Jaw (Mandible) Reduction

A wide lower face is often a mix of a broad jaw angle, thick chewing muscles, and some superficial fat, and each part needs a different treatment. Your surgeon compares your 3-D CT bone scan with the thickness of your masseter muscle and the pinchable tissue over it. We demonstrate during your exam which structure is contributing most so the treatment targets the right layer.

A long-curved cut may reduce the jaw angle, the body of the jaw, and the lower border together to create a smooth, continuous line. Outer cortex shaving can also thin the jawbone without changing the overall width as much. Your surgeon plans the exact segments based on where your jaw is widest on the 3-D scan, and the transition zones are smoothed so there is no visible step between reduced and unreduced bone.

A long-curved cut creates a smooth, sweeping jawline without a sharp corner left behind where the bone cut stops. This avoids the look of a second angle that can happen when only the corner is removed. Your surgeon maps the nerve canal first to make sure the cut stays safely away, then plans a path that flows naturally into the chin and neckline.

The nerve canal that runs through the lower jaw is mapped on your 3-D CT scan before surgery, and the bone cuts are planned at a safe distance from it. During surgery, the surgeon can see the canal location and avoids cutting into it. We check your lip and chin sensation after surgery and track whether it is stable, improving, or changing in a way that needs attention.

Jaw reduction changes the outer contour, not the tooth-bearing part of the bone, so your bite should not change. Some patients notice a temporary feeling of reduced bite strength, but this typically returns as healing progresses. If you already have jaw joint symptoms, we evaluate them separately before surgery because bone reduction alone does not treat a joint problem.

Swelling and limited mouth opening are significant in the first 2 to 4 weeks and then gradually improve. Numbness in the lower lip and chin can take 3 to 6 months or longer to resolve, and the final jaw contour may not be fully visible until the deeper swelling has gone down. We give you a timeline for each stage and see you at scheduled intervals to track nerve recovery and contour changes.

You start on liquids, move to soft foods as wounds seal and opening improves, and return to normal chewing only when the bone is stable and chewing does not cause pain. Calories, protein, and hydration matter as much as texture during this phase. We advance your diet step by step at follow-up visits rather than giving you a single date for everything.

Symmetry is planned on the 3-D scan by comparing the two sides and adjusting the cuts accordingly, since most faces are naturally a little different on each side to begin with. The bone edges are smoothed and the fixation ensures the segments stay where they were planned. Your surgeon reviews your preoperative photos and scan to separate pre-existing differences from the surgical change.

Removing bone that was supporting the skin and soft tissue over the jaw can sometimes reveal jowls that were being held out by the bone width. This is more likely with aggressive reduction or older skin that has less snap. Your surgeon checks your skin tone during the consultation and may suggest adding a lifting procedure or masseter treatment if the support loss would be noticeable.

If the masseter muscle is thick, shrinking it with botulinum toxin after the bone has healed can refine the lower face further. If there is a fat pad over the jaw, a little liposuction can sharpen the jawline, and a lifting procedure can correct any looseness the bone reduction might expose. Your surgeon discusses the full picture at your consultation and may stage these additions after the bone has settled rather than doing everything at once.

Light exercise returns in a few weeks, but activities that risk impact to the face, including contact sports, must wait for the bone to fully unite, which can take several months. Dental work that requires wide opening also waits until your surgeon clears you. You get a phased plan based on bone healing milestones, not just calendar dates.

If too little bone was taken, a more conservative secondary reduction is sometimes possible. If too much was removed, reconstruction becomes harder and may require a custom implant, bone grafting, or soft-tissue work to restore the missing contour. The safest revision is usually narrower than the original concern, because every additional surgery works through scar tissue and near nerves that are already healing. A consultation lets us map what is achievable given your current anatomy.