Cosmetic surgeries are usually performed with a scalpel.
Cosmetic jaw surgery is performed to improve the overall appearance of the face and the patient’s quality of life. There are several different types of cosmetic jaw procedures; Surgery performed on the upper part of the jaw is known as a maxillary osteotomy. Surgery performed on the jaw is known as a mandibular osteotomy. Implants or injectable fillers may also be used to improve the patient’s overall facial structure.
Mandibular osteotomy is a cosmetic surgery for the jaw.
The surgery is usually done on the upper part of the jaw to correct a receding jaw. This procedure is typically done by making incisions below both eyes and moving the jaw forward until it is in line with the lower jaw. Once everything is in place, screws are used to hold the jaw bone in place. Although it is considered a cosmetic procedure, it can also help relieve difficulty chewing. Because a severely receded jaw can cause more bone to grow above the molars, some bone scaling is often done during a maxillary osteotomy.
Cosmetic jaw surgery may be performed for cosmetic or quality of life reasons.
Mandibular osteotomy is a cosmetic surgery for the lower jaw. For this procedure, the lower jaw is cut behind the lower back teeth. Once the jaw is detached, it slides in line with the upper jaw and screws are put in to hold everything in place. This procedure can improve a person’s facial symmetry and make it easier to chew food. It is usually combined with a chin implant to match the proportions of the face.
Cosmetic surgery generally requires general anesthesia.
Jaw implants are usually performed when a maxillary osteotomy or mandibular osteotomy is not necessary. The implants themselves are made from silicone, polyethylene, or cartilage from other parts of the body. The surgeon inserts implants through incisions inside the cheek when necessary for cosmetic purposes. Although this aesthetic jaw surgery is considered more invasive than other alternatives, it also provides the most controlled result; each piece is shaped and positioned to provide the desired results. If the patient is not satisfied, the implants are relatively easy to remove.
Instead of implants, another cosmetic surgery for the jaw is an injectable filler. Fat is often harvested from other parts of the body and injected into the jaw for augmentation. This type of cosmetic jaw surgery is considered one of the safest procedures, although it is not always permanent, as the fat can be reabsorbed by the body. Other non-permanent fillers are collagen, hyaluronic acid, and hydroxyapatite; Although they tend to last for some time, the body eventually absorbs them, requiring routine injections. The only permanent injectable filler is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).