What is mandibular contouring surgery?

In daily life, some individuals are dissatisfied with their facial contours and consider mandibular angle reduction surgery (“jaw shaving” or “mandible contouring”) to achieve a slimmer facial appearance. However, they worry about potential impacts on their overall health. What exactly is mandibular angle reduction surgery?

What Is Mandibular Angle Reduction Surgery?

Mandibular angle reduction surgery is a cosmetic procedure involving an incision made inside the mouth near the mandibular angle. It entails complete removal of excess bone from both the inner and outer layers of the mandible, followed by contouring and thinning of the remaining lateral mandibular cortex using specialized grinding instruments. During the procedure, the facial skin and muscles are elevated through an intraoral approach; the masseter muscle is carefully separated from the periosteum to fully expose the targeted bony area. Based on the preoperative surgical plan, precise osteotomy lines are marked, and then a long-handled oscillating saw is used to perform the osteotomy along these lines. Typically, a curved segment measuring approximately 3–4 cm in length and 1–2 cm in height is removed from the mandibular angle, and the resulting bony edges are smoothed to achieve a refined, slimmer facial contour.

During the mandibular angle reduction procedure, to improve surgical exposure of the mandibular angle region and minimize the risk of inadvertent vascular injury due to limited visibility, part of the masseter tendon attaching to the mandibular angle is carefully transected using tissue scissors.

This procedure demands a high level of surgical expertise. Therefore, patients seeking this treatment must select a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience, proven technical skill, and strong professional credentials to minimize potential risks. Postoperatively, diligent wound care is essential—keeping the surgical site clean and dry is critical for optimal healing. We hope this information has been helpful to you!