Orthognathic Jaw Surgery in West Palm Beach, FL

Orthognathic (Corrective Jaw) Surgery in West Palm Beach, FL is performed by Dr. Albert Carlotti at BellaNova Cosmetic Surgery's state-registered Level III surgical center at 1261 S Congress Ave in West Palm Beach.

Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both, to correct how they meet and how they sit within the face. It is the operation that sits at the intersection of function and appearance: it changes the bite, it frequently changes the airway, and because the jaws are the frame the lower two-thirds of the face is built on, it changes facial balance more profoundly than any soft-tissue procedure can.

Corrective jaw surgery requires a detailed assessment of jaw position, bite and facial balance. Dr. Carlotti discusses the proposed movements, their effect on appearance and function, and the recovery involved. His biography includes his training and qualifications.

Am I a candidate for orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery?

Orthognathic surgery is indicated for:

• Class III malocclusion (underbite) — the lower jaw ahead of the upper
• Class II malocclusion (significant overbite or retruded lower jaw)
• Anterior open bite — front teeth that do not meet
• Facial asymmetry from unequal jaw growth
• Vertical maxillary excess — a ‘gummy smile’ from excessive upper jaw height
• Obstructive sleep apnea, where maxillomandibular advancement enlarges the airway
• Difficulty chewing, speaking or closing the lips without strain
• Relapse or an unsatisfactory result from previous jaw surgery

Most cases require orthodontic preparation before and after surgery, coordinated with your orthodontist. Skeletal growth must be complete — typically 16–18 for women and 18–21 for men.

Planning and the operations involved

Virtual surgical planning

A CT scan and digital dental models are combined into a three-dimensional simulation. The movements are planned and measured virtually, and surgical splints are manufactured from that plan to transfer it accurately to the operating room. This is what makes millimetric movements reproducible rather than estimated.

Le Fort I osteotomy (upper jaw)

The maxilla is separated above the tooth roots and repositioned — forward, up, down, or rotated — then fixed with titanium plates. This is the operation that addresses gummy smile, open bite, midface deficiency and much of facial asymmetry.

Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (lower jaw)

The mandible is split in a controlled plane on both sides, allowing the tooth-bearing segment to advance or set back while preserving the joints. Fixed with plates or screws.

Double jaw surgery

Both are performed in the same operation when the discrepancy involves both jaws, which is common. It allows the whole lower two-thirds of the face to be positioned as a planned unit.

Maxillomandibular advancement for sleep apnea

Advancing both jaws forward pulls the soft tissues of the palate and tongue base forward with them, enlarging the pharyngeal airway. It is among the most effective surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea in appropriately selected patients, and it changes the profile at the same time.

Adjunctive contouring

Genioplasty is very commonly performed in the same operation to finalise the chin position once the jaws are set.

Recovery timeline

Every recovery is individual. This is the pattern most patients follow, and you will receive a written plan specific to your procedure.

When	What to expect
Days 1–2	Usually an overnight stay. Swelling significant. Liquid diet. Airway and pain closely monitored.
Week 1	Swelling peaks at day two to three then begins to fall. Guiding elastics on the braces. Liquid diet continues. Numbness of the lip, chin or cheek is expected.
Weeks 2–4	Swelling substantially reduced. Soft diet introduced. Many patients return to desk work at three to four weeks.
Weeks 6–8	Bone healing well established. Diet advanced progressively. Exercise resumed on clearance.
Months 3–6	Full diet. Most swelling resolved. Orthodontic finishing under way. Sensation continuing to return.
Months 9–12	Orthodontics completed, retention begun. Final facial result assessed.

Risks and considerations

This is major surgery and the risk profile reflects that: bleeding, infection, altered or permanently reduced sensation in the lip, chin, cheek or tongue (common temporarily, occasionally permanent — particularly of the lower lip after mandibular surgery), unfavorable fracture, non-union or delayed healing, relapse of position, temporomandibular joint symptoms, hardware requiring removal, sinus complications after maxillary surgery, and the need for revision.

These are discussed at length and in writing before any decision is made. Patients considering this operation deserve a complete account of it rather than a reassuring summary.

Cost and financing

Your procedure is self-pay. The practice provides a written quote for your recommended surgical plan. See cost and financing for payment options.

Before and after results

Dr. Carlotti maintains a photographic result archive organized by procedure — real patients, consistent lighting and angles, published with consent. View orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery before and after photographs.

Orthognathic (Corrective Jaw) Surgery: questions patients ask