When considering jaw surgery, one of the most common questions is, “What is the success rate of jaw surgery?” The question is understandable, but there is no single percentage that can accurately describe the success of every orthognathic surgery.
Jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, is performed to correct significant skeletal problems involving the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. Success can therefore mean different things: achieving the planned jaw position, establishing a functional bite, improving chewing, maintaining skeletal stability, improving facial balance, and helping the patient achieve a better quality of life.
Current evidence generally shows favourable outcomes for appropriately selected patients, but the result depends on the type and severity of the jaw discrepancy, the surgical approach, orthodontic treatment, healing, and individual patient factors. You can explore the broader treatment options on our jaw surgery page.
Is There a Success Rate for Jaw Surgery?
Not in the same way that some medical procedures are described using a single success percentage. Orthognathic surgery treats different conditions, including underbite, overbite, open bite, facial asymmetry, and other skeletal jaw discrepancies.
The procedures can involve one jaw or both jaws, and the amount and direction of jaw movement can vary substantially. Because of these differences, researchers measure outcomes in several ways rather than using one universal definition of “success.”
These may include:
- How accurately the jaws reach their planned position
- Whether the new jaw position remains stable
- Whether the intended bite is achieved
- Improvement in chewing and other oral functions
- Improvement in facial symmetry or proportions
- Patient-reported quality of life
- Patient satisfaction
- Whether complications or further procedures occur
*AI-generated image - for illustration only. Clinical accuracy is not guaranteed.
What Does Current Evidence Say About Jaw Surgery Outcomes?
A recent systematic review published in 2026 included 65 studies involving 6,482 patients undergoing orthognathic surgery for dentofacial deformities. The review found substantial improvements in skeletal measurements, with approximately 87% of patients maintaining skeletal stability at one year or longer.
The same review reported substantial improvements in quality-of-life measures and a patient satisfaction rate of approximately 88%. However, the researchers also reported complications and relapse, demonstrating why these figures should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every patient will have the same result.
Importantly, the studies included different types of jaw deformities and surgical procedures. Individual outcomes can therefore differ considerably from the overall findings.
How Is the Success of Jaw Surgery Measured?
There are several ways to determine whether orthognathic surgery has achieved its intended result.
1. Skeletal stability
After the jaws are repositioned, one important measure of success is whether they remain close to their planned position during healing and long-term follow-up.
Some movement can occur after surgery. This is known as skeletal relapse. The amount and likelihood of relapse depend partly on the type of jaw deformity, the direction and extent of movement, surgical technique, healing, and other individual factors.
A systematic review of orthognathic surgery and relapse found that postoperative skeletal changes can occur, although the available studies varied considerably in design and quality.
2. Bite correction
Another important measure is whether the upper and lower teeth establish the intended relationship after the jaws have been repositioned.
Because the teeth may have been compensating for the original skeletal discrepancy, orthodontic treatment usually forms an important part of achieving the final bite.
A successful surgical result therefore does not necessarily mean that the treatment is complete immediately after the operation. Postoperative orthodontic refinement may still be required.
3. Functional improvement
For many patients, improving function is one of the main reasons for treatment. Depending on the original problem, this may involve improving the relationship between the teeth and jaws so that chewing and other oral functions become more effective. The degree of functional improvement varies between individuals and depends on the problem being treated.
4. Facial balance and symmetry
Because orthognathic surgery changes the position of the facial bones, it can also change facial proportions and symmetry.
For patients with skeletal facial asymmetry, systematic-review evidence has demonstrated improvements in hard- and soft-tissue symmetry following treatment, although individual outcomes and long-term stability vary.
5. Quality of life
Success is not limited to X-rays and dental measurements. Patient-reported outcomes are also important. Recent evidence has found substantial improvements in quality-of-life measures following orthognathic surgery. These improvements may reflect changes in oral function, facial appearance, social confidence, and other aspects of daily life.
What Can Affect the Success of Jaw Surgery?
Several factors can influence the final outcome. These include both characteristics that can be planned for before surgery and factors that become relevant during healing.
The type of jaw problem
An underbite, open bite, facial asymmetry, and other skeletal deformities each present different surgical challenges. The type of movement required can influence long-term stability.
The amount of jaw movement
Larger skeletal movements may have different stability considerations from smaller movements. The direction of movement is also relevant.
Orthodontic preparation
The position of the teeth before surgery can affect surgical planning. Appropriate orthodontic preparation helps coordinate the teeth with the planned skeletal correction.
Surgical planning and technique
Detailed imaging and digital planning can help the treatment team understand the three-dimensional relationship between the jaws and plan the required movements. However, technology does not eliminate biological variation or guarantee a particular outcome.
Healing and individual biology
Bone healing and soft-tissue adaptation vary between patients. General health, oral health, smoking, medications, and other individual factors can also influence recovery.
Postoperative orthodontic treatment
The final bite may require further orthodontic adjustment after surgery. Following the planned orthodontic and postoperative care can be an important part of achieving the intended result.
Does Jaw Surgery Have a High Complication Rate?
Like any major operation, orthognathic surgery carries risks. These may include bleeding, infection, altered sensation, problems with the bite, temporomandibular joint symptoms, and skeletal relapse.
A recent systematic review reported an overall complication rate of approximately 32%, but importantly, most reported complications were described as minor and self-limiting. The review also found that neurosensory changes were relatively common after surgery, particularly in procedures involving areas where important nerves are close to the surgical site, while permanent sensory changes were much less frequent.
Individual risk is not the same as the overall complication rate reported in a research study. The type of operation, patient characteristics, and definition of a complication can all affect the reported figure.
What About Numbness After Jaw Surgery?
Temporary numbness or altered sensation can occur after orthognathic surgery, particularly after procedures involving the lower jaw because important nerves run through the jaw.
Sensation often improves as the nerves recover. However, recovery is not identical for everyone, and a small proportion of patients may experience longer-lasting or permanent sensory changes.
For example, current patient guidance from an NHS specialist centre reports that temporary tingling or numbness is relatively common after lower-jaw surgery, while persistent sensory problems lasting beyond a year are uncommon.
Can the Jaw Move Back After Surgery?
Yes. This is known as relapse. Relapse does not necessarily mean that the entire surgical correction has been lost. Small postoperative changes can occur during healing without significantly affecting the overall treatment result.
The risk depends on the original deformity and the type of surgical movement. Open-bite correction, large skeletal movements, and certain other complex cases may have specific stability considerations. This is one reason why long-term follow-up is important after orthognathic surgery.
Does Jaw Surgery Improve Quality of Life?
For many appropriately selected patients, quality of life can improve after orthognathic surgery. Improvements may relate to:
- Better oral function
- Improved bite and chewing
- Facial balance and symmetry
- Greater comfort with facial appearance
- Social and emotional well-being
*AI-generated image - for illustration only. Clinical accuracy is not guaranteed.
Does Successful Jaw Surgery Mean You Will Not Need Further Treatment?
Not necessarily. Orthognathic surgery is commonly part of a broader treatment plan involving orthodontics before and after the operation. Additional orthodontic adjustments may be required to establish the final bite.
In uncommon situations, further surgical treatment may also be necessary. For example, current patient guidance notes that a small number of patients may require an additional procedure if the postoperative bite does not settle into the planned position.
Therefore, success should be considered in terms of the overall treatment journey rather than whether no further dental or surgical care is ever required.
The Bottom Line
Jaw surgery has generally favourable outcomes when it is appropriately planned and performed for a suitable skeletal jaw problem. However, there is no single success rate that applies to every orthognathic surgery.
Research suggests that many patients achieve stable skeletal correction, improved bite and function, better quality of life, and high satisfaction after treatment. At the same time, complications, sensory changes, and skeletal or dental relapse can occur.
The most useful way to think about the success of jaw surgery is therefore not as one percentage, but as whether the treatment achieves its individual goals: a stable jaw relationship, a functional bite, appropriate facial balance, and a recovery that meets the patient's needs and expectations.
