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Maxillofacial Surgery in Argentina: Jaw Surgery, Braces, and Recovery
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Corrective jaw surgery in Argentina is done by oral and maxillofacial surgeons who train in specialist programs in Buenos Aires and Córdoba.
Double jaw surgery costs USD 24,200 in surgeon and anesthesia fees at one Seattle practice (April 2026). Braces start at home 18 to 24 months before the operation in Buenos Aires or Córdoba.
Medical Tourism Packages (MTP) coordinates corrective jaw surgery around your orthodontist’s schedule. Our coordinators work with you and your surgeon’s team in English and Spanish.
What Is Corrective Jaw Surgery, and Why Do US Patients Choose Argentina?
Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) moves one or both jaws into a better position. Argentina offers specialist-trained surgeons and coordination in English and Spanish. Surgeons pair the operation with braces when teeth cannot be straightened without moving the jaws. Corrective jaw surgery treats bite problems such as an underbite or overbite, trouble chewing, and sleep apnea linked to jaw structure.
- Specialist training: the city of Buenos Aires runs a three-year residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Each trainee performs major surgery on at least 75 patients, including at least 10 jaw corrections. The University of Buenos Aires specialization takes at least 48 months (4 years). The National University of Córdoba also trains oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
- Specialist title: the Argentine Dental Association (AOA) awards a specialist title in oral and maxillofacial surgery to members who pass a written and an oral exam. Candidates need 5 years since graduation, 3 of them in the specialty.
Our guide to jaw surgery abroad compares countries.
How Much Does Jaw Surgery Cost in Argentina Compared With the US?
Jaw surgery in Argentina is priced in a written quote after the surgeon reviews your records and imaging. In the US, one Seattle practice charges from USD 10,600 for one jaw to USD 24,200 for both (April 2026).
| Operation | Surgeon and anesthesia fees | Hospital cash price |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina, any operation | Quoted after your records and imaging are reviewed | Listed in your written quote |
| US, upper jaw (April 2026) | USD 13,300 | USD 15,500 |
| US, lower jaw (April 2026) | USD 10,600 | USD 13,600 |
| US, double jaw (April 2026) | USD 24,200 | USD 26,400 |
The practice’s fees include 90 days of aftercare. Planning (visits, 3D planning, and splints) costs a separate USD 5,100. The hospital cash price may not include every hospital charge. A self-pay patient in the US pays USD 20,000 to 40,000 or more in total, braces included, according to a US orthodontic practice (July 2025).
What Should Your Written Quote for Jaw Surgery List?
Your quote should name each charge separately, so you can compare it line by line with a US bill. These lines matter most:
- Surgical team and stay: the surgeon, the anesthesia team, the operating room, and the nights in the hospital.
- Hardware: the titanium plates and screws, listed as a line of their own.
- Planning: virtual planning and surgical splints, which the Seattle practice bills separately.
- Imaging: dental X-rays and a CBCT scan (a 3D X-ray of the jaws).
- Currency and expiry: the currency of the price and the last day it holds.
- Orthodontics: your orthodontist at home fits and adjusts your braces, so confirm the quote leaves them out.
Does Insurance Cover Jaw Surgery in Argentina, and How Do You Pay?
Coverage for jaw surgery in Argentina depends on your plan, and Medicare does not apply overseas. Most clinics take a credit card or a wire transfer, and your written quote confirms the methods and the deposit. Get your insurer’s answer in writing before you book. Some US plans cover jaw surgery at home when a doctor documents a functional problem, such as a severe bite mismatch or sleep apnea. Other plans exclude it.
Which Jaw Operations Can You Have in Argentina?
You can have upper jaw surgery (Le Fort I), lower jaw surgery (bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, or BSSO), or double jaw surgery in Argentina. Surgeons work from inside the mouth, so most operations leave no facial scar. Small titanium plates and screws hold the bones, and they usually stay for life. Your surgeon chooses between single and double jaw surgery after reviewing your X-rays, CBCT scan, and your orthodontist’s plan. For dental implants and bone grafts, see our guide to dental implants in Argentina.
Is 3D Surgical Planning Available in Argentina?
Yes. Argentina offers 3D virtual planning, and the third year of the Buenos Aires residency includes a course in it. A 2020 review of 12 studies found virtual planning accurate to under 2 mm on average in both jaws.
Can Jaw Surgery in Argentina Treat TMJ Pain?
Jaw surgery is not the first treatment for most pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). An Argentine surgeon can assess whether it fits your case. US guidance advises trying treatments that leave the joint intact first, because open joint surgery changes the joint permanently.
Why Do You Need an Orthodontist at Home for Jaw Surgery in Argentina?
You need an orthodontist at home because braces go on 18 to 24 months before surgery. Braces need adjusting every 6 to 8 weeks, so your own orthodontist handles them at home. You travel to Argentina once, for the surgery.
| Recovery stage | Where | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Braces before surgery | At home | 18 to 24 months |
| Surgery and first recovery weeks | Argentina | Varies by patient |
| Braces after surgery | At home | 3 to 12 months |
| Retainers | At home | Long term |
- Wisdom teeth: a badly placed tooth may come out at a separate operation before jaw surgery.
- Surgery first: some Argentine surgeons offer surgery before braces to patients whose teeth are already well aligned.
- Sharing the plan: MTP sends the surgeon’s plan to your orthodontist, and your orthodontist tells us when your teeth are ready.
How Long Is the Hospital Stay and Recovery After Jaw Surgery?
Most patients spend one to three nights in the hospital after jaw surgery. Most return to work within 2 to 6 weeks, and the jaw bones are almost healed within 2 to 3 months.
| When | What changes |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Liquid diet |
| Week 2 | Food you can mash with a fork |
| About 2 weeks | Most swelling gone |
| Weeks 3 to 8 | Light chewing |
Very hard or chewy foods stay off the menu for 3 months, and most patients lose 7 to 14 lb and regain it fairly quickly. Wiring the jaws shut is very rare after planned surgery.
How Long Do You Stay in Argentina, and When Can You Fly Home?
Your stay in Argentina lasts until your surgeon clears you in writing to fly, and MTP books lodging near the hospital around that date. The titanium plates and screws in your jaw do not set off airport metal detectors.
What Does a Jaw Surgery Trip to Argentina Include?
A jaw surgery trip to Argentina runs from a records review to follow-up at home:
- Send your records: your orthodontist’s records, dental X-rays, a CBCT scan, and photos of your face and bite.
- Consult the surgeon: the Argentine surgeon studies your scans and answers your questions before you commit.
- Review the written quote: check it against the list above.
- Check credentials: confirm the surgeon’s license (matrícula) in REFEPS, Argentina’s national registry of health professionals. Then ask whether the surgeon holds the AOA specialist title in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
- Wait for your orthodontist’s go-ahead: book the trip once your orthodontist says your teeth are ready for surgery.
- Have the operation: the surgeon operates at a specialist hospital in Buenos Aires or Córdoba. X-rays check the jaw position before you leave the hospital.
- Recover nearby: you stay close to your surgeon while you move from liquids to soft food.
- Take your records home: you leave with English-language records. Check-ups usually fall in the first month and at 3 and 6 months, with visits continuing for up to two years. Your US surgeon and orthodontist see you for these.
Our medical tourism in Argentina guide covers entry rules and local travel.
Is Jaw Surgery in Argentina Safe, and Who Should Not Travel?
Jaw surgery in Argentina carries the same main risks as anywhere: lasting numbness, the jaw shifting back, and the usual risks of general anesthesia. Some patients should wait or have surgery near home, as listed below.
- Lasting numbness: expect numbness or tingling in the lower lip and chin at first. UK hospital leaflets put lasting numbness at about 5% to 15% of patients.
- Jaw shifting back (relapse): some movement back is common. Advancing the lower jaw by 6 to 7 mm or more raises the chance, according to a 2009 review.
- Repositioning plates: a small second operation to reposition the plates and screws is very rarely needed.
Wait or choose surgery near home if any of these applies:
- Still growing: surgery waits until jaw growth ends, usually by 18.
- No orthodontist at home: braces run for two years or more and need adjusting at home.
- Health problems not yet under control: MTP waits until your doctor confirms you are fit for surgery and a long flight.
- No follow-up at home: you need a US oral surgeon and orthodontist for check-ups.
What Do Patients Ask About Jaw Surgery in Argentina?
Short answers on cost, braces, stay, and support for jaw surgery in Argentina.
How much does double jaw surgery cost in Argentina compared with the US?
An Argentine surgeon prices double jaw surgery in a written quote after reviewing your records. For comparison, one Seattle practice lists USD 24,200 in surgeon and anesthesia fees (April 2026).
Can I have jaw alignment surgery in Buenos Aires?
Yes. MTP coordinates corrective jaw surgery in Buenos Aires, where oral and maxillofacial surgeons train in a three-year city program. Córdoba also has a specialist training program.
Do I need braces before jaw surgery, and can my orthodontist at home do them?
Most patients wear braces for 18 to 24 months before surgery, and your own orthodontist can do that work at home. Braces then stay on for about 3 to 12 months after the operation.
How long should I stay in Argentina, and when can I fly home after jaw surgery?
You stay until your surgeon clears you in writing to fly, and MTP plans your stay around that date. The hospital stay itself usually lasts one to three nights.
Is jaw surgery covered by insurance if I have it in Argentina?
Each private plan sets its own rules, and US Medicare does not apply to care overseas. Your insurer can tell you in writing whether your plan pays for surgery in Argentina.
Will I have English-speaking support, and who follows me up at home?
Yes, MTP supports you in English and Spanish throughout your care. Check-ups usually continue for up to two years, and you arrange them with your US surgeon and orthodontist before you travel.
Plan Your Corrective Jaw Surgery in Argentina
Gather your orthodontist’s records, dental X-rays, and CBCT scan. MTP passes them to an Argentine surgeon and returns a written quote and a recovery plan for Buenos Aires or Córdoba. Request a free consultation and a personalized quote.
Sources and references
- A US oral and maxillofacial surgery practice, Pricing page (modified April 2, 2026), checked October 4, 2026.
- A US orthodontic practice, blog post on jaw surgery cost (July 11, 2025), checked October 4, 2026.
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Orthognathic Treatment patient information leaflet (issued January 2024), checked October 4, 2026.
- University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Orthognathic surgery patient leaflet (approved September 2023), checked October 4, 2026.
- Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Orthognathic Surgery patient leaflet (written March 2021), checked October 4, 2026.
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Patient information and consent to jaw or chin corrective surgery (approved July 30, 2025), checked October 4, 2026.
- East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Orthognathic surgery patient leaflet (published May 2010), checked October 4, 2026.
- St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Eating after Orthognathic Surgery (published February 2025), checked October 4, 2026.
- Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Orthognathic Jaw Surgery pediatric health library page (reviewed January 2026), checked October 5, 2026.
- Ministerio de Salud, Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Programa docente de la residencia de Cirugía y Traumatología Bucomaxilofacial (2025), checked October 4, 2026.
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Libro de posgrado 2024, Facultad de Odontología, checked October 4, 2026.
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Consejo Superior resolution on the specialization in oral and maxillofacial surgery (April 14, 2026), checked October 4, 2026.
- Asociación Odontológica Argentina, Requisitos para presentarse al título de especialistas en Cirugía y Traumatología Bucomaxilofacial, checked October 4, 2026.
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina.gob.ar electronic prescription page for professionals (REFEPS lookup), checked October 4, 2026.
- An Argentine oral and maxillofacial practice, Cirugía ortognática web page (undated), checked October 4, 2026.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Orthognathic Surgery cost page, checked October 4, 2026.
- US Department of State, Argentina country information (updated July 16, 2026), checked October 4, 2026.
- US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Temporomandibular Disorders (reviewed September 2026), checked October 4, 2026.
- Alkhayer et al., Accuracy of virtual planning in orthognathic surgery: a systematic review, Head & Face Medicine (December 4, 2020), checked October 4, 2026.
- Inchingolo et al., Orthognathic Surgery and Relapse: A Systematic Review, Bioengineering (September 10, 2023), checked October 4, 2026.
- Joss and Vassalli, Stability after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy advancement surgery with rigid internal fixation: a systematic review, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (February 2009), checked October 4, 2026.
