Orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery corrects a mismatch between the upper and lower jaw, affecting chewing, speech, breathing and facial balance. At Dr. Türker Clinic in Istanbul, the surgeon sets the plan only after a clinical examination and 3D imaging, never from photos alone, and promises no timeline or result in advance.
Orthognathic surgery, also called corrective or jaw alignment surgery, corrects a mismatch between the upper and lower jaw. It affects how you chew, speak and breathe, and it also balances the facial profile. “Jaw surgery” is a wider phrase that also covers chin and contour work, cysts and tumors, impacted teeth and jaw joint (TMJ) problems. In Istanbul, Dr. Türker Clinic entrusts these cases to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The indication, the technique and the timing are set only after a clinical examination and 3D imaging, never from a description or photos alone.
If you live abroad and are researching jaw surgery in Turkey, this page works as an overview: what the term covers, the situations where a consultation makes sense, how the plan is built, how a stay in Istanbul is organized, and where the limits lie. It does not replace an examination or the surgeon’s opinion. It publishes no price and no length of stay, because both are confirmed in writing after the examination.
What “jaw surgery” covers
“Jaw surgery” is a search phrase, not a single medical procedure. The table separates the main areas and points to more detail.
| Area | What it involves | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Orthognathic (corrective) surgery | Corrects a mismatch between the lower and upper jaw, with an expected effect on chewing, speech, breathing and facial profile | Orthognathic surgery |
| Jaw aesthetics | Chin, asymmetries and profile balance, by surgical or non-surgical routes | Jaw aesthetics |
| Cysts and tumors | Lesions in the bone or soft tissue, sometimes without symptoms, found on imaging | Guide: dental cysts and jaw tumors |
| Impacted teeth | Teeth, often wisdom teeth, that stay trapped in the bone, with a risk of pain, infection or damage to neighboring teeth | Guide: impacted wisdom teeth |
| Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) | Pain, limited opening, noises, difficulty chewing | Guide: TMJ disorders |
Orthognathic surgery and jaw aesthetics sometimes overlap. The examination clarifies which applies to your case.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery or dental surgery?
The two fields overlap: extractions, implants and bone grafts can be performed by dentists as well as by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a discipline that sits between traditional dentistry and medical surgery: it treats the jaws and the structure of the face, not only the teeth.
At the clinic, this area is handled by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon Assoc. Prof. Dr. Türker Yücesoy, who consults in English, French and Turkish. If you are comparing surgeons, our guide to choosing an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Istanbul lists the credentials to check.
Who might consider a consultation
None of the following is a diagnosis. These are situations in which a specialist opinion is reasonable
- your upper and lower teeth do not meet properly, making it hard to bite, chew or speak;
- breathing difficulty that someone has linked to the position of your jaws;
- a receding or protruding chin, or asymmetry in the lower face;
- jaw joint pain, limited opening or clicking;
- an impacted tooth, often a wisdom tooth, that is painful or keeps causing infections;
- an abnormality seen on an X-ray.
An abnormality on an X-ray should be assessed by a specialist rather than left alone. Cysts and tumors can grow for a long time without symptoms, and early diagnosis helps protect the surrounding tissue. Do not try to work out what a lesion is from a web page. A typical dental cyst is a benign cavity, but neither a photo nor an X-ray can confirm that: other lesions, some malignant though rarer, can look the same, and the word “tumor” does not always mean cancer: there are benign tumors, and some of them can keep growing and damage the neighboring bone. Examination, imaging and analysis of the removed tissue establish what a lesion is.
Orthognathic surgery is not purely cosmetic. It changes how the jaws meet, and so chewing, speech and breathing, and it also balances the profile of the face. Both aspects belong in the plan.
In children and teenagers, a jaw mismatch that is still developing may first call for growth-guiding orthodontics. Age is part of the assessment before any surgery is considered.
How the plan is built: examination, 3D imaging and orthodontics
Dr. Türker Clinic plans from a clinical examination and 3D imaging (CBCT), and the planned outcome is worked out digitally before treatment begins. A CBCT scan shows bone and nearby structures in three dimensions, but it shows soft tissue poorly and does not replace the examination. Our guide to CBCT and 3D planning explains what the scan adds and where it stops.
Orthognathic cases are generally coordinated with orthodontics, because orthodontics moves teeth, not jaws. At the clinic, oral and maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics work under one roof: the orthodontist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif Dilara Arslan plans the tooth alignment for patients who need surgical correction of the jaws, in coordination with Dr. Yücesoy. Clear aligners and fixed appliances are covered in our guide to clear aligners in Istanbul.
Orthodontic treatment before and after the operation usually lasts longer than a single stay. Ask from the start where it will be done, by which practitioner, and how the two teams communicate.
The steps, from sending your file to follow-up
- Preliminary file. A panoramic X-ray, a CBCT scan if you have one, your medical history, your medications, and your functional and aesthetic goals. Photos help the team understand your request, but they show neither the bone nor how your teeth meet.
- Remote review. The team tells you whether the documents are usable, whether a trip seems worthwhile and which examinations are missing. This opinion stays conditional.
- Clinical examination and 3D imaging. The surgeon confirms, changes or rules out the plan under consideration.
- Digital plan and consent. Options, alternatives, risks and uncertainties are explained in English, French or Turkish.
- Surgery. The type of anesthesia is settled at the consultation (see the next section).
- Check-up before you fly home. Ask for written instructions: expected symptoms, warning signs, food, hygiene, the date of the next check and how to reach the clinic.
- Follow-up after you return. Remote exchanges with the clinic, plus orthodontics if the plan includes it.
Planning your stay in Istanbul
Dr. Türker Clinic is in Nişantaşı (Teşvikiye, Şişli district). A coordinator handles organization, translation, airport transfers and the hotel for patients who travel to Istanbul. The coordinator does not replace the surgeon, who explains the indication and obtains your consent. Our guide to preparing a dental trip to Turkey covers documents, flights and accommodation.
Anesthesia and where the surgery takes place
For complex surgeries, the clinic offers sedation and general anesthesia in a sterile environment, and the option that suits your case is discussed at the consultation. Three questions help you get the full picture: who is responsible for the anesthesia, who stays present during the procedure, and where the operation and the monitoring afterward take place. Our guide to anesthesia and sedation explains the differences between local anesthesia, sedation and general anesthesia, and the questions to ask are the same.
Length of stay, recovery and a companion
No fixed length of stay or recovery timetable applies to everyone. Both depend on the operation, on how you heal and on the plan set after the examination. Ask for a range with its conditions, not a promise of a date. Do not book the return flight right after the operation, and avoid scheduling an important event just after surgery.
A companion can be useful after an extensive operation or after sedation. Instructions about flying depend on the procedure performed, so the surgeon adapts them to your case.
Get these in writing before you buy a ticket
- [ ] the identity of the surgeon who operates and the role of each person involved;
- [ ] a written preliminary plan, with alternatives and uncertainties;
- [ ] the facility and the type of anesthesia planned;
- [ ] an itemized quote: procedures, examinations, anesthesia, medication and check-ups, included or excluded;
- [ ] orthodontics: who provides it, where, and how the two teams communicate;
- [ ] a check-up before departure and a follow-up channel after you return home;
- [ ] the postponement and cancellation terms, read in full;
- [ ] whether your own insurer or national health service covers any part of treatment abroad (rules vary, so confirm with them directly).
Risks, limits, alternatives and when to postpone
Risks. Like any jaw surgery, the operation carries risks of pain, swelling, bleeding, infection, nerve injury that may change sensation in the lip or chin, and the risks that come with anesthesia. The surgeon details those that concern your case. A functional or aesthetic result cannot be promised, and a well-organized trip does not remove the biological risk.
Limits. Photos or a description are not enough. An opinion from a distance stays conditional, and the plan can change after the examination, even to the point of not operating. Aesthetic expectations are discussed before any decision.
Alternatives. Depending on the size of the mismatch, orthodontic treatment alone may be discussed; it moves teeth, not jaws. For the chin and the profile, non-surgical solutions exist. For TMJ problems, a night splint, prescribed medication and physiotherapy can be combined, with surgery reserved for situations that require it. An impacted tooth is not always removed. A second opinion is legitimate when two plans differ.
When to postpone. A recent infection, a medical condition that is not stable, an incomplete file, consent you could not fully understand, or a flight schedule that squeezes the operation are all reasons to wait. Tell the surgeon about smoking, diabetes, blood thinners (anticoagulants) and any other treatment, and never change a medication without the advice of the doctor who prescribed it.
When not to wait. Difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling that spreads quickly or bleeding you cannot control call for local emergency services, not for waiting on a reply from a clinic abroad.
Next step: have your file assessed
Send your panoramic X-ray, your CBCT scan if you have one, your reports and your goal, whether functional, aesthetic or both. The clinic’s surgeon can say whether the documents are usable and which examinations are missing; the opinion stays conditional on the examination. You can write on WhatsApp at +90 531 818 02 87 or use the contact page. See the contact page for current opening hours.
Nothing is rushed at this stage. Take the time to compare written proposals before you book a ticket.
Sources
- World Health Organization, oral health fact sheet.
- World Health Organization, Safe Surgery program.
- European Commission, Radiation Protection No 172, “Cone beam CT for dental and maxillofacial radiology”.
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), information for patients.
This page is an information guide. It does not diagnose anything remotely and does not replace a clinical examination.
Frequently asked questions
What is orthognathic (jaw alignment) surgery?
Orthognathic surgery, also called corrective jaw surgery, corrects a mismatch between the upper and lower jaw. The expected effect is on chewing, speech and breathing, plus a more balanced profile. At Dr. Türker Clinic, the indication and plan are set after a clinical examination and 3D imaging, not from photos or a description.
Is corrective jaw surgery only cosmetic?
No. It changes how the upper and lower jaws meet, so it affects chewing, speech and breathing, and it also balances the facial profile. Function and appearance belong to the same plan, which is discussed after the examination and 3D planning. Aesthetic expectations are talked through before any decision is made.
Is aesthetic jaw surgery the same as orthognathic surgery?
Not exactly, although the two sometimes overlap. Jaw aesthetics covers the chin, asymmetries and profile balance, by surgical or non-surgical methods, while orthognathic surgery corrects a mismatch between the jaws. The examination at Dr. Türker Clinic shows which of the two, if either, applies to your case.
Do I need braces or aligners with jaw surgery?
Usually, yes: orthognathic cases are generally coordinated with orthodontics, because orthodontics moves teeth, not jaws. At Dr. Türker Clinic, jaw surgery and orthodontics work under one roof. Orthodontic treatment around the operation usually lasts longer than one stay, so ask where it will be done and how the two teams communicate.
What are the main risks of orthognathic surgery?
Like any jaw surgery, it carries risks of pain, swelling, bleeding and infection, nerve injury that may change sensation in the lip or chin, and the risks that come with anesthesia. The surgeon at Dr. Türker Clinic goes through those that concern your case, and no functional or aesthetic result can be promised.
How many days should I plan in Istanbul for jaw surgery?
There is no universal length: it depends on the operation, on how you heal and on the plan set after the examination. Ask for a range with its conditions, do not book the return flight right after surgery, and plan a check-up before you leave. This page gives no fixed duration; Dr. Türker Clinic confirms any range in writing after the examination.
Is sedation or general anesthesia available for jaw surgery in Istanbul?
For complex surgeries, Dr. Türker Clinic offers sedation and general anesthesia in a sterile environment, and the option that suits your case is discussed at the consultation. Ask who is responsible for the anesthesia, who stays present during the procedure, and where the operation and the monitoring afterward take place.
When should jaw surgery be postponed?
A recent infection, a medical condition that is not stable, an incomplete file, consent you could not fully understand, or a flight schedule that squeezes the operation are reasons to wait. Tell the surgeon about smoking, diabetes and blood thinners, and never change a medication without the advice of the doctor who prescribed it.
This guide informs; it does not replace a consultation or an individual diagnosis. Every case needs a clinical examination and 3D imaging.
