Procedures

Double Jaw Surgery in Korea (Orthognathic Surgery): What It Is, Who Needs It, Recovery and How Long to Stay

October 23, 20269 min read

What double jaw surgery (양악수술) actually changes, who it's for, how it differs from V-line contouring, the braces you'll need before or after, a realistic recovery timeline, how long to stay in Seoul, and what to ask the surgeon.

Can a foreigner get double jaw surgery in Korea, and how long do you need to stay? Yes. Double jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery, 양악수술) moves both the upper and lower jaw to correct how your teeth meet and how your face is balanced, and Seoul has many surgeons who do it routinely. Plan on a stay measured in weeks, not days, and on orthodontic treatment before or after surgery that someone will need to continue once you're home.

We're Korean–English medical interpreters and a foreign patient facilitator registered with the Korean government, and we sit in on jaw surgery consultations and check-ups. This guide is general information. Your surgeon and orthodontist are the ones who decide what's right for your face and bite.

What is double jaw surgery?

It's an operation that cuts and repositions both jaws, then fixes them in their new place with small plates and screws. The goal is a bite that works and a face that's in proportion.

Upper jaw: usually a Le Fort I osteotomy. The upper jaw is moved forward, back, up, down or tilted.
Lower jaw: usually a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). The lower jaw is moved forward or back, or rotated to correct asymmetry.
Often combined with: a genioplasty (chin bone surgery) to fine-tune the chin.
The cuts are normally made inside the mouth, so there are usually no visible scars on the face.

Who is double jaw surgery for?

It's mainly for people whose jaws are out of position at the skeletal level, where braces alone can't fix the bite. Common reasons we hear in consultations:

Underbite (lower jaw sitting in front of the upper jaw, 주걱턱).
Severe overbite or a receding lower jaw (무턱).
Open bite: front teeth that don't meet when you close.
Facial asymmetry where the jaw or chin is shifted to one side (안면비대칭).
A long face or gummy smile caused by the upper jaw sitting too low.
Problems chewing, jaw pain, or speech issues linked to the bite.

In Korea some patients come mainly for how their face looks. Even then, a good surgeon plans the operation around your bite, because moving the jaws changes how your teeth meet for life.

Is double jaw surgery the same as V-line surgery?

No. V-line surgery shaves and reshapes the jawline and chin to slim the face without changing the bite. Double jaw surgery moves the jaws themselves, and with them the teeth.

If your bite is fine and you mainly want a slimmer lower face, V-line contouring may be what you're asking about. If your teeth don't meet properly or your face is clearly asymmetric, jaw surgery is usually the conversation. Some patients have both, at the same time or in stages. See our V-line surgery guide for the contouring side.

Do I need braces before or after double jaw surgery?

Almost always, yes. The question is when. There are two main approaches:

Conventional (orthodontics first): you wear braces for a period before surgery so the teeth are lined up for the new jaw position, have surgery, then finish with more orthodontics afterwards.
Surgery-first (선수술): surgery is done early, and most of the orthodontic work happens after. Many Korean clinics offer this. It suits some bites better than others, so ask whether you're a good candidate.
Either way, expect orthodontic treatment after surgery, often for many months. Ask your surgeon how long they expect in your case.

What happens at the consultation?

Jaw surgery consultations are more technical than most cosmetic ones. Expect:

A face and bite exam, with photos.
Imaging: usually X-rays and a 3D CT scan of the face, sometimes dental scans or impressions.
A treatment plan covering which jaw(s) move, in which direction, whether a chin procedure is added, and conventional vs surgery-first.
A separate talk with the orthodontist, at clinics that have one in-house.
Pre-op tests before the surgery date (see tests before plastic surgery in Korea).

Bring your previous dental X-rays, any orthodontic records, and a list of medicines. If you've had braces or jaw treatment before, say so early.

What is recovery like after double jaw surgery?

Recovery is gradual. Swelling peaks in the first few days, the jaw bones take weeks to heal, and nerve feeling can take months. A rough, general timeline (your surgeon's plan comes first):

Days 1–3: general anaesthesia, then usually a few nights in hospital. Heavy swelling, a blocked-up nose, drooling and difficulty talking are normal.
Week 1: liquid diet through a syringe or cup, frequent mouth rinsing, cold compresses. Many clinics use a splint and elastics on the teeth to guide the bite.
Weeks 2–3: swelling falls noticeably. Speaking gets easier. Stitches inside the mouth usually dissolve or are checked.
Weeks 3–6: moving from liquids to soft foods, as your surgeon allows. Many people return to desk work in this window.
Months 2–6+: remaining swelling settles and the final face shape shows. Orthodontic work continues.

Numbness of the lower lip and chin is expected after lower jaw surgery, because a sensory nerve runs through the bone that's cut. Feeling usually returns slowly over months. For some patients a degree of change is permanent. Ask the surgeon how often they see this.

What are the main risks?

This is major bone surgery, so take the risks seriously and talk them through with your surgeon. The ones usually discussed are:

Nerve numbness or altered sensation in the lip and chin.
Bleeding, and swelling that affects breathing in the first hours. This is one reason you stay in hospital.
Infection, or problems with plates and screws (sometimes removed later).
A bite that needs further adjustment, or some relapse over time.
Asymmetry or an appearance you didn't expect.

Ask who performs the surgery, who handles anaesthesia, and where you'll recover overnight. Our guide to checking a Korean surgeon's credentials explains what to look for.

How long should I stay in Korea for double jaw surgery?

Plan for at least 2–3 weeks in Seoul, and ask your surgeon whether they want longer. That usually covers the consultation and tests, surgery, the hospital stay, early check-ups and the first adjustments to your bite.

Arrive 1–3 days before surgery for the consultation, CT and pre-op tests. Some patients do a video consultation first (see video consultations).
Ask when it's safe to fly home and what the clinic needs to see before you go, such as stable swelling and a checked bite.
Ask about follow-up: how often they want to see you in the first year, and what can be done by video or by your local orthodontist.
Check your entry rules: most visa-free stays easily cover this. If your passport needs a visa, see our guide to the C-3-3 medical visa and K-ETA.

Food matters more than people expect. Book somewhere with a fridge and a blender, or close to a convenience store, because you'll be on liquids and soft food for a while.

Questions to ask a jaw surgeon in Seoul

Do I need one jaw or both? Would a chin procedure alone, or V-line contouring, be enough?
Conventional or surgery-first in my case, and why?
How long will I need braces after surgery, and can my home orthodontist take over?
How many nights in hospital, and who is monitoring me overnight?
What do you expect with lip and chin numbness for my operation?
When can I fly, and what follow-up do you need over the next year?
Will the plates and screws stay in, or might they need removing?

A Korean–English interpreter is useful here. Jaw surgery plans involve a lot of technical terms, and you'll want to understand the movement plan exactly. See what to ask at a Korean plastic surgery consultation.

How we can help

SeoulBeautyTalk is a registered foreign patient facilitator in Seoul (no. A-2026-08-02-07352) offering a free medical tourism concierge and medical interpreters at 70,000 KRW per hour (2-hour minimum, billed in full hours).

Our free medical tourism concierge helps you plan a jaw surgery trip from start to finish: matching you with registered clinics, booking consultations in Korean, planning how long to stay, sorting out records for your home orthodontist, and checking in during aftercare. Clinics pay us a facilitator fee, so the concierge costs you nothing.

If you'd like a Korean–English interpreter at consultations, the surgery day or follow-ups, our plastic surgery interpreters charge 70,000 KRW per hour with a 2-hour minimum per day, billed in full hours only (no half-hour rates). Already chosen a clinic we don't work with? We can book it for you or check the clinic and surgeon.

Frequently asked questions

Is double jaw surgery done under general anaesthesia?

Yes. It's done under general anaesthesia and is usually followed by a hospital stay of a few nights. Ask your clinic exactly how long.

Will I have scars on my face?

Usually not. The cuts are normally made inside the mouth. Confirm this with your surgeon, especially if other procedures are being added.

Can I do the braces in my home country?

Often, yes, but only if a local orthodontist agrees to follow the Korean surgeon's plan. Arrange this before surgery, not after.

How long until I can eat normally?

Most patients are on liquids for the first weeks and soft food after that. Normal chewing returns gradually over several weeks to months. Follow your surgeon's diet plan.

Is double jaw surgery the same as 양악수술?

Yes. 양악수술 (yang-ak susul) is the Korean term for double jaw surgery. 양악 means both jaws, and 수술 means surgery.