The jawline has a strong influence on how the lower face reads. Jaw reduction — also called jaw shaving, mandible angle reduction, or V-line surgery — reshapes the jawbone to create a slimmer, softer, more tapered lower face.
It’s frequently a key component of facial feminization surgery, where narrowing the jaw and softening its angle is one of the more visible changes. It’s equally sought by patients who simply want a less square or less wide lower face.
The aim isn’t the narrowest jaw possible. A jaw that’s over-reduced looks as unnatural as one that’s too wide; the goal is a gentle, balanced curve in proportion with the rest of your face.
See our Jaw Augmentation page. If your concern is bite function or jaw alignment rather than contour, see Corrective Jaw Surgery.
Choosing a Surgeon for Jaw Reduction
Facial bone surgery is complex and carries real risks, including uneven bone cuts, jaw fracture and injury to the nerves that control lip movement when you smile or open your mouth. Choose:
- A board-certified plastic surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon who specializes in facial bone surgery.
- A surgeon with extensive, verifiable experience in jaw surgery, who can also manage complications if they occur.
- A surgeon skilled at balancing the jaw with the rest of the face, including the chin and cheekbones.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
- Your jaw, chin or mandible looks large or out of proportion with the rest of your face
- You have a wide or square jaw, or a prominent jaw angle
- Your lower face looks long, or your face looks round because of a wide jaw
- You want a slimmer, more balanced or more feminine lower face, including as part of FFS
- Your facial growth is complete
- You’re in good general health, with no conditions that make surgery or general anesthesia unsafe
- You’re a non-smoker, or willing to stop
- You have realistic expectations and understand the risks
7 Jaw Reduction Techniques at Kamol Hospital
Every face is different, so Kamol offers seven techniques to reshape the jaw, chin and mandible as one harmonious unit.
Short Angle: Removes only the angle of the lower jaw. Suitable if the jaw angle is prominent but the chin and the rest of the mandible are already in proportion.
- Long Angle: Reduces the jaw from the back corner along the side of the mandible. Suitable if the chin is in proportion but the back of the jaw is too large.
Chin-to-Jaw: Reduces the jaw from the back corner all the way forward to the side of the chin. Suitable for a square face with a wide jaw and broad chin.
Chin Angle: Removes the angled corners of the chin on both sides. Suitable if the mandible is in proportion and the chin is the right size, but square.
Long Side Chin Reduction: Reduces the front and sides of the chin, extending back to the middle of the mandible. Suitable for a wide, large chin.
Side Chin and Vertical Reduction: Reduces the front and sides of the chin, as well as its height. Suitable for a chin that is both wider and longer than average.
Long Horseshoe: Reduces the mandible in a continuous horseshoe shape from the back of the jaw on one side, through the chin, to the other side. Suitable when the whole lower face (jaw angle, mandible and chin) is longer or larger than average.
Preparation
Good preparation leads to a better result, less trauma and a faster recovery.
- Consultation: discuss your goals, the most suitable technique, and the potential risks and complications with your surgeon.
- Health check: physical examination, blood tests (CBC, electrolytes, HIV and hepatitis) and chest X-ray. If you’re over 40, or your doctor feels it’s needed, an EKG and cardiac stress test are also required before general anesthesia.
- Imaging: a CT scan of the face for precise surgical planning.
- Smoking and alcohol: stop smoking for at least 2 weeks and alcohol for at least 1 week before surgery.
- Medication: stop aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen), vitamin E and herbal supplements that affect blood clotting at least 2 weeks before surgery. Bring your regular medication to your consultation so your surgeon can advise.
- Fasting: don’t eat or drink for at least 6 hours before surgery.
- Recovery planning: chewing will be difficult at first, so prepare liquid foods, soups and nutritional supplements.
The Procedure
The operation takes about 1–2 hours, depending on complexity and bone thickness.
- Surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
- Incisions are made inside the mouth, so there are no visible scars on the face.
- The surgeon removes bone along the planned line, taking great care to protect nearby blood vessels, nerves and tissue. In some cases, a small amount of muscle or fat is also removed.
- The cut edges are smoothed with a burr, so the jaw and chin blend into one continuous curve, which is essential for a natural result.
- The incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches.
Post-operative Care and Recovery
You’ll be given pain relief, anti-swelling and anti-infection medication. Cold gel packs help reduce swelling, bruising and pain. Swelling is greatest in the first 2–3 days, then gradually goes down, and the face settles over about 2–3 months. Some numbness near the surgical area is common and improves gradually.
- Sleep with your head raised for 3–4 days to reduce swelling.
- Eat liquid and soft food to protect the incisions and reduce pain.
- Wear the facial compression garment continuously for the first 3 days, then at night for about 1 month. Wash your face and hair gently.
- Rinse often with mouthwash to keep your mouth clean, remove blood clots and prevent infection.
- Avoid opening your mouth very wide for about 1 month.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 2 weeks after surgery.
- Avoid strenuous activity for 1 month.
- Attend all follow-up appointments, and contact your surgeon if you have any concerns.
Most patients return to work after 7–10 days, though some swelling may remain. Exercise can usually be resumed after about 4 weeks.
Risks and Complications
Jaw reduction is major facial surgery. Possible risks include:
- Numbness of the lower lip, chin or cheek, which usually improves over 6–12 months, though rarely may be permanent
- Weakness of the lower lip, affecting your smile, if the nerve branch that controls it is injured, which is usually temporary
- Bleeding and hematoma (blood collection)
- Infection; using mouthwash helps reduce this risk
- Swelling and bruising
- Tightness or difficulty opening the mouth
- Asymmetry between the two sides, which can be corrected with a second operation
- Irregular contours or over-reduction
- Fracture of the jawbone, which is rare
- Blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Risks from anesthesia
- Dissatisfaction with the result; revision surgery is occasionally needed
Jaw Reduction Surgery Results
The results of jaw reduction surgery are permanent. Post-surgical swelling is common and will gradually subside. It may take several days before you can remove the compression bandage and fully appreciate the results.
As the swelling subsides over several months, the refined contours of your new jawline will become increasingly visible.
Before & After of Jaw Reduction Surgery / Jaw Shaving
Reviews of Jaw Reduction Surgery, Jaw shaving
Video : Jaw Reduction Surgery / Jaw Shaving
Why Jawline can identify gender?
Jawline shape plays a significant role in how gender is perceived. A strong, defined jawline is often read as masculine; a softer, less defined one as feminine. This perception is heavily influenced by societal norms and stereotypes built up over a long time.
- A masculine jawline is typically square or rectangular with a sharp angle. This shape tends to be associated with strength and assertiveness — traits traditionally linked to masculinity.
- A feminine jawline is typically softer and rounder with a more gradual angle, associated with more delicate features within traditional norms.
Gender identity and physical characteristics are two different things. Gender identity is an internal sense of oneself as male, female, neither, or some combination — it isn’t determined by physical features.
So while jawline shape influences how others perceive gender, it is not a definitive indicator of anyone’s gender. Social norms shape these perceptions heavily, and plenty of people don’t conform to them.
Why Choose Kamol Hospital in Bangkok for Jaw Reduction
- Seven techniques for different face shapes: From removing only the jaw angle to a full horseshoe reduction, the technique is matched to your jaw, chin and mandible.
- CT-based planning: Every case is planned with a CT scan, so your surgeon knows the bone thickness and nerve position before surgery.
- No visible scars: All jaw reduction is performed through incisions inside the mouth.
- Natural, balanced results: Our surgeons aim for a gentle curve that suits your face, avoiding over-reduction.
- V-line and FFS planning: Jaw reduction can be combined with chin reduction, cheekbone reduction and facial feminization surgery in one plan.
- Hospital-level safety: Surgery under general anesthesia with a dedicated anesthesia team, in a JCI-accredited hospital.
- Support for international patients: Multilingual coordinators and Kamol Trip help you plan your stay and recovery in Bangkok.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What exactly is jaw reduction surgery?
It is also known as jaw shaving, mandible angle reduction, or V-line surgery, it is a surgical procedure that reshapes the jawbone to create a slimmer, more contoured facial appearance. It involves removing excess bone and sometimes muscle from the jaw to reduce its width and prominence, often resulting in a more feminine or V-shaped face.
Why do people choose to undergo jaw reduction surgery?
People choose this procedure for various reasons, including:
- Cosmetic Concerns: To achieve a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing facial appearance. Many individuals desire a slimmer, more oval, or V-shaped face.
- Facial Feminization: This is a common procedure in Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) to soften masculine facial features and create a more feminine look.
- Functional Improvement: In some cases, this procedure may be recommended to improve bite function or address issues like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Do I need jaw surgery, or would Botox work?
It depends on whether your jaw looks wide because of bone or muscle. If the masseter (chewing) muscle is enlarged, Botox injections can slim the jaw without surgery, though the effect lasts only several months. If the width comes from the bone itself, only jaw reduction surgery can change it. Your surgeon will examine you, and often review a CT scan, to tell which applies. See non-invasive face and neck treatments.
Will my face look too narrow or pointed?
Not with careful planning. The aim is a gentle, natural curve from the jaw angle to the chin, not the narrowest possible jaw. Your surgeon will plan how much bone to remove based on your CT scan and the proportions of your whole face, and discuss the look you want before surgery.
Will my cheeks or skin sag after the bone is removed?
Some loosening of the soft tissue over the jaw can happen, because the bone that supported it is smaller. It’s more likely in older patients or those with thinner skin. Your surgeon will take this into account, and in some cases may suggest combining jaw reduction with a facelift or neck lift.
Can jaw reduction be combined with chin and cheekbone surgery?
Yes. For a V-shaped face, jaw reduction is often combined with chin reduction and cheekbone reduction in the same operation. Planning the jaw, chin and cheekbones together gives a more balanced result than changing one area alone. See Facial Contouring for more on combined procedures.
Will I lose feeling in my lip or chin?
Some numbness is common in the first weeks and usually resolves. The inferior alveolar nerve runs through the mandible, and although the surgical plan is designed around its position using CT imaging, temporary numbness of the lower lip and chin is a recognised effect. Lasting numbness is uncommon but possible, and your surgeon will discuss this with you directly.
Does Bangkok, Thailand have good surgeons for jaw reduction?
Thailand is an established centre for facial bone contouring, with the case volume that comes from being a long-standing destination for both aesthetic and gender-affirming facial surgery.
What matters more than the country is the individual surgeon. Ask how often they perform mandibular contouring specifically, whether they plan from CT imaging, and to see before-and-after results for facial structures similar to yours.
At Kamol Cosmetic Hospital, our surgeons perform facial bone surgery routinely, plan every case from imaging, and work within a JCI-accredited hospital.
How long should I stay in Bangkok after jaw reduction?
Plan to stay in Bangkok for about 7–10 days. This allows the early swelling to settle and gives your surgeon time to check your healing before you fly home. If you’re combining jaw reduction with other facial procedures, allow a little longer. Thailand is one of Asia’s leading destinations for facial contouring surgery, and Kamol Trip can arrange accommodation close to the hospital.
