Jaw Surgery in Turkey
Orthognathic jaw surgery in Turkey corrects real bite and facial imbalance — major surgery, not a quick cosmetic fix.
- Typical package price in Turkey (2026)
- €4,000 – €9,000
- Time in Turkey
- At least 5–8 days
Indicative range from published package prices; your written quote depends on your case. · Updated:
Full specialty guide
At a glance
- Typical package price in Turkey (2026)
- €4,000 – €9,000
- Procedure time
- About 1–4 hours
- Anaesthesia
- General anaesthesia
- Hospital stay
- 1–3 nights
- Time in Turkey
- At least 5–8 days
- Recovery
- Back to work in about 3 weeks
- Final result
- Final result in 6–12 months
Jaw correction, or orthognathic surgery, realigns the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both to fix a bite that braces alone cannot correct. Unlike the cosmetic treatments elsewhere on this site, this is genuine maxillofacial surgery — performed in a hospital, under general anaesthetic, by a specialist surgeon. It can be transformative for function and facial balance, but it is a serious medical undertaking that deserves the fullest honesty about what it involves.
What orthognathic surgery is
The surgery repositions the jaw bones and fixes them in their new place with small titanium plates and screws, working from inside the mouth so there are usually no external scars. It is used for significant underbites, overbites, open bites, facial asymmetry, and jaw problems that affect chewing, speech, or breathing. Crucially, it is almost always part of a combined plan with orthodontics — braces before and after surgery — that spans many months.
The main types of jaw surgery
| Procedure | What it treats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Upper jaw (Le Fort I) | Overbite, open bite, midface issues | Repositions the upper jaw |
| Lower jaw (BSSO) | Underbite, receding chin, protrusion | Repositions the lower jaw |
| Bimaxillary (double jaw) | Complex or combined imbalance | Both jaws in one operation |
| Genioplasty | Chin shape and projection | Often added to refine the profile |
The surgeon selects the approach from 3D imaging and a combined orthodontic plan.
Who is a suitable candidate
- People with a skeletal jaw discrepancy that braces alone cannot fix
- Those with functional problems — difficulty chewing, biting, speaking, or breathing
- Patients who have finished facial growth (usually late teens onward)
- People in good general health, fit for general anaesthesia
- Those prepared for a months-long process of pre- and post-surgical orthodontics
How the treatment works, step by step
Pre-surgical orthodontics
Braces align the teeth over roughly 6–18 months before surgery, often done closer to home.
Planning and imaging
3D scans and surgical simulation map exactly how the jaws will be repositioned.
The operation
Under general anaesthetic in hospital, the jaw is cut, moved, and fixed with plates and screws from inside the mouth.
Hospital stay
You stay in hospital for 1–3 nights for monitoring, pain control, and early recovery.
Post-surgical orthodontics
Braces continue to fine-tune the bite for months after surgery until the result is settled.
Recovery — the honest picture
Days 1–3
Hospital and immediate recovery
Significant swelling, bruising, and a liquid-only diet. Numbness of the lips and chin is expected.
Week 1–2
Early healing
Swelling peaks then eases. You remain on soft or liquid foods and rest; this is not a sightseeing trip.
Week 6
Bone stabilising
Jaw bones knit; most people return to normal activities, though chewing is still building back.
Months 3–12
Full recovery
Swelling fully resolves and any temporary numbness gradually improves — though some can be long-lasting.
Results and how long they last
When planned and performed well, orthognathic surgery gives a long-term correction of the bite and a lasting improvement in facial balance, chewing, and often breathing. The bones heal in their new position, although a small degree of relapse is possible depending on the type of jaw movement. The trade-off is the intensity of the journey: this is not cosmetic tweaking but reconstructive surgery, and the result depends on both a skilled surgeon and disciplined orthodontic follow-up.
Cost in Turkey and what's included
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Single-jaw surgery | €4,000–€6,000 |
| Double-jaw (bimaxillary) surgery | €6,000–€9,000 |
| Genioplasty (chin), added | €1,000–€2,000 |
| Hospital, anaesthesia, plates/screws | Usually included — confirm |
| Orthodontics (before and after) | Usually separate — budget for it |
Turkey is cheaper because of lower hospital, surgical, and living costs, not lower standards — but confirm exactly what the quote covers.
€4,000
From, single-jaw surgery
1–3 nights
Typical hospital stay
5–8 days
Minimum stay in Turkey
Choosing a clinic safely
- Confirm the surgeon is a qualified maxillofacial specialist, not a general dentist
- Check the operation is done in a licensed hospital with proper anaesthesia and intensive-care backup
- Ask exactly what the quote includes and, crucially, who manages the orthodontics and complications
- Insist on a clear plan for post-operative follow-up once you return home
- Be wary of any clinic offering surgery without a full pre-surgical orthodontic phase or 3D planning
This is major surgery with real risks — treat it that way
Orthognathic surgery carries genuine risks including infection, bleeding, and temporary or occasionally permanent numbness of the lip and chin from nerve involvement. Recovery abroad is demanding, and managing complications from another country is hard. Never choose a provider on price alone, and be extremely cautious of anyone presenting jaw surgery as a fast cosmetic procedure rather than the serious hospital operation it is.
Medical disclaimer
This page is general information, not personal medical advice. Whether orthognathic surgery is appropriate for you can only be decided by a maxillofacial surgeon and orthodontist after full clinical examination, imaging, and assessment of your general health.
Jaw surgery is life-changing when it is genuinely needed and properly planned — but it is real surgery, not a cosmetic shortcut. The right decision is built on a specialist team, honest risk discussion, and a follow-up plan you can actually keep.
— WhichClinic Editorial Team
Clinics offering Jaw Surgery in Istanbul
Stars are Google ratings (third-party data), not WhichClinic reviews. Listings are compiled from public business data. Confirm that the clinic performs this procedure when you request a quote.
- 15.0 (4,201)
Zeytinburnu, Istanbul
- 25.0 (3,423)
Başakşehir, Istanbul
- 35.0 (1,451)
Beyoğlu, Istanbul
- 45.0 (1,174)
Şişli, Istanbul
- 55.0 (1,125)
Bahçelievler, Istanbul
- 65.0 (1,040)
Üsküdar, Istanbul
- 75.0 (1,039)
Fatih, Istanbul
- 8 5.0 (792)
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Frequently asked questions
In the hands of a qualified maxillofacial surgeon in a proper hospital, it is a well-established and generally safe operation. That said, it is major surgery under general anaesthetic and carries real risks such as infection, bleeding, and nerve-related numbness. Choosing an accredited hospital and specialist surgeon is the key safety factor.
The surgery itself is one operation, but the full journey usually spans well over a year because it combines braces before and after the surgery. In Turkey, you would stay at least 5–8 days around the operation, with pre- and post-surgical orthodontics managed over many months.
You feel nothing during surgery under general anaesthetic. Afterwards, discomfort is usually described as manageable with medication, more like heavy pressure and swelling than sharp pain. Numbness of the lips and chin is common early on and can mask pain in the first weeks.
Most surgeons advise waiting at least 5–8 days after the operation before flying, once initial swelling and any bleeding risk have settled. Always follow your surgeon's specific clearance, as flying too soon after major surgery is not advisable.
Largely, yes: once the jaw bones heal in their new position the correction generally holds, although a small degree of relapse is possible depending on the type of jaw movement. Long-term stability depends on completing the post-surgical orthodontics and wearing retainers as instructed.
The main reason is cost, as the same specialist surgery is often far cheaper than in the UK or Western Europe. However, because this is major surgery needing months of follow-up, weigh the saving carefully against the challenge of managing recovery and orthodontics from abroad.
Sources
Medical background was checked against these references. This guide is educational and does not replace a consultation with a qualified doctor.
- Cleveland Clinic — Jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Orthognathic surgery
- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons — Lower jaw (mandibular) osteotomy
- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons — Upper jaw (maxillary) osteotomy
- Clinical Oral Investigations (PMC) — Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative complications in orthognathic surgery: a systematic review
- BMC Oral Health (PMC) — Relapse in class II orthognathic surgery: a systematic review