With tmj disorder, will the joint heal back in place after surgery?

Hopefully: That's the outcome the surgeon is looking for but doing surgery on the TMJ should be a last resort because sometimes it makes the problem worse.

That's the Plan: No one would ever perform surgery if they didn't think the outcome would be beneficial. In this case, it means that your TMJ would heal and be healthy again. That's the plan. However, this is a very difficult surgery & success rates aren't always as high as we'd like. Make sure it's your only and absolutely last option before proceeding. I would recommend at least three expert opinions up front.

Last resort: Tmj surgery is unpredictable. And while it will heal, the joint will never be the same as it was in health. I consider surgery a last resort, and exhaust all non-surgical approaches first.

Sometimes: Depends on the procedure. If the disk is our of position, it may still be out of position after a successful athroscopy. Open surgery may reposition the disk. Sometimes with open surgery the disk is removed. Ask your TMJ surgeon.