Orthognathic Surgery in North London: A Guide to Jaw Correction

Orthognathic surgery is a major procedure used when jaws and teeth do not align, causing functional and cosmetic problems. You may be a candidate if you have trouble chewing, biting, or swallowing, or suffer from chronic jaw pain. It also treats facial imbalances such as a receding chin, a protruding lower jaw, or facial asymmetry. For many in North London, it is a common solution for sleep apnea when repositioning the jaw opens the airway. The aim is to improve function and facial balance, leading to a noticeable improvement in daily life. BAOMS reports high patient satisfaction after this surgery.

Start with a 60 minute consultation at our Finchley practice. We use a 3D CBCT scanner and digital images to make a precise model of your jaw and face. This helps us plan the movements needed. We then work with a specialist maxillofacial surgeon to agree on a joint plan. A Barnet patient with a severe underbite saw the final result on a screen before any surgery.

Before surgery you typically wear braces or Invisalign for 12 to 18 months. It can feel worse at first. The aim is to align the teeth on each jaw so they fit after surgery. You visit every 6-8 weeks for adjustments. We manage this phase to prepare you for surgery.

The surgery is done by a partner maxillofacial surgeon at a private London hospital. It lasts several hours under general anesthesia. The surgeon repositions the jaw according to the plan using small plates and screws. All incisions stay inside the mouth to avoid external scars.

After a short hospital stay, we take over your recovery care. Healing takes about 6 weeks with a soft food diet. We monitor your progress closely. After this, you continue finishing orthodontics for 6 to 12 months to refine your bite. A Highgate patient found our closeness to the Northern Line made follow-up visits easy.

Realistic expectations are essential for recovery. The first 1-2 weeks are the most challenging. You will have swelling and discomfort, managed with prescribed medication. Your diet will be liquid for a period, then soft foods. Most people take 2-4 weeks off work or school. We provide a detailed aftercare plan for oral hygiene, diet, and activity limits. If you have concerning symptoms like fever or escalating pain after day 4, call the surgical unit right away. For orthodontic aftercare, our office hours are Mon/Wed/Fri 9 AM-5 PM and Tue/Thu 11 AM-7 PM.

For small differences, orthodontic treatment alone can camouflage a skeletal issue by moving the teeth to compensate. This is orthodontic camouflage. It does not fix the underlying jaw problem and is not suitable for moderate to severe cases. For sleep apnea, a CPAP or a mandibular advancement device offers non-surgical relief but only manages symptoms. In cases of significant skeletal imbalance affecting function and appearance, orthognathic surgery is often the only option that provides a stable, long term solution.

The cost of orthognathic surgery has three main parts: 1. Pre and post-surgical orthodontics (similar to our Invisalign Full fee of £4,400). 2. The surgeon's fee for the operation. 3. The hospital and anaesthetist fees. The total private cost can range from £15,000 to £25,000 or more, depending on complexity. While we are a private practice, we accept insurance plans from Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna, which may cover part of the orthodontic treatment. Check with your provider about coverage for the surgical component. We provide a fully itemised quote for the orthodontic part at the initial consultation.

To choose what fits you, ask detailed questions to any provider in North London. For the orthodontic part, ask: What is the full timeline for my braces or Invisalign? What are the risks if pre surgical alignment is not perfect? How will you coordinate with my surgeon? For the surgeon, ask: What are the specific risks of my procedure? How much time off work will I need? What is your experience with cases like mine? Can I see before and after photos of previous patients? What is the plan for managing post operative pain and swelling?