Orthognathic revision surgery

In reality, the topic of orthognathic revision surgery is quite challenging to handle. Even as I write this, I feel a sense of apprehension...

These days, there has been a significant increase in the number of people seeking consultations for orthognathic surgery and actually undergoing the procedure. Once, when celebrities appeared on TV after undergoing orthognathic surgery during their hiatus and showed dramatic changes in their faces, the curiosity of the general public surged. Due to such curiosity, when people searched on portal sites, it became an issue, and the surgery began to be widely known even among the general public. Furthermore, it was often mentioned as if undergoing orthognathic surgery could make one look like a celebrity.

Due to these issues, orthognathic surgery came to be perceived as a means to become more beautiful, leading to an increase in cases of orthognathic surgery among the general public. However, indiscriminate orthognathic surgeries led to a rise in cases of side effects and the need for revision surgeries.

On television as well, there are many discussions about the side effects of orthognathic surgery, and sometimes programs are aired warning against undergoing orthognathic surgery.

Of course, orthognathic surgery is a difficult procedure. It's not something that can be mastered after just one or two experiences, and even after performing orthognathic surgeries for over ten years, I can say that every case is different.

Among these numerous cases, the most challenging and demanding one is undoubtedly orthognathic revision surgery.

In cases of orthognathic surgery, since the bones have already shifted due to a previous surgery, they often do not return to their normal positions. Additionally, there may be severe adhesion of bones and tissues, and finding fixation points may be difficult after revision surgery. Moreover, if bone loss has occurred due to the previous surgery, the issue of bone grafting may arise.

The X-ray shown below is from a patient who underwent surgery at a university hospital and came for orthognathic revision surgery.

The left image is an X-ray taken at our clinic after the patient underwent surgery at a university hospital. As you can see from the soft tissues, there is still protrusion and development of the lower jaw after the surgery.

In the right X-ray, taken after the surgery at our clinic, you can see that the protrusion and development of the lower jaw have been corrected. Additionally, the chin has been re-aligned, resulting in a perfect jawline.

Furthermore, as seen in the left X-ray, the contour of the lower jaw (especially the chin area) appears uneven, and there seems to be bone loss in the upper jaw area, leaving a space.

In contrast, in the right X-ray taken after surgery at our clinic, you can observe that the lower jaw has been smoothly refined, and the lost bone portion in the upper jaw has been replenished through bone grafting, restoring it to its intact state.

Reconstructing the normal bone state and achieving a natural line through orthognathic surgery is not an easy task. This is because there can be additional variables compared to typical orthognathic surgeries.

When variables arise during orthognathic surgery, dealing with them requires expertise derived from extensive experience. Without such expertise, it can be challenging to successfully complete orthognathic surgery.

In selecting a hospital, I believe it is wiser to prioritize the expertise of the surgeon performing the surgery rather than the size or reputation of the hospital. This is my hope for those making decisions regarding their surgery.

• Dr. Lee Jin-soo, Plastic Surgeon -

• This post includes advertising for Faceline Plastic Surgery.
• Surgery (and procedures) may result in side effects such as bleeding, asymmetry, and nerve damage, depending on the individual, so caution is advised.