Jaw surgery costs $27,982 on average, according to 245 patient reviews. Prices range from just $3,000 for jaw surgery with insurance coverage to as much as $150,000 for a complex double jaw surgery (aka orthognathic surgery) with no insurance.
Read on to find out:
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Jaw Surgery
Corrective jaw surgery is covered by most health insurance plans if you and your healthcare practitioner can provide medical documentation of a functional problem resulting from a misaligned jaw and meet any other criteria set out by your insurance provider. Cosmetic jaw surgery is not covered by insurance.
“Your surgeon's office will assist you in getting pre-authorization from the insurance company four to six weeks prior to surgery,” says board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Majid Jamali, who practices in New York City.
In most cases, you’ll still have to cover some of your orthognathic surgery cost out-of-pocket: in fact, many insurers cover just 35% of the surgical fee. Your insurance company may also require you to be treated by an in-network surgeon in a hospital setting, which could limit your choices and inflate the surgical fee.
Ask your surgeon about monthly payment plans and financing options to help make your procedure more affordable.
Having an initial consultation with a qualified surgeon is the most accurate way to get and compare personalized price quotes. Some even offer free consultations or apply the fee toward your procedure.
You may find it worthwhile to get quotes from more than one provider, so you can compare their recommended treatment plans and price quotes.
Jaw surgery cost quotes should include:
You’ll also need to plan for a minimum of two weeks off from work for jaw surgery recovery. You may need up to six weeks of downtime if your surgery is very complex, or you're slow to heal, so factor that into your overall budget if you don’t have enough paid time off to cover it.
RealSelf Tip: For most people, the first step in correcting a misaligned jaw is orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign, which can improve your overall oral health, as well.
Having properly aligned teeth makes aligning your bite by repositioning the jawbone far easier for your oral surgeon and dramatically improves results.
With the usual treatment plan, braces remain on the teeth during jaw surgery and for several months afterward. This allows the surgeon to keep the jaws together and stable as you heal. (Learn more about jaw surgery recovery.)
This step is often essential to a good jaw surgery result, but it can add significantly to your treatment timeline and total price tag. Visits to the orthodontist are generally not covered by dental insurance, unless you have a plan with orthodontic coverage.
Several factors influence the price of jaw surgery, including:
Some patients need double jaw surgery, involving both their upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible), while others only need their upper or lower jaw moved into a new position. (Incisions are typically made inside the mouth.)
As you can imagine, double jaw surgery costs far more than having a single jaw repositioned.
You can also expect your price quote to come in at the higher end of the range if your double jaw surgery is particularly complex or time-consuming. For example, in some situations, the surgeon has to transplant bone from the rib or hip to lengthen the jaw and alleviate certain jaw problems.
Some people also choose to combine jaw surgery with other facial plastic surgery procedures, such as rhinoplasty. Orthognathic surgery can impact the appearance of the nose, so performing both procedures at the same time can lead to a better cosmetic result.
Chin surgery (aka genioplasty) or chin liposuction can also be performed at the same time as jaw surgery, to create a more defined chin and jawline.
Each additional procedure adds to your total bill.
On the other hand, you can save money by combining treatment options into one operation vs. having each procedure separately. Why?
Cosmetic or corrective jaw surgery is typically performed by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These highly trained providers have dual degrees in both medicine and dentistry.
Surgeons with more experience—10 years or more—performing complex and demanding orthognathic surgery to correct jaw misalignment are likely to charge more for their services.
Here’s why it’s worth it to see an experienced surgeon:
To be sure you're on the same page as your surgeon in terms of the desired result, study their style and approach by reviewing their gallery of before and after photos, as well as patient reviews.
It's always a good idea to consult with at least two (ideally three) qualified surgeons and request an all-in price quote before you make your decision.
During your consultation, ask if your surgery would be performed in a hospital or a private outpatient oral surgery center. Hospitals tend to charge higher facility fees, so if you're paying out-of-pocket (and won't be having a complex procedure), look for a surgeon who operates in an outpatient surgery center.
Surgical procedures like this one also usually cost more in major metro areas, which have a higher cost of living. Even the neighborhood and how nice the facility looks can play a role.
If you're willing to expand your search beyond your immediate area, look for qualified surgeons who are operating outside high-rent areas. They may have less overhead to pass on to patients.
Jaw surgery is usually performed in a hospital or surgery center under general anesthesia (with airway management). Depending on how extensive your surgery is, your provider may have you spend one or more nights in a recovery facility, so your vitals can be monitored.
Even extending a hospital stay by one night can inflate your facility fee.
Corrective jaw surgery has a 80% Worth It Rating from recent reviewers on RealSelf.
Many say the results have been life-changing, significantly improving their ability to breathe (moving the jaw can help open the airway), speak, and eat while boosting their confidence.
The procedure can successfully treat:
Reviewers who said it was "Not Worth It" were disappointed with their results, pointing to poor aesthetic outcomes or long-lasting complications, such as nerve injury and persistent pain.
The recovery process can also be long and painful. One recent analysis of 30 studies found that overall satisfaction rates with orthognathic surgery exceeded 85%, but it also found dissatisfaction related to the information patients received prior to surgery about post-operative discomfort and recovery.
If you're considering jaw surgery, don't underestimate the difficulty of the post-operative period. Many surgeons will wire teeth shut (or stabilize them with orthodontic rubber bands) for six weeks, which necessitates a liquid diet, followed by another six weeks of soft foods.
Your activity will also be limited for 5–6 months, while your bones heal. You may also require post-surgical orthodontic treatment for another 4-6 months.
More than many other types of surgery, jaw surgery can really be a journey, so be sure to do your homework and choose an experienced surgeon who will care for you every step of the way.