V-Line Surgery: What You Need to Know

Pros

• V-line surgery completely changes your jaw shape, making it look more streamlined and less square.

• Results are permanent—which is great news if you’re happy with your new v-shape.

• This type of plastic surgery has many variations, so it can be customized to each patient’s bone structure and aesthetic goals.

Cons

• Again, the results of this cosmetic surgery are permanent. If you end up with facial asymmetry or don’t like the look of your V-line face once you’re fully healed, you’ll have to undergo another procedure to correct it.

• You can expect to need two weeks of downtime after surgery.

• Common side effects include temporary bruising and swelling, which can take months to fully resolve.

• As with other facial contouring surgeries, there's some risk of nerve damage. This complication is usually only temporary, but the lip numbness or uneven smiling that results may be permanent, in rare cases.

• Average Cost:
• $9,900

• Range:
• $2,240 - $17,000

Your cost will depend on your surgeon’s level experience, their practice location, and the extent of your procedure. 

V-line surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure, so it’s not covered by medical insurance. However, most surgeons offer payment plans or accept some form of plastic surgery financing.

See our complete guide to V-line surgery costs

The V-line surgery photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

The surgery is done under general anesthesia, so you’ll be completely asleep. Your surgeon will tailor the procedure to your unique anatomy and goals.

Typically, they start by making a series of small, precise incisions inside your mouth, to allow them to access and shave or cut your jawbone. Some surgeons also perform a T osteotomy, which cuts the bottom of the mandible in a T-shape and then brings together two smaller pieces of bone, to narrow the chin. 

Your surgeon may remove bone at the back of your jaw by shaving or by cutting the lower edge of the bone, streamlining your lower jaw shape.

“V-line surgery makes a square jaw into a more tapered and heart-shaped face,” explains Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Regina Rodman. “This usually involves removing the angle of the mandible [the lower jaw], which softens the back part of the jaw. Then I alter the chin, either by bringing it forward or down, or narrowing the edges to make it more pointed and slim. The combination of these two steps creates a powerful change in the lower face.” 

“In men who undergo this procedure, it’s critical to determine what the aesthetic expectations are from the side view as well,” explains Carmel, Indiana, plastic surgeon Dr. Barry Eppley. “Men may want a slimmer jawline from the front view but may not want the jaw angles amputated, as in traditional V-line surgery, which creates a very high-angle look. A 3D CT scan is very useful in planning this type of surgery, as is computer imaging of the type of jawline change you want from three different views.”

Related: 6 Procedures for a More Defined Jawline, With or Without Surgery

How long your V-line surgery takes will depend on the complexity of your procedure. Typically, you can expect your surgery to take between one to three hours. 

You'll also spend some time in a recovery room for the anesthesia to wear off before you can head home.

Most people can head back to work after two weeks of recovery time, but it takes at least a month for the majority of the swelling to go down.

During the first two weeks of your recovery period, you'll have discomfort, bruising, numbness, and significant swelling. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medication, though over-the-counter options may keep you comfortable enough after that. 

Elevating your face, applying light ice packs, and eating a soft or liquid diet can help ease the swelling. It's also beneficial to avoid vigorous exercise for at least a month, so you don't make the swelling worse.

It may take three months post-surgery before your face shape looks completely natural and you can see your final results. 

RealSelf Tip: Some patients worry that reducing their jawline will lead to a double chin, sagging skin, or premature aging. That does not seem to be an issue, however, according to most surgeons.

“The amount of sagging skin after the V-line surgery depends on each patient,” says Dr. Rodman. “Each of my patients wears a facial garment afterward to help support the soft tissue and have it seal to the new bone. I’ve found that in young patients with elastic skin, this usually heals fine. I do offer patients the Renuvion [or J-Plasma] skin tightening at the same time. This is great for older patients or young patients who have some skin laxity. This can be done at the same time as V-line surgery or after, if the patient still wants tighter skin to define the new jawline.”