Jaw Reduction Surgery

Jaw reduction is a type of aesthetic plastic surgery in which the objective of treatment is to narrow the lower one-third of the face—particularly the contribution from the mandible and its muscular attachments. There are several techniques for treatment—including surgical and non surgical methods.

Jaw Reduction  Frequently among Asians, the jawline is prominent and is out of proportion to the rest of the face. For those wanting to achieve a more proportionate look, they seek jaw reduction surgery. This is in contrast to Caucasians, who tend to be deficient in this area and require implantation. Dr. Somyos Kunachak is a plastic surgeon who performs jaw reduction surgery using a technique that is specific to the Asian patient.

Jaw Reduction

With Asians, the traditional jaw reduction treatment has been to grind away the outer portion of the jaw to narrow the face. At Dr. Somyos Kunachak's practice, we offer a minimally-invasive alternative. We use BOTOX ®, MYOBLOC ® to achieve jaw reduction, which we have been using for over three years and treating hundreds of patients. These injections only take a few minutes to an hour, depending on the patient's condition. Plus with this form of jaw reduction, patients do not receive any incisions or lose time from recovery. If you are someone looking to undergo jaw reduction, contact our office today and schedule a consultation appointment. When considering any form of cosmetic surgery, it is important to have a good understanding of the procedure before making a decision. By meeting with Dr. Somyos Kunachak for a consultation visit, you can gain the information you need to know about jaw reduction.

 

Facial aesthetics

A square lower jaw is generally considered a very masculine trait.^{[citation needed]} Widening of the lower third of the face can cause either a square appearance to the face as a whole or can distort the natural appearance of the angle between the chin and the neck.
Whereas square lower jaws are often considered a positive trait in Caucasian and many Asian men, a wide mandible can cause significant facial discordance and/or masculinization of the female face—particularly in those of East Asian descent. Even in certain men, the size of the lower jaw can cause facial disharmony—particularly when there is asymmetry.^[1]
A wide lower face can primarily be caused by enlargement of the mandible or masseter muscle.

Causes

The primary cause of an enlarged mandible is developmental or congenital. There are some rare disorders that can further widen the jaw such as acromegaly.
Conversely, while a masseter muscle can be large due to congenital reasons, it can commonly be an acquired deformity. Like any muscle it increases in size with exercise. Behaviors such as repeated gum chewing, teeth clenching, or bruxism can contribute to enlargement of the muscle.

Techniques

There are several jaw reduction techniques available—both surgical and non-surgical. Ideally prior to selection of a treatment, the patient is examined to determine whether the cause is due to the bone, the masseter or both. Additionally, if a treatable cause is present it should be identified.

Surgical reduction

Surgical techniques are used to directly reduce the size of an enlarged mandible. Incision can be to the inside or outside of the mouth, though the internal incision is the most common because it leaves no visible scar. A burr is used to remove the outer layer of the enlarged mandible, narrowing the jaw.^[3]
Potential complications include injury to the inferior alveolar nerve which provides sensation to the lower lips and teeth.