Corrective nasal surgery improves nasal patency and thus the comfort of breathing throughout the day and during sleep.  Patent nasal surgery reduces mouth breathing and improves the airway during sleep.

In 2004, Dr. Kasey Li and Dr. Christian Guilleminault reported their results of maxillomandibular expansion improving obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The rationale of the operation is based on the findings that patients with OSA often have narrow jaws, which result in constricted nasal airways and posterior tongue displacement with resultant airway obstruction. By widening the upper and lower jaws, maxillomandibular expansion enlarges the nasal and retropalatal airway, stiffens the soft palate, and thus creates more intraoral space.

The airway is, in essence, confined by the upper and lower jaws. By moving the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) forward, the entire airway can be enlarged. This procedure serves as the most effective surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. It is performed on patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea as the only treatment, or when other procedures have failed. It is also performed in patients with significant jaw deformity that contributes to obstructive sleep apnea.

Orthognathic surgery involves surgery of the maxilla and mandible. Since the maxilla and mandible are in intimate association with the surrounding teeth as well as structures of the face and airway, the position and size of the maxilla and mandible significantly influence the dental occlusion, facial esthetics and airway dimension. Therefore, indication(s) for considering orthognathic surgery in order to improve the size and position of the maxilla and mandible are invariably aimed at improving dental occlusion, facial esthetics and airway dimension.