I think my upper jaw needs to be lowered. Does the face shape gets longer when this happens? Or not? How will my face change?

Question

Hi I have an appointment with an maxillofacial surgeon, and my problem is that my upper teeth aren't visible when I smile and talk. So, I think my upper jaw needs to be lowered, is it true that your face shape gets longer when this happens? Or not? How will my face change? Place between nose and upper lip? Face shape on it self? Is the lowering of the upper jaw the most extreme type of all the jaw surgeries? Is there an exact name of this type of surgery, for lowering the upper jaw? Thanks

Kevin L. McBride, DDS (retired) · Answer

The upper jaw can be lowered with a LeFort I osteotomy to improve facial appearance, speech and function. It is usually done to make the upper teeth more visible and to improve the contours of the lips. When the upper jaw is too short, the upper teeth do not show completely during smile and the lips get pushed together. Lengthening the upper jaw will lengthen the entire face and can make dramatic improvements in appearance. The face usually gets a little narrower, the teeth show when you smile, and the lips look more relaxed. The surgery is done by making a horizontal cut in the upper jaw, above the palate and the roots of the teeth, moving the jaw down the desired amount and placing a bone graft in the gap between the bones. It takes about 10 days to feel good and about 2 months for everything to feel normal.

I think my upper jaw needs to be lowered. Does the face shape gets longer when this happens? Or not? How will my face change?

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I think my upper jaw needs to be lowered. Does the face shape gets longer when this happens? Or not? How will my face change?

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