Soft Tissue Changes After Orthognathic Surgery

This study was conducted on 31 adult patients who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Patients were divided into minimally invasive (n=15; mean age: 23.2 years) and conventional surgery groups (n=16; mean age: 22.4 years) according to the surgical technique performed. High-resolution three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric facial images were obtained preoperatively (T0) and at least six months postoperatively (T1). Three-dimensional displacements of soft tissue anthropometric landmarks, as well as linear and angular measurements, were analyzed. Data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests were used for intra- and intergroup comparisons. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Inclusion criteria

Skeletal Class III patients requiring bimaxillary orthognathic surgery Patients treated with minimally invasive or conventional orthognathic surgery Availability of high-resolution three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric images obtained preoperatively and at least 6 months postoperatively Patients with complete clinical records Completion of craniofacial growth Patients with less than 10 mm maxillary advancement/setback

Exclusion criteria

Craniofacial syndromes or congenital anomalies History of previous orthognathic surgery Facial trauma affecting soft tissue morphology Incomplete clinical or imaging records Systemic diseases affecting soft tissue healing or craniofacial morphology