Covington Hammond 
Published May 8, 2026
5 minute read
The short answer is: Yes. In fact, it's virtually impossible for it not to.
When people ask, "Does jaw surgery change your face shape?" they usually have one of two reactions. Half the people are excited because they’ve spent years hiding their profile. The other half are terrified they’ll wake up looking like a complete stranger.
At our offices in Mandeville and Hammond, I tell my patients that jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) is a bit like dealing with a high-end canvas. Your jaw is the wooden frame, the canvas is stretched over. If the frame is rebuilt, the canvas is going to fit differently than it did originally.
The jaw plays a major role in your facial structure. If your upper and lower jaws don't line up, your face is physically forced into "compensation mode." For example, if you have a severe open bite or an underbite, your lips might never fully close, or your chin might look like it’s trying to escape your face.
Corrective jaw surgery is designed to fix problems with jaw function, like difficulty chewing or jaw joint pain caused by TMJ disorders. But while we're focused on making sure your teeth fit together and you can eat a po-boy without pain, the side effect is a pretty noticeable shift in facial appearance.
By performing a maxillary osteotomy (moving the upper jaw) or a mandibular osteotomy (moving the lower jaw), we are restoring balance. When the bone moves, the lower face follows. You might notice an improved jawline definition or a more sculpted jawline simply because your skeleton is finally where it belongs.
Upper jaw surgery is one of the most transformative types of maxillofacial surgery. If you feel like you show too much gum when you laugh, it’s usually because your upper jaw is vertically too long.
During the surgery, your oral surgeon repositions the upper jaw upward. This immediately changes the facial harmony of your mid-face. It shortens the distance between your nose and your lip, making your overall harmony feel more intentional. Many patients find that their nose even looks slightly different after upper jaw surgery because the base of the nose sits on that bone structure.
Sometimes, the lower jaw is the right length, but the chin itself is recessed. In these cases, we might perform a genioplasty, or chin surgery. By sliding the chin bone forward or backward, we can drastically improve chin projection.
This isn't just for facial aesthetics. If a recessed lower jaw is causing obstructive sleep apnea because it’s crowding your airway, moving that bone forward is a life-saving move. You’ll wake up with a refined appearance and the ability to actually breathe through the night. Patients frequently report that the boost in self-esteem is just as important as the medical treatment plan.
"I always tell my patients to have realistic expectations. Nobody has a perfectly symmetrical face, not even supermodels. If we’re treating facial asymmetry caused by a broken jaw or birth defects, our goal is improved facial symmetry, not computer-generated perfection. We use CT scans to plan every millimeter of the jaw surgery change, but we always work with your natural features. We want your friends to say you look 'rested' or 'healthy,' not that you look like a different person."
— Dr. Brandner
While the cosmetic improvements are great, we can't forget why we’re doing this in the first place. A jaw misalignment causes excessive wear on your teeth and chronic strain on the temporomandibular joint.
If you’ve been living with TMJ surgery as a potential future or struggling with speech clarity because your upper teeth don't meet your lower ones, jaw surgery is the fix. It solves the jaw problems that cause long-term damage. Most patients find that once the jaw function is restored, the facial balance just feels right. It’s about both function and form working together.
I have to be honest: you won't see much of a refined appearance on day one. Right after orthognathic surgery, you’re going to be swollen. For about two weeks, your face shape will look like you’re hiding acorns in your cheeks. This is the part of the surgery change that requires patience.
As the swelling goes down over the next few months, your "new" facial structure will slowly emerge. You’ll see the jawline definition sharpen. You’ll notice the facial symmetry is better than it’s ever been. It’s a slow-motion reveal of a balanced profile.
If you’ve spent years dealing with an open bite, facial injuries, or the frustration of a jaw that just doesn't work, it’s worth looking into potential outcomes. Jaw surgery is a significant commitment, but it’s one of the few procedures that can simultaneously improve facial harmony and fix chronic health issues like obstructive sleep apnea.
Whether we’re using bone grafts to rebuild or simply shifting the jaw position, our goal is to give you a result that looks as good as it functions. You deserve a face that feels like yours, just better.
