Modern Orthognathic Surgery in Private Practice: Insights from 500 Consecutive Cases.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Medicine

Background:

• Orthognathic surgery is increasingly influenced by patient aesthetic desires, particularly in private clinical settings.
• The rise of aesthetic-driven procedures necessitates an understanding of patient motivations and evolving surgical trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patient motivations, surgical protocols, and trends in orthognathic surgery within a private practice.
• To describe the shift towards aesthetic goals in orthognathic patient decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 500 orthognathic surgery patients (Jan 2020 - Apr 2025) in a private practice.
• Standardized minimally invasive orthognathic surgery (MIOS) protocol.
• Data collected via clinical interviews on primary motivation (aesthetic, breathing, occlusal).

Main Results:

• Aesthetic concerns were the primary motivation for 69.2% of patients.
• Common aesthetic concerns included chin projection (65.0%) and facial asymmetry (31.2%).
• Bimaxillary surgery with genioplasty was the most frequent procedure (61.8%); surgery-first approach used in 37.6%.

Conclusions:

• Aesthetic goals are the leading motivation for orthognathic surgery, reflecting a significant shift in patient expectations.
• Findings underscore the growing importance of facial aesthetics in modern orthognathic surgery planning.
• The study provides descriptive insights into aesthetic-focused orthognathic patient profiles in private practice.