What Is Jawline Surgery? Which Types of Jawline Surgery Are Right for Me?

Different types of jawline surgery can achieve different effects. Jawline surgery can reshape the jaw and chin to give more prominence and definition, or to reduce the size of the chin and jawline.

If you’re unhappy with the shape of your chin and are wondering how to get a better jawline, you’ve landed on the right page.

Get comfy and grab a refill of your favorite drink. We’ll explore the different types of jawline tightening procedures you can get in this post.

Jump to a Section:

  1. What Is Jawline Surgery?
  2. Why Do People Get Jaw-Defining Surgery?
  3. Types of Jawline Surgery
  4. Jawline Definition Surgery: Top FAQs
  5. Getting a Jawline Surgery Consultation

jawline surgery tijuana

What Is Jawline Surgery?

Also known as orthognathic surgery, jawline surgery is facial cosmetic surgery to reshape the jaw and chin. But having a great jawline and chin means different things to everyone.

Some people may want a more prominent chin to give their face more definition, while others may opt to reduce their chin and jawline. You can also explore surgery for jowl tightening to minimize the appearance of loose skin from time and gravity. For misaligned teeth and jaws, cosmetic surgery to define the jawline is also an option.

The bottom line is jawline surgery is as unique as the face it reshapes. Depending on your goals and overall face shape, your particular surgical procedure will bring greater harmony and balance to your appearance.

There are several different types of jawline surgery and non-surgical options you can explore to reshape your chin and jawline. This post will cover surgical options to change your facial appearance.

Why Do People Get Jaw-Defining Surgery?

In 2021, cosmetic surgical procedures rose 70 percent in the US. Why?

The Zoom effect.

While Zoom has enabled many people to discover the joys of WFH, it’s also made a lot of us insecure about our soft-ish jawlines. Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with a Keira Knightley jawline that can cut glass.

Changing the jawline can drastically improve facial appearance and symmetry. People either opt for jawline surgery to enhance their jawline and chin or get surgery to reduce chin or jawline prominence. In addition, facial plastic surgery can also correct jaw and teeth misalignment and TMJ, a painful condition.

You may have seen articles or TikTok videos of people claiming that chinups or other facial exercises can fix a soft jawline. Sadly, these exercises are more likely to cause TMJ, which jawline surgery can fortunately fix.

Specialist surgeons perform jawline surgery for TMJ, which is considered a non-cosmetic procedure and is beyond the scope of this particular article.

Types of Jawline Surgery

Jawline surgery is a highly effective procedure for changing the face’s overall balance. It has a high patient satisfaction rate and is performed under general anesthesia.

There are three main types of surgical procedures for jaw enhancement, and the patient’s needs and goals ultimately determine which route they take.

Jawline surgery can be performed alone or in combination with cosmetic procedures for other facial features. For example, patients may opt to combine their jawline surgery with chin augmentation, dermal fillers, or neck liposuction.

Surgery for Reducing the Jawline and Chin

Cosmetic surgeons will use either a micro saw or laser to reduce the jaw size if you want a smaller jawline. Depending on your needs, your cosmetic surgeon may also choose to reposition the jaw.

In most cases, jaw reduction surgery takes bone from the back of the jaw, creating a smoother jawline and slimming the face. This surgical procedure is sometimes referred to as jaw feminization surgery.

Jawline Enhancement Surgery/Chin Implant Surgery

This type of jawline surgery is basically the opposite of jawline reduction.

Jawline enhancement surgery is performed to:

  • Define a soft jawline
  • Reduce and improve the appearance of a receding chin
  • Elongate the jawline

Instead of removing bone from the back of the jaw, your cosmetic surgeon will add bone or a surgical implant to this area, resulting in a more prominent, more defined chin and jawline.

Jawline Surgery for Teeth Alignment

This type of jawline enhancement requires a team of facial cosmetic surgeons and orthodontists. Orthodontists and cosmetic surgeons work together to reposition the jawline and teeth to fix bite misalignment. Overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites can all be corrected with jawline surgery.

Patients who undergo jaw surgery for misalignment can bite and chew more easily. In addition, jawline surgery can also protect the teeth from excessive wear from bite issues.

Jawline Surgery with Chin Augmentation

Chin augmentation, or chin implant surgery, is often combined with jawline surgery to create a symmetrical lower face and definition between the chin, jawline, and neck. Your surgeon will use a silicone chin implant or bone from the hip or other part of the body to enhance a recessed chin.

The surgeon will use crews and plates to attach the implant to the chin bone, and these screws will naturally integrate with the body over time. Whether it’s silicone or bone, a chin implant can drastically sharpen and enhance the chin while slimming the face.

Chin Augmentation Before and After

Jawline Surgery with Neck Liposuction (Double Chin Liposuction)

Combining jawline surgery with neck liposuction is highly effective if you want to contour your facial profile. The fat pouch right below the chin is called submental fat, and it’s almost impossible to get rid of it through diet and exercise.

This type of fat is often a result of natural bone structure and genetics and can give the appearance of a double chin, even if you’re a slim person. The only way to reduce its appearance is through chin liposuction.

So, if you don’t like how this submental fat makes you look, your surgeon can remove it while you’re already under general anesthesia for jawline surgery.

Neck Lift to Define the Jawline

For sagging or excess skin and loss of tone, a neck lift can drastically reduce loose skin sagging and give you a defined jawline and a younger-looking neck.

Depending on your needs and goals for surgery, your cosmetic surgeon may repair neck muscles, remove and tighten loose skin, and perform liposuction to the area.

While this technically isn’t jawline surgery, removing excess skin and tightening the neck will give you a more defined jawline with better muscle tone.

Neck Lift Before and After

Jawline Definition Surgery: Top FAQs

1. How Long Does Jawline Surgery Take?

Patients are put under general anesthesia for jawline surgery. The procedure takes anywhere from two to five hours.

2. What’s the Recovery Time for Jaw-Tightening Surgery?

In general, patients recover fully between six to 12 weeks. In most cases, patients can return to work or school within one to three weeks after the surgery.

It’s normal to have facial swelling after surgery. Depending on the scope of the surgery, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days.

Your surgeon will let you know what’s safe to eat or drink during recovery and what kind of painkillers you can take. In addition, your surgeon will instruct you on how to sleep safely during recovery, so you don’t disturb the healing jawline.

After jawline surgery, you’ll need to avoid exercise and other strenuous activities until the swelling goes down. Once the swelling is gone, you’ll see the results immediately.

3. Are Jawline Surgery Incisions Visible?

In most cases, no. The majority of the incisions for jawline surgery are made inside the mouth. However, if your surgeon repositions your jawline, screws are placed inside the jaw to hold it in the correct position. The screws will integrate with your jaw over time.

But if you’re getting chin augmentation, your surgeon may take bone from another part of the body — usually, the hip. In this case, the incisions will be visible. Likewise, if you get a neck lift for a more defined jaw, incisions are made behind the ears and will be visible, too.

Contact Vida today to explore the type of jawline surgery that’s right for you.

Cosmetic patients have so many options at their disposal when it comes to getting a younger-looking, more defined jawline. Recovery times are relatively short for jawline surgery, and in most cases, incisions are made inside the mouth and aren’t visible.

If you’re ready to say buh bye to a soft chin and saggy jowls, we’re always here and ready to help you achieve the look you want.

Contact us today or schedule your free virtual consultation to explore your options for jawline surgery and other procedures like dermal fillers.

Dr. Alejandro Quiroz

Dr. Quiroz is our board-certified Chief Plastic Surgeon at VIDA Clinic in Tijuana. He specializes in Facial Rejuvenation, Neck lift, Buttock Augmentation, Breast Augmentation, Body Contouring and more. He is member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, San Diego Plastic Surgery Society, the Mexican Society of Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and the Mexican Council of Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, to mention a few.