Jaw & Face Contouring Surgery
If you wish to enhance the shape and harmony of your facial features, there are various face contouring procedures available. Please note that this refers to the overall face structure—including the cheeks, jaw, chin, and forehead—not features like the nose or eyes.
The most common face contouring procedures include:
- Zygoma Reduction (cheekbone reduction)
- Mandible Reduction (square jaw reduction)
- Chin Modification (genioplasty, implant, or shaving)
Fat grafting is another excellent option to fill areas that appear sunken, such as the smile lines, under the eyes, or forehead, helping to create a smoother and more youthful appearance. Procedures like the V-line surgery, which improve the cheek, jaw, and chin together, typically require longer recovery times.
At Glowin Medical, we are committed to helping you choose the most suitable treatment, connect you with the best doctors, and provide top-quality service. Contact us today for a personalized, free consultation
How to Prepare Before Surgery
1. Post-Surgery Assistance
It is important to stop taking all unnecessary medications and supplements—including birth control pills, hormone treatments, vitamins, aspirin, and similar products—at least 2 weeks before surgery if possible. Any substance that may increase bleeding should be avoided. If you are being treated for diabetes, thyroid problems, heart disease, or high blood pressure, please inform our consultants immediately.
2. Health & Lifestyle
Being in good health before surgery helps your recovery go faster. Avoid smoking and alcohol for at least 3 days before surgery. Eating nutritious foods like fresh vegetables and fruits can also support a smoother recovery.
3. Surgery Day Preparation
On the day of surgery, wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes (zip-ups are recommended). Remove all jewelry, makeup, nail polish, and contact lenses before arriving at the clinic
4. Fasting Before Surgery
For most eye area surgeries, local anesthesia is used, and in some cases, sedation may be added. You must fast (no food or drinks) for 4–6 hours before surgery, depending on your consultation
How to Prepare After Surgery
1. Post-Surgery Support
Our helper and translator will be with you throughout your recovery, including when you wake up after surgery. We will provide care with attention and kindness while assisting your recovery at the clinic. Pumpkin porridge and pumpkin juice will be offered to help speed up your healing (please inform us if you dislike pumpkin or have any allergies). We will also monitor your recovery, and help you collect your aftercare package and prescribed medications
2. Swelling Management
Swelling usually increases during the first 2–3 days before gradually decreasing. It is important to use the ice packs provided as frequently as possible—the more you ice, the faster your recovery. Swelling may appear uneven, with one side slightly more swollen than the other
3. Medication & Rest
Take all prescribed medications until fully completed. Attend all scheduled check-ups and cleanings, avoid rubbing your eyes, and try to sleep on your back to prevent pressure on treated areas
4. Avoid Smoking & Alcohol
Do not smoke or drink alcohol for at least 4 weeks after surgery, as these can slow recovery and negatively affect your results
Asymmetrical Face Correction
Everyone naturally has small differences between the left and right sides of the face, but excessive asymmetry can affect overall facial harmony. You can check for asymmetry by looking at features such as your lip line, jawline, eye line, and the alignment of your teeth and mouth. Facial imbalance may be present from birth, but it can also develop due to physical impact, one-sided chewing habits, or dental issues.
Seoul Guide Medical can analyze your facial structure and determine whether you are a suitable candidate for asymmetry correction surgery. To address this condition, procedures such as square jaw reduction or genioplasty/genio-osteotomy may be performed, where parts of the jaw or chin are reshaped to restore balance.
For more severe cases, Two Jaw Surgery is recommended, which adjusts both the upper and lower jaws and removes bone where needed. This procedure can only be performed by a qualified specialist, and not everyone is eligible. Contact SGM to find out if you qualify for this corrective treatment.
Surgery Time: 2–3 hours
Anesthesia: General anesthesia
Hospitalization: 1–2 days
After-Surgery Check-ups: 5 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 14 days
Recovery to Normal Appearance: Approximately 4 weeks
Full Recovery and Final Setting: 6–12 months
Forehead Augmentation
If your forehead appears flat or has depressions, it can be enhanced using an implant or fat grafting. Implants are inserted through a small incision within the hairline, which helps conceal any potential scarring.
Implants are long-lasting, safe, and provide the best long-term results, as they maintain their shape permanently. Fat grafting involves taking fat from another part of your body, processing it, and transferring it to the forehead. Typically, about 50% of the grafted fat survives after 1–2 months. The survival rate can be improved if combined with stem cell PRP therapy, though this is not offered at all clinics. The remaining fat is permanent, but significant weight changes may reduce volume.
Surgery Time: 1–2 hours
Anesthesia: Local anesthesia with sedation (deep sleep)
Hospitalization: Discharge 2–3 hours after surgery
After-Surgery Check-ups: 3 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 7 days (5 days if stitches are removed in your home country)
Recovery to Normal Appearance: 2–3 weeks
Full Recovery and Final Setting: 6–12 months
V-Line Surgery (Cheek, Chin, Jaw)
If you have a large or square jaw, V-line surgery may help you achieve a more slender, elegant facial contour. The goal of this procedure is to create a V-shaped line from the jaw down to the chin. Depending on your individual needs, the procedure may involve 1, 2, or 3 different steps.
- Simple cases: Only the chin is reshaped using chin shaving and/or genioplasty.
- Moderate cases: The jawbone is also reduced using mandible reduction surgery to achieve a narrower lower face.
- Complex cases: Cheekbones may be reduced as well using zygomatic (cheekbone) reduction to refine overall facial proportions.
Key Points for the V-Line Look:
- The face should appear slender and narrow.
- Ideal jaw width ratio: 0.8:1 (0.8 = jaw width; 1 = forehead width above eyebrows).
- The chin should be shorter and slimmer.
- The line from the nose tip to the lower lip should position the lower lip approximately 2mm below the nose tip.
V-Line surgery is a highly specialized procedure and should only be performed by an experienced facial surgeon.
Chin Shaving
For cases where minor adjustments to the chin are desired, the chin bone can be shaved and reshaped to achieve a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Many patients choose to reduce the chin into a V-line shape, which is widely regarded as feminine and elegant. This procedure is performed through the inside of the mouth, so no external incision is required.
Surgery Time: 1–2 hours
Anesthesia: Local anesthesia with sedation (deep sleep)
Hospitalization: Discharge 2–3 hours after surgery
After-Surgery Check-ups: 3 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 7 days (or 5 days if stitches will be removed in your home country)
Recovery to Normal Appearance: 2–3 weeks
Full Recovery and Final Setting: 6–12 months
Recessed Chin (Sliding Genioplasty)
If your chin appears less prominent, sliding genioplasty can help by moving the lower portion of the chin bone forward, giving a more defined and balanced appearance. This procedure is performed through the inside of the mouth, leaving no visible scars.
This surgery is especially suitable for individuals who need 4mm or more in chin projection and want to reshape the chin, such as achieving a more defined V-line. Since the chin contributes to approximately one-third of your facial structure, achieving proper balance is essential for harmonious facial proportions.
Surgery Time: 1.5–2.5 hours
Anesthesia: Local with sedation (deep sleep) or General anesthesia
Hospitalization: Discharge 3 hours after surgery
After-Surgery Check-ups: 3–4 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 7 days
Recovery to Normal Appearance: 2–3 weeks
Full Recovery and Final Setting: 6–12 months
Recessed Chin (Implant or Temporary Filler)
If you have a recessed chin and prefer to avoid a more extensive procedure like genioplasty, a chin implant may be a suitable option. The implant is inserted through the inside of the mouth to enhance chin projection.
Ideal candidates for a chin implant are those needing 4mm or less of additional projection. If you are not ready for an implant, chin fillers can provide temporary enhancement. While fillers cannot achieve the same dramatic effect as implants, they usually last 6 months to 1 year and can be dissolved with an anti-filler injection if desired.
There are also long-lasting 5–10 year fillers for the chin, but not everyone qualifies for these, and removal is much more difficult, requiring a surgical procedure.
Surgery Time: 30 minutes–1.5 hours
Anesthesia: Local with sedation (deep sleep)
Hospitalization: Discharge immediately for filler, 1–2 hours for chin implant
After-Surgery Check-ups: 1–3 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 1 day for filler, 7 days for chin implant
Recovery to Normal Appearance: 1–3 weeks
Full Recovery and Final Setting: 6–12 months
Protruding Chin Reduction
If your chin protrudes outward, it can make your face appear longer. Often, a long lower chin is accompanied by excessive gum exposure when smiling. The jaw may also be oversized and wide due to overdevelopment of the lower jaw, and asymmetry is commonly present.
There are three main methods to correct this issue:
- Genio Osteotomy – Used when the chin is too long. A portion of the chin is removed to reduce its length, and the chin is then slid backward to achieve balanced proportions.
- Lower Jaw Surgery – If the chin protrudes too far, the lower portion near the ears can be reshaped and the jaw repositioned.
- Two-Jaw Surgery – For complex cases, both the upper and lower jaws are adjusted to improve function and appearance. First, an upper jaw osteotomy is performed between the nose and upper teeth, followed by a lower jaw osteotomy. Both jaws are repositioned and fixed in the correct alignment.
Surgery Time: 2–4 hours
Anesthesia: General anesthesia
Hospitalization: 1–3 days
After-Surgery Check-ups: 5 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 14 days
Recovery to Normal Appearance: Approximately 4 weeks
Zygoma Reduction
If your cheekbones appear too large, wide, or prominent, zygoma reduction surgery can help improve facial harmony and balance. This procedure reshapes the cheekbones by trimming, fracturing, and repositioning them, often resulting in a softer and more delicate facial appearance.
The surgery is performed through the inside of the mouth, leaving no visible scars. It is commonly combined with square jaw reduction and chin surgery as part of a comprehensive V-line surgery.
Surgery Time: 2–4 hours
Anesthesia: General anesthesia
Hospitalization: 0–1 days
After-Surgery Check-ups: 5 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 14 days
Recovery to Normal Appearance: 3–4 weeks
Square Jaw Reduction
If you have a wide or flat jaw, the lower jawbone can be carefully reshaped at an angle to create a more refined appearance, often referred to as the V-line look. It is important to choose a shape that best complements your facial features. For example, if you only wish to reduce the square jaw without zygoma (cheekbone) reduction, the amount of reshaping will be limited by your natural cheekbone structure.
Seoul Guide Medical provides personalized consultations to determine the procedures that are most suitable for you. Square jaw reduction is often combined with zygomatic reduction and chin surgery as part of a comprehensive V-line procedure.
Surgery Time: 2–4 hours
Anesthesia: General anesthesia
Hospitalization: 0–1 days
After-Surgery Check-ups: 5 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 14 days
Recovery to Normal Appearance: 3–4 weeks
Fat Grafting (Anti-Aging)
Depressed or flat areas of the face can be improved through fat grafting, where fat is harvested from your body, processed, and then transferred to targeted areas. Common areas for fat transfer include the under eyes, cheeks, mouth lines, and forehead. This procedure is ideal for those looking to achieve a younger, more youthful appearance.
Typically, about 50% of the grafted fat remains permanently after 1–2 months. The survival rate of the fat can be enhanced by performing stem cell PRP therapy simultaneously (please note not all clinics offer this advanced procedure). Surgeons usually harvest a small amount of excess fat, which can be stored at the clinic for 1–2 months. Many clinics also offer free or discounted touch-up procedures if performed within a certain timeframe.
While fat grafting provides the most long-lasting and natural results, patients who prefer to avoid surgery may consider temporary filler injections. Filler is generally suitable for small areas such as the under eyes or mouth lines. Filler for larger areas like the forehead or cheeks is usually not recommended, but this is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Surgery Time: 1 hour
Anesthesia: Local anesthesia with sedation (deep sleep)
Hospitalization: Discharge 1–2 hours after the procedure
After-Surgery Check-ups: 2–3 sessions
Recommended Minimum Stay in Seoul: 3–7 days
Recovery to Normal Appearance: 3–4 weeks