Wuhan hospital investigates alleged botched jaw surgery

The Hospital of Stomatology Wuhan University, in Hubei province, has launched an investigation after media reports that a 24-year-old woman developed severe facial changes following orthognathic surgery sparked widespread public concern, the hospital said on Monday.

The hospital said it had established a special investigation team to examine the case. The doctor involved has stopped seeing patients while cooperating with the investigation.

Any problems identified during the inquiry will be promptly addressed, and those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with laws and regulations, the hospital said. It added that the findings of the investigation would be made public.

The patient, surnamed He, underwent orthognathic surgery at the hospital in 2025 to correct what she described as a mild underbite. She alleged that the procedure left her with facial asymmetry and multiple oral and nasal complications.

According to media reports, He initially sought advice on dental treatment and conventional orthodontic options. She said she had only mild skeletal protrusion of the lower jaw and that her appearance showed no obvious abnormality when viewed from the front.

After an examination, however, a doctor recommended orthognathic surgery and referred her to the hospital's orthognathic surgery department.

Orthognathic surgery is a complex procedure used to reposition the jaws to correct dentofacial deformities and improve functions such as chewing and biting. It requires comprehensive assessment, detailed surgical planning and close coordination between surgeons and orthodontists.

In China, orthognathic surgery is generally classified as a Grade IV operation, the highest category in the country's four-tier surgical classification system. Such procedures are defined as involving high risks, complex processes, considerable technical difficulty and demanding requirements for surgeons, medical personnel, equipment and other clinical resources.

He, who previously worked as a model, said she agreed to undergo the surgery partly because she hoped improving her appearance would create more career opportunities.

She said preoperative assessments showed that her lower jaw protruded by about 2 millimeters and that the treatment plan called for moving it backward by approximately the same distance.

However, she alleged that the operation instead moved her lower jaw forward by more than 13 millimeters, worsening the underbite and leaving her face and jaws asymmetrical. The hospital has not publicly responded to the specific allegations.

Following the surgery, He sought consultations at medical institutions in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities. She said several doctors told her she had visible facial asymmetry and malocclusion and would require further corrective treatment.

She also alleged that fixation screws damaged her teeth, contributing to gum recession and other dental problems. In addition, she said a deviated nasal septum left her struggling to breathe through one nostril.

He later returned to the surgeon with examination reports from other hospitals and asked for an explanation.

According to her account, the doctor said he preferred her current facial shape and described it as "more fashionable" than before. She alleged that he told her she needed to accept her new appearance and that a second operation would be the only option if she was dissatisfied with the outcome.

He said she had considered corrective surgery, but would first need several treatments, including orthodontic work, removal of the plates and screws left from the first operation, root canal treatment and bone grafting.

She estimated that the entire corrective process would cost at least 300,000 yuan ($44,300), compared with about 80,000 yuan for the initial surgery. She also said there was no guarantee that another operation would restore her previous appearance.

The patient previously sought mediation with the hospital and health authorities in Wuhan's Hongshan district, but the talks ended without agreement because, according to He, the hospital did not offer a clear solution.

She said the district health authorities recently contacted her again and told her the hospital hoped to resume mediation.