Understanding the Risks: A Guide to Aesthetic Craniofacial & Orthognathic Surgery
Aesthetic craniofacial surgery and orthognathic (jaw) surgery are profoundly transformative procedures, offering life-changing structural enhancements and crucial steps in journeys like facial feminization. However, taking the step to alter your facial skeleton is a major medical decision that requires entering the operating room with your eyes wide open.
At the foundation of informed consent is a simple truth: Any type of surgery carries risk. Here is what you need to know about the potential complications of aesthetic craniofacial surgery, and why choosing the right surgeon is the single most important decision you will make.
The Reality of Craniofacial Surgery Risks
Aesthetic craniofacial surgery is highly invasive. Because the surgical field involves the complex structures of the skull, jaw, and intricate nerve networks, a spectrum of complications exists, ranging from minor cosmetic concerns to severe medical emergencies.
While patients often fear catastrophic injuries the most, the most common overall complication is simply an unhappy aesthetic or cosmetic outcome, occurring in approximately 1% of cases in our practice. This may require minor surgical revisions to achieve the desired look. Bleeding issues and localized infections are the next most common concerns.
Beyond general surgical risks, the specific complications vary depending on whether you are undergoing Facial Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Craniofacial Surgery, Facial Feminization Surgery or Orthognathic Surgery.
Risks Specific to Facelift Surgery
Often performed alongside FFS or as a standalone rejuvenating procedure, a facelift (rhytidectomy) involves lifting and repositioning the skin and underlying facial muscles (SMAS). Because it relies on delicate soft-tissue manipulation over the facial nerve network, it carries its own set of risks:
-
Hematoma: This is the most common complication in facelift surgery. It involves blood pooling under the skin and typically requires prompt surgical drainage to prevent further healing issues.
-
Nerve Injury: There is a risk of injury to the branches of the facial nerve (motor nerves), which can lead to temporary or, in very rare cases, permanent facial asymmetry or muscle weakness. Sensory nerve damage (such as to the great auricular nerve) can cause temporary or permanent numbness around the ears or cheeks.
-
Skin Necrosis & Poor Healing: Poor blood supply can lead to skin loss (necrosis), particularly around the incisions behind the ears. This risk is dramatically higher in patients who smoke.
-
Scarring & Hair Loss: While incisions are carefully hidden, some patients may develop thickened, visible scars or experience localized hair loss (alopecia) along the incision lines in the hairline.
-
Aesthetic Dissatisfaction: As with all cosmetic procedures, there is a risk of asymmetry, over-correction, or under-correction requiring revision.
Risks Specific to Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS)
Facial Feminization Surgery involves a complex array of procedures to soften and feminize masculine facial features. According to a systematic review published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open journal (PMC8929523), the overall complication rate for FFS is notably low at just 5.4%.
When complications do occur in FFS, the clinical literature notes the following specific risks:
-
Wound Complications: Delayed wound healing or incision dehiscence (separation) is the most common issue, occurring in about 5.1% of cases.
-
Infection: Major wound infections occur in approximately 2.6% of patients.
-
Ophthalmic & Nasal Issues: Because FFS often involves the forehead, brow, and nose, risks include minor ophthalmic (eye) injuries (2.5%) and epistaxis/nosebleeds (2.1%).
-
Bleeding & Clots: Hematomas (blood pooling) occur in 1.3% of cases, while Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or Pulmonary Embolisms (PE) occur in 1.6%.
-
Rare Structural Injuries: In highly complex cases involving forehead cranioplasty, there is a very rare risk (0.2%) of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak due to the proximity to the brain.
Risks Specific to Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery
Orthognathic surgery aims to correct conditions of the jaw and lower face. Because it involves cutting and repositioning the jawbones (osteotomies), the complication profile is distinctly functional. According to research published in the Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (PMC5342970), orthognathic complications heavily involve nerve and joint function.
Known risks of orthognathic surgery include:
-
Nerve Injury & Numbness: Damage or stretching of the inferior alveolar nerve is highly common, leading to temporary or permanent numbness/paresthesia in the lower lip, chin, and jaw. Some studies note nerve injury rates as high as 50%, though most sensory issues are temporary. Motor nerve injury (facial nerve) is much rarer (approx. 0.29%).
-
Bone Splitting Complications: During the division of the jaw bone (such as a sagittal split osteotomy), unpredictable fractures can occur, known as “bad splits” or buccal plate fractures. This has been reported to range from 2 to 10% of cases in the medical literature.
-
Relapse & Bite Issues: The jaw can sometimes relapse or shift back toward its original position as muscles and tissues heal. This can lead to malocclusion (a misaligned bite) or create a post-surgical open bite.
-
Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD): Jaw joint issues can develop post-operatively in up to 14% of patients.
-
Hemorrhage: Due to the major facial arteries surrounding the jaws, severe intraoperative or post-operative bleeding occurs in up to 9% of cases.
-
Standard Surgical Risks: Adverse reactions to anesthesia, airway obstruction, and, in extreme cases, death can occur, though these catastrophic events are exceedingly rare.
No Guarantees in Surgery
While meticulous surgical planning, advanced imaging, and extensive surgeon experience dramatically increase the likelihood of a successful and beautiful outcome, it is crucial to understand that medicine is an inexact science.
Because every patient’s anatomy, healing process, and biological response are entirely unique, no absolute guarantees can be made regarding surgical or aesthetic outcomes. A reputable, ethical surgeon will always prioritize your safety and aesthetic goals, but cannot promise a “perfect” result. Understanding and accepting this reality is a vital part of your preoperative journey.
The Antidote to Risk: Surgeon Experience
“Complication rates have a direct correlation with surgeon experience, along with how often they perform a specific surgery.”
While the list of risks is serious, there is a vital caveat: when performed by a highly experienced surgeon, major complications are EXTREMELY rare.
Aesthetic craniofacial surgery and Facial Feminization Surgery are not commonly performed procedures in the broader landscape of plastic surgery. In fact, there are very few true experts in the world. The complexity of moving bone and navigating facial nerves requires a hyper-specialized skill set that is only honed through continuous, high-volume practice
Spotlight on Expertise: Dr. Keojampa
As one of the few experts globally in Facial Feminization Surgery and craniomaxillofacial procedures, Dr. Keojampa provides a unique perspective in understanding feminine and masculine facial characteristics.
His extensive training and immense daily experience ensure the highest margins of safety, even with the most complex craniomaxillofacial, plastic, and cosmetic procedures, yielding superior, natural-looking results.
Dr. Keojampa is currently one of the busiest facial feminization and craniomaxillofacial surgeons in the world. His high-volume expertise includes performing an average of three full feminization surgeries weekly, alongside a regular schedule of:
-
Rhinoplasty
-
Sliding Genioplasty
-
Facelifts
-
Aesthetic Orthognathic Surgery (Double Jaw Surgery)
When you are altering the very framework of your face, experience is not just a luxury—it is an absolute necessity for your safety and your results.



