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All surgeries that alter the lines and contours of facial skeletons fall under the category of "facial bone shaping surgery." Compared to Westerners, the skull and facial bone structure of Asian ethnic groups typically features a shorter anterior-posterior diameter and a wider left-right diameter. As a result, over 90% of facial bone shaping procedures involve "bone cutting surgery" to reduce the transverse diameter, or width. Among these, shaping the cheekbones and jawbones—specifically, shrinking the cheekbones and jawbones—is the most common.
"Facial bone shaping surgery" is a broader term encompassing these procedures.
This includes jawbone constriction and jaw osteotomy prolongation surgeries.
The goal of achieving an appealing facial contour isn't about minimizing the horizontal diameter of the facial bones as much as possible. Instead, it involves considering the overall skeletal proportions, assessing soft tissue conditions, and selecting appropriate surgical or non-surgical options.
Facial bone shaping surgery modifies only the outline and appearance of the facial skeleton without affecting the bite. Orthognathic surgery often alters the bite and changes the profile of the lower jaw skeleton.
Since facial bone shaping surgery doesn't improve the bite, it's not suitable for cases with obvious abnormalities in bite, lips, or teeth alignment.
Preoperative preparation for facial bone shaping surgery may not require dental impressions or occlusal planning; however, other preoperative and postoperative precautions are generally similar.
Yes, it can.
In modern orthognathic surgery planning, optimizing jawbone contours is a standard step. For cases involving asymmetric zygomatic bones or overly wide zygomatic bones, this can be done concurrently with orthognathic surgery.