the skeletal problem sits. Virtual surgical planning determines the precise movements needed before you enter the operating room.
The maxilla is separated from the skull base through a horizontal bone cut above the upper teeth roots. It is repositioned forward, backward, upward, or downward and secured with titanium plates. All incisions are intraoral — no external scars. Can include segmental widening if needed.
The mandible is split along its natural planes behind the last molar on each side. The tooth-bearing segment is advanced or set back to its correct position and fixed with titanium plates. The most common procedure for correcting lower jaw underbite or recession.
Both the upper and lower jaws are repositioned in a single surgery. This is the approach for complex cases where moving one jaw alone would compromise the result. It produces the most dramatic improvement in both function and facial aesthetics.
The precision of modern orthognathic surgery depends on digital planning and custom surgical hardware. Thailand's maxillofacial units use the same systems as leading centres globally.
Cone-beam CT data is loaded into planning software that creates a three-dimensional model of the skull. The surgeon simulates jaw movements on screen, adjusting position until the bite, profile, and airway are optimal. Custom cutting guides and pre-bent plates are manufactured from the plan and shipped to the hospital before surgery.
The repositioned jaw segments are secured with titanium miniplates and screws that hold the bone in its new position while it heals. The plates are low-profile, biocompatible, and rarely need removal. They provide rigid fixation that allows earlier jaw function during recovery.
Both jaws are advanced forward by 8–12mm to permanently enlarge the airway behind the tongue. This is the most effective surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea, with success rates exceeding 85%. It eliminates the need for CPAP in most patients who undergo it.
You remain in hospital with IV fluids, antibiotics, and pain management. Facial swelling is significant and peaks around day three. Light elastic bands guide the new bite position. A liquid diet begins immediately and progresses to pureed foods as tolerated.
Swelling reduces noticeably. Follow-up appointments monitor healing and adjust elastic bands. Gentle jaw exercises may begin to improve opening range. Continue pureed and soft foods. Most patients feel well enough for short outings by the end of week one.
Swelling continues settling and new facial contours become visible. Transition gradually to a soft-chew diet. Light work or study can resume. Avoid contact sports and heavy lifting throughout this phase.
Bone healing is well advanced and the jaws are stable in their new position. Orthodontic fine-tuning continues with your home orthodontist. The last traces of swelling fade. Bone remodelling carries on quietly for 9–12 months total.
Plan to stay in Thailand for at least two to three weeks after jaw surgery. Swelling is significant in the first week, and your surgeon needs to monitor bone stability, wound healing, and jaw function through several follow-up appointments before clearing you to fly. Cabin pressure is not a concern, but you need to be well enough to manage a long flight comfortably.
You will be on a liquid-only diet for the first two weeks while the jaw heals in its new position, progressing to soft blended foods over weeks three to six. Chewing resumes gradually as your surgeon confirms bone stability, typically around six to eight weeks post-surgery. Full, unrestricted eating usually returns within three to four months.
The jaw is repositioned during surgery, so the structural change is immediate — but swelling obscures the result for the first several weeks. Most swelling resolves by three months, giving a clear sense of the new profile. Final soft-tissue settling and full functional adaptation take six to twelve months.
Orthognathic surgery is major surgery performed under general anaesthesia. Complication rates are low when performed by experienced maxillofacial surgeons with proper 3D planning, but understanding the risks is essential.
Every case-specific risk is identified through the pre-surgical assessment — 3D imaging, medical history review, and bite analysis — and discussed fully before surgery is scheduled.
Yes — when performed at a JCI-accredited hospital by a board-certified maxillofacial surgeon with 3D virtual planning. Our partner hospitals maintain the same surgical standards, infection-control protocols, and anaesthesia monitoring as leading centres in the US, UK, and Australia. They have ICU backup and handle orthognathic cases regularly.
Choose a JCI-accredited hospital with a dedicated maxillofacial unit, not a dental clinic. Verify your surgeon is board-certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery specifically. Confirm that 3D virtual surgical planning with custom guides is part of the surgical protocol. Complete your pre-surgical orthodontic preparation thoroughly before travelling — cutting this short compromises the bite result.
Temporary numbness of the lower lip and chin is the most common side effect of lower jaw surgery, affecting a significant percentage of patients. It occurs because the inferior alveolar nerve runs through the bone that is cut. In the vast majority of cases, sensation returns fully within three to six months. Permanent numbness is rare with experienced surgeons and proper technique.
Orthognathic surgery demands a specialist surgeon, a hospital-grade facility, and digital planning technology. Here is what to look for.
Our partner hospitals — including JCI-accredited institutions with dedicated maxillofacial departments — have operating theatres equipped for orthognathic surgery, in-house 3D planning suites, and post-operative care units with experienced nursing staff. These are not clinics — they are full-scale hospitals that handle complications in-house.
Our partner surgeons are board-certified by the Thai Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Many have trained internationally — fellowships in South Korea, Japan, or the US — and returned to Thailand where surgical volume is high. The combination of international training and high case volume produces reliable, consistent outcomes.
Board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery is non-negotiable. Ask specifically about their orthognathic case volume and whether they use 3D virtual surgical planning with custom guides. Review before-and-after photos of cases similar to yours — same jaw problem, similar skeletal type. A surgeon who walks you through the virtual plan on screen is one who takes precision seriously.
Orthognathic surgery produces permanent structural changes. Here is what a realistic outcome looks like.
The bite aligns properly, the facial profile balances, and functional problems resolve. Patients with severe underbite see the lower jaw brought back into harmony. Those with receding chins gain projection and proportion. Sleep apnoea patients experience measurable airway improvement. The changes are skeletal and permanent — the jaws do not move back.
Visible improvement emerges as swelling resolves over the first three months. The final facial shape is apparent by six months. Bite alignment is typically excellent from the immediate post-operative period, with orthodontic fine-tuning completing the detail. The combination of functional improvement and facial balance is what makes this procedure genuinely transformative for patients who have lived with severe malocclusion.
Orthognathic surgery requires the longest stay of any dental procedure. Here is how to plan for it.
Plan for 14–21 days. This covers pre-operative imaging and consultation, two to three nights in hospital after surgery, and multiple follow-up appointments to monitor healing, adjust elastic bands, and confirm you are safe to fly home. A longer stay gives more recovery time and greater confidence before a long-haul flight.
Your care coordinator manages hospital booking, surgeon communication, pre-operative scheduling, and all post-operative follow-up. The surgical quote covers the surgeon's fee, anaesthesia, hospital stay, 3D planning and custom hardware, titanium plates, post-operative medications, and follow-up appointments. Flights, accommodation, and pre-surgical orthodontics are separate.
The first week is dedicated to recovery — hospital stay followed by rest at your hotel near the hospital. Swelling peaks around day three and then progressively improves. By week two, most patients manage short outings. Staying close to the hospital for the full duration is important because follow-up visits are frequent and your surgeon needs access to you if anything requires attention.
Everything you need to know before your procedure
Patient Care Director
Last reviewed: March 25, 2026
Medical disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional dental advice. Individual results, recovery times, and suitability vary. Always consult a qualified dentist before making decisions about treatment.
Speak with our care coordinators for a free, no-obligation consultation and personalised quote.
Speak to Our TeamTestimonials
From single implants to full-mouth restorations, patients share their experience.
Zero Cost, Zero Pressure
Tell us what you need and we'll match you with the right specialist and return real clinic quotes.
Get in Touch
Tell us what you're looking for and our care team will get back to you within 24 hours.
Loading your quote form...
