- Jaw reduction surgery usually involves cutting off a portion of the mandible or removing the outer cortex of the mandible in order to a smaller or ‘V’ shaped jawline. Cheekbone reduction aims to do the same thing by either moving the bone inwards or shaving it to make the face smoother.
2 techniques of Jaw reduction
- Skin Incision – the surgery is made outside the mouth
- An incision will be made near the outside jaw angle at a length of about 3-5 cm. The surgeon will make a cut through the muscle to reach the angle of lower jaw, and then lift the muscle that covers the lower jaw bone at a length equal to the bone to be removed. An electric saw will be used to cut and remove the jaw bone to have the desired width. After the bone is removed, the surgeon will shave the remaining bone to create a smooth arch and then close the cut by using fine sutures.
Disadvantage: The nerve that supplies sensation to the muscle at the mouth corners may be injured, causing the outer corners of the mouth to descend.
- Incision in the inside of the mouth
- An incision of about 3-5 cm will be made behind the last molar tooth by gradually cutting open the muscle that covers the jaw bone and the tissues overlying the bone outer surface will be lifted. Then an electric saw will be used to cut the lower jaw bone. After the bone is removed, the surgeon will shave the remaining bone to create a smooth arch and then close the cut by using fine sutures. Lower jaw bone reduction surgery requires a high level of skill and experience of plastic and reconstructive surgeons to render the surgery outcome with an aesthetically pleasing and balanced facial shape.
Advantage: The side effect to the nerve that supplies sensation to the muscle at the mouth corners can be reduced.
