Prevail,
I, like you, have been told I need this surgery. However, and I don't know if this changes anything, but I was told this a few years ago, before I every had any tmj symptoms. Before I had my wisdom teeth out, it was explained that my lower jaw grew a bit too much, causing my open bite. They said that after the wisdom teeth were out, I'd eventually need braces for a year, then the surgery to align my upper and lower jaw, then keep the braces for another 6 months while I heal. I tell you what, at that time I had never, ever had surgery, so I was about in tears.
It wasn't till more than a year after I got my wisdom teeth out that I started having jaw issues. I was warned that if I didn't get the surgery, I'd eventually break my back teeth, since they're working so hard. But tmj wasn't mentioned.
Anyway, I just went to the oral surgeon today to see if I even HAVE tmj (turns out I have something related, but not the full-on joint issues), and he, too, said the braces and surgery will help, as it's my bite that's causing the problem.
Anyway, as stated earlier, I think it depends on what's causing your tmj as to whether or not this type of surgery will help you.
My 2 cents.
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If the stars are aligned against you, realign the stars.
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orthognastic surgery 
I bumped up an older post for you entitled: Orthognathic Means....Straight Jaws, by Cymy Sue. Hope this helps. I can't help you concerning surgery but I'm sure the other members that have had it can. 
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