Surgical sectioning of the maxilla from the rest of the skull. Le Fort I osteotomy sections the midface through the walls of the maxillary sinuses, the lateral nasal walls, and the nasal septum, just superior to the apices of the maxillary teeth. Le Fort II osteotomy is similar to Le Fort I, except that instead of continuing anteriorly across the pyriform aperture, the osteotomy continues superiorly towards the orbit. Le Fort III osteotomy is designed to separate the entire facial mass from the cranial base along the interfrontofacial and interpterygomaxillary planes.