An Overall Summary of Square Jaw Surgery

Square jaw surgery is a procedure that can be considered when the lower contour of the face is strong and prominent. 

 

 

As shown in the photo below, when the lower contour of the face looks heavy and large, it can give a somewhat more mature and strong impression than one’s actual age.

If we organize the parts that form the facial contour, they are as follows.

1.    Facial bone -> square jaw surgery

2.    Muscle -> Botox injections or radiofrequency masseter reduction

3.    Facial fat layer and skin elasticity -> liposuction, facelift (lifting)

 

As can be seen on the 3DCT, if the facial bones are angular and large, then even if the contours of the muscles or fat covering the bones are improved, it is often difficult to expect a fundamental change in appearance.

 

                                  

 

 

 

In such cases, one can consider surgery to make the facial bones smaller and smoother in contour.

Square jaw surgery is a procedure that refines the angular lower jaw bone through the inside of the mouth to make it smaller and smoother, and the operation time generally takes about 30 to 90 minutes.

In square jaw surgery, resection of the cortical bone is naturally performed as an additional part of the surgical process, and it is difficult to expect a major change in the lower face from cortical bone resection alone.

If only the angular part of the lower jawbone is lightly refined, the surgery time is around 30 minutes, and recovery after surgery is also quick, but the change in appearance over time after surgery may not be large. (PPT-3)

Therefore, in most cases, the area extending from the angular part of the lower jaw toward the front must be carefully refined as much as possible so that, after some time has passed following surgery, the change in appearance becomes clearly visible and a contour that does not look awkward can be created. (PPT-4)

The 3DCT images before and after surgery of the lower jawbone that I actually refined are as follows. (PPT-5,6,7)

The sutures used to close the intraoral surgical site are absorbable sutures, so they are usually absorbed on their own within two weeks after surgery, and no special treatment is needed.

 

It is appropriate to understand conventional square jaw surgery as a procedure that changes the contour from below the earlobe to the outer area of the lips into a smooth curve.

 

When the front chin is wide and large, surgery that refines the overall outline of the lower jaw, including the chin, into a slimmer shape is commonly called V-line square jaw surgery.

The chin area is more precisely called the mentum or symphysis, and the methods used to refine the mentum include various approaches as shown in the figure below.