POSTED UNDER Jaw Surgery Reviews
One of the Best Decisions of my Life.
ORIGINAL POST
One of the Best Decisions of my Life.
WORTH IT
I had surgery with Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro in June 2026 to correct my short face syndrome. It was one of the best decisions of my life.
I was fortunate to be in a position where I could choose any surgeon in the world with whom I felt most comfortable. I am a physician myself. After spending about a year researching different surgeons, attending several consultations, and carefully reviewing their work, I ultimately chose Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro. He has extensive experience performing these procedures, and many of his results are available online to review. His outcomes are consistently exceptional, with remarkable improvements in both function and aesthetics. After comparing the work of many surgeons, his results truly stand in a class of their own. It is difficult to find another surgeon whose work compares. Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro is not afraid to perform the large movements that are sometimes necessary, but more importantly, he has the technical skill to do so safely while preserving function and minimizing complications.
There are also hundreds of patients, like me, who had outstanding experiences but chose not to leave video testimonials for privacy reasons. Instead, I have included de-identified photos below. The "after" photos were taken just three weeks after surgery.
I would also like to point out that in the frontal photo, this was the biggest smile I was physically capable of producing because my maxilla sat so high. I was not "half-smiling." It was impossible to smile any wider without baring my teeth. My recessed and vertically deficient maxilla also caused my nose to droop downward and appear disproportionately large for my face. Smiling was something I had always been self-conscious about. I never showed my teeth in photographs and often covered my face with my hand whenever I smiled because I felt embarrassed. No amount of orthodontic treatment could have corrected those issues.
I flew to Barcelona from the United States one week before surgery, and my experience with the Maxillofacial Institute was exceptional from start to finish. Every member of the team was kind, professional, and respectful. Because I am not fluent in Spanish, I worked with their International Team. One of the coordinators accompanied me to every preoperative appointment, ensuring I never got lost or encountered any difficulties. The entire process was seamless.
During my preoperative planning appointment, Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro carefully explained every aspect of the surgical plan and answered all of my questions. He walked me through the techniques he uses and explained the reasoning behind each decision. My maxilla was downgrafted by 7 mm and advanced 4 mm. My mandible was moved to meet the maxilla. I did not require a genioplasty.
My surgery took place in the morning, and I was discharged the following day. Pain was minimal. The biggest challenge for me was nausea from the general anesthesia. I have always struggled with this. After mentioning this to Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro, he immediately addressed it by ensuring I received multiple doses of two different anti-nausea medications. His team also checked on me every day to make sure everything was progressing well. The nausea resolved within a few days, and the medications made a tremendous difference.
Before surgery, I had prepared myself for an exceptionally difficult recovery with severe swelling, significant pain, and months of difficulty eating. We even packed numerous syringes and squeeze bottles, expecting they would be necessary. They were never used. I have honestly experienced more discomfort after having dental fillings in the United States than I did after jaw surgery. One week after surgery, I was eating soft foods at a restaurant. The swelling was also only a fraction of what I had expected. The photos taken three weeks after surgery speak for themselves. Recovery felt more like a vacation on the Mediterranean coast with my husband than a typical postoperative experience.
Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro and his team have remained incredibly attentive with follow-up care. During the first several weeks after surgery, I had follow-up appointments every two days. Even now, they respond to any questions promptly. He truly stands behind his work, which is one of the qualities I value most in a surgeon.
Going into surgery, my only expectation was to increase my tooth show when I smiled. All I wanted was to smile without feeling embarrassed. Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro accomplished far more than that. I never imagined I could look this beautiful, but he did. He corrected not only my lack of incisor show, but also my retrognathia, submental angle, lip projection, lip incompetence, nasal projection, drooping nasal tip, and lack of midface support. The result is a beautiful smile and a balanced facial profile. My nose now fits my face perfectly. For the first time in my life, I genuinely feel beautiful, and my favorite thing to do is smile with my teeth in every photograph and at every opportunity. Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro truly changed my life and, in my opinion, is nothing short of a magician when it comes to maxillofacial surgery.
At six weeks after surgery, I have no facial asymmetry, either at rest or during facial movement. I have no numbness in my lips, chin, or face, and the numbness along the roof of my mouth continues to improve across all quadrants. I have experienced no complications. My bite and alignment are excellent, according to my orthodontist, who was so impressed with the result that he asked for Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro's contact information so he could begin referring patients to him. I can also fully open my mouth, fitting three fingers between my teeth—a milestone I actually achieved by four weeks after surgery. The only remaining treatment will be Invisalign to straighten a few teeth that were already crooked before surgery.
I cannot thank Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro and every member of the Maxillofacial Institute enough for everything they have done. They changed my life in ways I never thought possible, and I wish them continued success. I recommend them without hesitation to anyone considering orthognathic surgery.
I was fortunate to be in a position where I could choose any surgeon in the world with whom I felt most comfortable. I am a physician myself. After spending about a year researching different surgeons, attending several consultations, and carefully reviewing their work, I ultimately chose Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro. He has extensive experience performing these procedures, and many of his results are available online to review. His outcomes are consistently exceptional, with remarkable improvements in both function and aesthetics. After comparing the work of many surgeons, his results truly stand in a class of their own. It is difficult to find another surgeon whose work compares. Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro is not afraid to perform the large movements that are sometimes necessary, but more importantly, he has the technical skill to do so safely while preserving function and minimizing complications.
There are also hundreds of patients, like me, who had outstanding experiences but chose not to leave video testimonials for privacy reasons. Instead, I have included de-identified photos below. The "after" photos were taken just three weeks after surgery.
I would also like to point out that in the frontal photo, this was the biggest smile I was physically capable of producing because my maxilla sat so high. I was not "half-smiling." It was impossible to smile any wider without baring my teeth. My recessed and vertically deficient maxilla also caused my nose to droop downward and appear disproportionately large for my face. Smiling was something I had always been self-conscious about. I never showed my teeth in photographs and often covered my face with my hand whenever I smiled because I felt embarrassed. No amount of orthodontic treatment could have corrected those issues.
I flew to Barcelona from the United States one week before surgery, and my experience with the Maxillofacial Institute was exceptional from start to finish. Every member of the team was kind, professional, and respectful. Because I am not fluent in Spanish, I worked with their International Team. One of the coordinators accompanied me to every preoperative appointment, ensuring I never got lost or encountered any difficulties. The entire process was seamless.
During my preoperative planning appointment, Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro carefully explained every aspect of the surgical plan and answered all of my questions. He walked me through the techniques he uses and explained the reasoning behind each decision. My maxilla was downgrafted by 7 mm and advanced 4 mm. My mandible was moved to meet the maxilla. I did not require a genioplasty.
My surgery took place in the morning, and I was discharged the following day. Pain was minimal. The biggest challenge for me was nausea from the general anesthesia. I have always struggled with this. After mentioning this to Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro, he immediately addressed it by ensuring I received multiple doses of two different anti-nausea medications. His team also checked on me every day to make sure everything was progressing well. The nausea resolved within a few days, and the medications made a tremendous difference.
Before surgery, I had prepared myself for an exceptionally difficult recovery with severe swelling, significant pain, and months of difficulty eating. We even packed numerous syringes and squeeze bottles, expecting they would be necessary. They were never used. I have honestly experienced more discomfort after having dental fillings in the United States than I did after jaw surgery. One week after surgery, I was eating soft foods at a restaurant. The swelling was also only a fraction of what I had expected. The photos taken three weeks after surgery speak for themselves. Recovery felt more like a vacation on the Mediterranean coast with my husband than a typical postoperative experience.
Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro and his team have remained incredibly attentive with follow-up care. During the first several weeks after surgery, I had follow-up appointments every two days. Even now, they respond to any questions promptly. He truly stands behind his work, which is one of the qualities I value most in a surgeon.
Going into surgery, my only expectation was to increase my tooth show when I smiled. All I wanted was to smile without feeling embarrassed. Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro accomplished far more than that. I never imagined I could look this beautiful, but he did. He corrected not only my lack of incisor show, but also my retrognathia, submental angle, lip projection, lip incompetence, nasal projection, drooping nasal tip, and lack of midface support. The result is a beautiful smile and a balanced facial profile. My nose now fits my face perfectly. For the first time in my life, I genuinely feel beautiful, and my favorite thing to do is smile with my teeth in every photograph and at every opportunity. Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro truly changed my life and, in my opinion, is nothing short of a magician when it comes to maxillofacial surgery.
At six weeks after surgery, I have no facial asymmetry, either at rest or during facial movement. I have no numbness in my lips, chin, or face, and the numbness along the roof of my mouth continues to improve across all quadrants. I have experienced no complications. My bite and alignment are excellent, according to my orthodontist, who was so impressed with the result that he asked for Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro's contact information so he could begin referring patients to him. I can also fully open my mouth, fitting three fingers between my teeth—a milestone I actually achieved by four weeks after surgery. The only remaining treatment will be Invisalign to straighten a few teeth that were already crooked before surgery.
I cannot thank Dr. Hernandez-Alfaro and every member of the Maxillofacial Institute enough for everything they have done. They changed my life in ways I never thought possible, and I wish them continued success. I recommend them without hesitation to anyone considering orthognathic surgery.
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