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Orthognathic surgery · Medellín

Orthognathic surgery in Medellín, Colombia, for patients from abroad

Orthognathic (jaw) surgery repositions the upper jaw, the lower jaw or both (bimaxillary surgery) when the bite or the facial profile comes from the bones and orthodontics alone isn't enough. In Medellín, Colombia, it is performed by Dr. Santiago Chaves, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and craniofacial subspecialist at 5:Cinco Face Lab, office 515, Edificio Forum (Calle 7 Sur #42-70, El Poblado). If you live abroad, the first step is a virtual consultation on Google Meet, in English or Spanish, and ideally you stay in Medellín for at least 10 to 15 days after surgery.

I'm Santiago. Traveling for surgery adds questions: how long to stay, what happens with your orthodontist back home, who looks after you once you fly back. My job is to make the path clear before you travel, so you never feel alone at any stage.

When orthognathic surgery is indicated

It is considered when the problem lies in the position or size of the bones, not only in the teeth. Some signs:

• Your bite doesn't fit even after orthodontics, or your orthodontist told you braces alone won't be enough.
• The lower jaw sits too far forward (underbite) or too far back, or there is an open bite or crossbite of skeletal origin.
• Facial asymmetry: the chin or the smile deviates to one side. If the asymmetry is changing, for example because of condylar hyperplasia, don't wait to get it checked.
• Snoring or sleep apnea related to the jaws. In selected cases, maxillomandibular advancement is an option; if it is indicated, I order the sleep study, or it can be ordered by another specialist.
• Chewing is hard or closing your lips takes effort, or your profile keeps bothering you.

Not every mismatch needs surgery. If orthodontics can solve your case, or you don't need treatment at all, I'll tell you clearly. When indicated, I combine jaw surgery with bony genioplasty (chin surgery) in a single plan.

How it works if you come from abroad

Before: from home

1. Message me on WhatsApp and send the studies you already have. No referral is needed.
2. Virtual consultation on Google Meet, in English or Spanish. We schedule it by WhatsApp, taking your time zone into account. Medellín is on Colombia time (COT, UTC−5), with no daylight saving changes. We talk about your bite, your face and what worries you, and I tell you which studies are missing, if any; they are taken outside the office. As soon as possible after the consultation, you receive a written summary of the plan.
3. Joint evaluation with your orthodontist. It can be one of the orthodontists I work with or your own, in your city or country, on one condition: direct communication between your orthodontist and me. The joint evaluation is non-negotiable.
4. Orthodontics according to the protocol, with virtual pre-surgical appointments: conventional (orthodontics, surgery, then orthodontics) or, in selected cases, surgery-first. You can do your orthodontics with your orthodontist at home; if you prefer to do it in Medellín, I also manage cases where the patient travels here every 3 to 4 months, depending on the case.
5. Travel logistics. If you need it, my team helps with your travel logistics and includes it in your quote.

In Medellín

6. 3D virtual planning, shortly before surgery. I don't do it at the first visit: when there is orthodontics beforehand, it changes the position of the teeth and an early plan would become outdated. From that plan, cutting guides and splints are designed and 3D-printed (CAD/CAM) to carry the plan into the operating room. It is an area I love; I also advise other surgeons on surgical planning.
7. Surgery and the first days. Although recovery times can't be promised, we use a fast-recovery protocol to minimize discomfort and help you get back to normal life sooner. You receive written post-op instructions and have a direct line to me. Ideally, stay in Medellín for at least 10 to 15 days after surgery.

Back home

8. Follow-up from a distance. Virtual post-op appointments, check-ups that are more frequent at first and become more spaced out as you recover and get back to your life and, in almost all cases, orthodontics to finish adjusting the bite. That orthodontic follow-up can continue with your orthodontist in your city or country, as long as there is direct communication between the two of us.

Recovery, without promises

• Time off work: from about one week for office work to about three months for high-impact activities such as professional soccer or boxing.
• Food: I explain your diet in detail at the consultation, because it depends on your surgery.
• Driving, flying or non-professional exercise: decided at the consultation, because every case is individual.

More on recovery: jaw surgery recovery: what to expect. In Spanish: cirugía ortognática en Medellín and pacientes de otras ciudades y países.

Who will treat you

My training: DDS, Universidad de Antioquia (2009); Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Universidad CES (2015); and High-specialty training in pediatric maxillofacial and craniofacial surgery, UAEM (Morelos, Mexico). I have been practicing since 2015 and I am postgraduate faculty at Universidad CES and Universidad de Antioquia. More about Dr. Santiago Chaves.

Cost and consultation: how to get a written quote from abroad

Frequently asked questions

Let's start with a conversation

If your bite or your profile has you wondering, message me without pressure, wherever you are. We'll set up a virtual consultation and see together whether this path is right for you.

Message me on WhatsApp

+57 324 526 8748 (messages only, no calls)

Reviewed by Dr. Santiago Chaves · October 3, 2026