Underbite surgery in Medellín, Colombia: what an underbite is and how jaw surgery corrects it
Maybe you notice it in photos taken from the side, or in the way your lower front teeth close in front of your upper ones. Maybe biting into a sandwich with your front teeth has never really worked, or people have pointed at your "strong jaw" since school. That has a name: an underbite. If you're reading about underbite surgery from another country, this page explains what an underbite is, where it comes from and how it's corrected, and what the process looks like if you live abroad and want to have jaw surgery in Medellín, Colombia. Calmly, and without promises.
I'm Dr. Santiago Chaves, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at 5:Cinco Face Lab, office 515, Edificio Forum (Calle 7 Sur #42-70, El Poblado, Medellín, Colombia). This is a private practice focused on orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery, and you don't need a referral. I see patients in English and Spanish. Our first conversation is to understand your case, not to sell you a procedure.
What an underbite is
An underbite is a lower jaw that sits forward relative to the upper jaw. In your bite, the lower front teeth close in front of the upper ones (an anterior crossbite) or meet them edge to edge. In your profile, the chin looks prominent and the middle of the face can look flatter.
Orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons call this a skeletal Class III relationship; you may also see the word prognathism. And here's the important part: what looks like "a big jaw" in the mirror isn't always a big jaw. It can come from:
- A large or forward lower jaw (mandibular prognathism).
- A small or set-back upper jaw, which makes a normal-sized lower jaw look forward.
- A combination of both, which is common.
Telling them apart isn't a technicality: it decides which bone moves, and how much.
Where it comes from
An underbite often runs in families, and it tends to become more noticeable during growth, especially in the teenage years. If your jaw is still changing as an adult, or your face is starting to shift to one side, don't wait to get it checked: that change is studied before any treatment is decided.
Signs worth checking
- Your lower front teeth close in front of your upper teeth, or meet them edge to edge.
- Cutting food with your front teeth is hard, or chewing takes effort.
- Some sounds are hard to pronounce.
- Your teeth show wear because of the way your bite closes.
- Discomfort or clicking in the jaw joint (TMJ), in some people.
- Your profile bothers you: a chin that juts forward, a lower lip in front of the upper lip, or a face that looks concave from the side.
Wanting to change your profile is a valid reason to ask. Behind that profile there is almost always a bite that matters too.
Why braces alone don't always fix an underbite
Braces and aligners move teeth. That's powerful, and in mild cases it can be enough: orthodontics compensates by tilting the teeth so the bite closes. But it doesn't change the size or the position of the bones. When the underbite is skeletal and the difference is larger, compensating with teeth alone can leave the base, and the profile, where they were.
Reducing the chin isn't enough either: if the lower jaw is forward or the upper jaw is back, moving only the chin doesn't correct the bite.
How it's diagnosed, even from abroad
- History and exam. What bothers you, since when, and which treatments you've had. I look at how your teeth meet, the position of your upper and lower jaws, your jaw joints, your breathing and the proportions of your face from the front and in profile. If you live abroad, this starts with a virtual consultation on Google Meet, in English or Spanish, scheduled by WhatsApp at a time that works in your time zone. Medellín is on Colombia time (COT, UTC−5), with no daylight saving changes.
- Studies that change decisions. A CT scan shows the bones in three dimensions and tells us whether the problem lies in the lower jaw, the upper jaw or both. Studies are requested; they aren't done at the office. Send me the ones you already have, even if they're a few years old. If you have at least one CT scan, I can give you a written quote after the virtual consultation; if not, I'll tell you which study is missing.
- Joint evaluation with your orthodontist. Orthodontics is part of the plan in almost all cases. It can be one of the orthodontists I work with or your own, in your city or country; the joint evaluation is non-negotiable.
- 3D virtual planning. When surgery is indicated, the movement of the bones is planned on the computer from your images, shortly before surgery, and from that plan, CAD/CAM guides and splints are designed and 3D-printed to carry the plan into surgery. Your airway is also taken into account in the planning. This is careful science applied to something very everyday: being able to bite, chew and look at your profile with ease.
How an underbite is corrected
Depending on what the diagnosis shows, orthognathic surgery can move the upper jaw forward, move the lower jaw back, or move both bones in the same procedure (bimaxillary or double jaw surgery). When indicated, it's combined with chin surgery (bony genioplasty) in the same plan. None of this is chosen from a catalog: it comes from studying your face, your bite and your breathing.
There are two protocols:
- Conventional: orthodontics, surgery, then orthodontics.
- Surgery-first: in selected cases, surgery comes first and orthodontics follows.
Which one suits you is decided in the evaluation, together with your orthodontist. The full process for patients from abroad is in orthognathic surgery in Medellín.
Orthodontics when you live abroad
You have two ways to handle orthodontics:
- With your orthodontist back home, as long as there is direct communication between your orthodontist and me. Orthodontic follow-up continues in your city or country.
- In Medellín, traveling here every 3 to 4 months, depending on the case. If you choose this option, orthodontics can be included in your quote.
Planning your trip to Medellín
Ideally, you stay in Medellín for 10 to 15 days after surgery. How long you need to be here before surgery is something we go over in your consultation, depending on your case. If you need it, my team helps with your travel logistics, and that support is included in your quote. After you fly home, follow-up continues with virtual appointments.
After surgery
We use a fast-recovery protocol to minimize discomfort, but recovery times can't be promised: every body responds differently. You receive written post-op instructions and, as an operated patient, you have a direct line to me. Time off work ranges from about one week for office work to about three months for high-impact activities such as professional sports. Read what to expect in jaw surgery recovery.
What about cost?
I don't publish prices for underbite surgery: every case is individual, and your quote is given in writing after I've evaluated your case. What it depends on, what's always included and what's paid separately is explained in orthognathic surgery cost and consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What is an underbite?
An underbite is when the lower jaw sits forward relative to the upper jaw. You see it in your bite, where the lower front teeth close in front of the upper ones or meet edge to edge, and in your profile, with a prominent chin. In orthodontics and maxillofacial surgery it's called a skeletal Class III relationship, or prognathism, and it can come from a large or forward lower jaw, a small or set-back upper jaw, or both.
Can an underbite be fixed without surgery?
It depends on how large the difference is and where it comes from. In mild cases, braces or aligners can compensate the bite by tilting the teeth, but they don't change the size or position of the bones. When the underbite is skeletal and the difference is larger, the base is corrected with jaw surgery, almost always together with orthodontics. That decision comes from an evaluation, not from a photo.
How much does underbite jaw surgery cost in Colombia?
I don't publish prices: every case is individual and no two are the same, so your quote is given in writing after I've evaluated your case. 3D virtual planning, the CAD/CAM guides and splints and all your post-op check-ups are always included, and so is help with travel logistics if you need it. To see what the quote depends on and what's paid separately, read orthognathic surgery cost and consultation.
Can I have underbite surgery in Colombia if I live abroad?
Yes. The first step is a virtual consultation on Google Meet, in English or Spanish, scheduled by WhatsApp at a time that works in your time zone. Medellín is on Colombia time (COT, UTC−5), with no daylight saving changes. If you have at least one CT scan, I can give you a written quote after that consultation, before you book any travel. Ideally, you stay in Medellín for 10 to 15 days after surgery, and if you need it, my team helps with your travel logistics and includes it in your quote.
How do I know whether it's my lower jaw or my upper jaw?
With an exam and imaging. A lower jaw that sits forward and an upper jaw that sits back can look alike in the mirror, but they're corrected differently: sometimes the upper jaw is moved forward, sometimes the lower jaw is moved back, and sometimes both are moved (bimaxillary or double jaw surgery). That's why a CT scan is studied and the surgery is planned in 3D before anything is decided.
Do I need braces, and can I keep my orthodontist back home?
In almost all cases, orthodontics is part of the plan. You can do it with your orthodontist back home, on one condition: direct communication between your orthodontist and me, because the joint evaluation is non-negotiable. If you'd rather do your orthodontics in Medellín, you travel here every 3 to 4 months, depending on the case, and orthodontics can be included in your quote. The protocol can be conventional (orthodontics, surgery, then orthodontics) or, in selected cases, surgery-first.
At what age can an underbite be corrected with surgery?
Jaw surgery is generally planned once jaw growth has finished, because the lower jaw can keep growing through the teenage years; while there is still growth, management is guided by the orthodontist. The right moment is confirmed in your evaluation. For adults there is no fixed upper age limit: what matters is your general health and whether surgery is indicated.
How much time off work should I plan for?
It depends on your job: from about one week for office work to about three months for high-impact activities such as professional sports. We use a fast-recovery protocol, but recovery times can't be promised: every body responds differently.
The first step is a conversation
If you recognize yourself in any of this, message me, wherever you are. No rush and no commitment to surgery: first we understand what's going on with your bite and your profile, then you decide. We'll set up a virtual consultation on Google Meet at a time that works for you. If you want to know who I am first, read about Dr. Santiago Chaves.
+57 324 526 8748 (messages only, no calls)
Reviewed by Dr. Santiago Chaves ·
Author and office
Dr. Santiago Chaves (Santiago Chaves Villa) · Oral and maxillofacial surgeon · DDS, Universidad de Antioquia (2009) · Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Universidad CES (2015) · High-specialty training in pediatric maxillofacial and craniofacial surgery, UAEM (Morelos, Mexico) · Postgraduate faculty at Universidad CES and Universidad de Antioquia · Practicing since 2015.
5:Cinco Face Lab · Calle 7 Sur #42-70, office 515 (Edificio Forum), El Poblado, Medellín, Colombia · WhatsApp +57 324 526 8748 (messages only)
Office hours: Mon–Thu 9am–5pm · Fri 9am–3pm
This page is for guidance and does not replace a consultation. Every case is different.
Orthognathic surgery in Medellín · Jaw surgery recovery · About Dr. Santiago Chaves · Cost and consultation · FAQ · Política de privacidad (in Spanish) · Español