How much does jaw surgery cost in Tunisia?
The cost of jaw surgery in Tunisia ranges from £2,150 to £4,150, compared with £9,500 to £15,500 in the UK. This all-inclusive price covers general anaesthesia, the operation itself and your stay. The procedure takes 2 to 4 hours, with 2 nights in hospital included at a specialist clinic.
📊 Price table 2026
| Type of procedure | Price in Tunisia | Price in the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Single jaw surgery | £2,150 - £2,750 | £12,500 - £18,000 |
| Double jaw surgery | £3,250 - £4,150 | £18,000 - £26,000 |
| Genioplasty (chin) | £1,400 - £2,400 | £6,000 - £9,000 |
| Double jaw + genioplasty | £3,900 - £5,200 | £22,000 - £30,000 |
Private jaw surgery in the UK is priced per procedure, so it is worth asking your surgeon to check what your NHS trust may offer in your own situation before you commit.
What is jaw surgery?
Jaw surgery in Tunisia is mainly used to correct irregularities in the jawbone and to treat conditions such as a skeletal overbite. The operation realigns the jaw and the teeth to improve both their appearance and how they work.
It is often used in the most severe cases of misalignment, where orthodontic treatment alone cannot solve the problem.
Maxillofacial surgery or orthognathic surgery: what is the difference?
Maxillofacial surgery covers every operation on the face and jaws, trauma and tumours included. Orthognathic surgery is only one branch of it: it repositions the jaws to correct a skeletal malocclusion. This page sets out the prices.
The price depends on the procedure, not on the speciality: a genioplasty on its own does not cost the same as double jaw surgery, and the same operation can be compared from one country to another, including Turkey.
Jaw surgery, or orthognathic treatment, is a treatment option for severe jaw deformities in adults that cannot be corrected with braces alone.
Treatment in Tunisia involves a phase with fixed braces, followed by jaw surgery while the braces are still in place. Then a short phase of wearing those fixed braces to fine-tune the bite.
Jaw surgery is needed to put the jaws back into a correct position so that the teeth can meet and be corrected easily with braces. The operation may involve one jaw or both, depending on how difficult the deformity is and what is causing it. That decision is made by your orthodontist and the surgeon before or during treatment.
The results: jaw surgery can:
- Improve how well the bite lines up
- Make chewing and eating easier
- Correct problems with speech and swallowing
- Prevent excessive wear and grinding of the teeth, protecting the enamel and the teeth from damage.
- Correct problems with how the jaw closes
- Realign your jaw to suit the balance and symmetry of your face, resolving issues such as overbites, crossbites, underbites, open bites and a small chin.
- Let the lips close comfortably
- Ease the pain caused by a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
THE RISKS OF DELAYING ORTHOGNATHIC TREATMENT
Patients often ask whether the procedure is necessary, and the choice, as always, is yours.
All we can do is warn you about the possible consequences of leaving your jaw misaligned.
If you ignore it, you may develop TMJ pain and dysfunction, along with facial pain.
Frequently asked questions
Is jaw surgery a major operation?
The procedure is considered safe for fit and healthy candidates. But it is worth keeping in mind that it is serious surgery, which may involve a two-night stay in hospital.
Is it painful?
The operation is carried out under general anaesthesia. Afterwards, the pain is managed with painkillers, but it is mainly the swelling and the difficulty opening your mouth that cause trouble in the first few weeks. Your diet stays soft during that period.
How long does it take to recover from jaw surgery?
The healing period can last around six weeks after the operation, but full recovery can take up to 12 weeks. At around the sixth week, your orthodontist will review you and finish the alignment with braces. Depending on the type of brace system chosen, this can take months, or even years.
Are there risks associated with jaw surgery?
The main one is altered sensation in the lip and chin, recorded just after the operation in 93.5% of patients in a series of 891 cases[1]. Double jaw surgery triples that risk compared with the upper jaw alone[2].
How does the surgery work?
The operation can be performed either on the upper jaw (maxillary osteotomy) or on the lower jaw (mandibular osteotomy). Upper jaw surgery is used to treat open bites, crossbites and protruding upper jaws. Lower jaw surgery corrects receding and protruding lower jaws.
What to avoid after the operation
Once the operation is over, your doctor and dentist will give you specific instructions for aftercare. The general points to know are: watch what you eat, keep up your oral hygiene and avoid tobacco.
Sources & References
- Damrongsirirat N, Kaboosaya B, Siriwatana K, Subbalekha K, Jansisyanont P, Pimkhaokham A. Complications related to orthognathic surgery: a 10-year experience in oral and maxillofacial training center. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, 2021. Read the source
- Pekkari C, Kruger Weiner C, Salinas Fredricson A, Lund B, Marcusson A, Naimi‑Akbar A. Factors associated with postoperative complications after orthognathic surgery, a National Swedish register‑based cohort study. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2025. Read the source
