Q: What are the pros and cons of V-line surgery?

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.

Q: Are there alternatives to V-line surgery?

One alternative to V-line surgery is a chin implant , to reshape the jawline and add more definition. An implant can be an especially good option for those who have a weak chin, but some doctors say that the results of this less-invasive procedure don't look as natural as those from V-line surgery. They also point to complications—including nerve damage, scarring, and bone resorption—that can arise from inserting a foreign object (the implant) into the body. Dermal fillers are a temporary option to augment the chin, which can create a more tapered chin and defined jawline. Botox injections can also be used on the sides of the jaw along the mandibular angle to weaken the masseter muscle and ultimately slim the face. However, this reshaping option is also temporary, so you'd need follow-up treatments every four to six months. Discuss all options with your surgeon to determine what's right for you. Related: Jawline Sculpting—Why It’s Not All About Filler

Question 1

What is V-line surgery?

Accepted Answer

V-line surgery reshapes the jawline from a "U" shape to a more streamlined, feminine "V" shape, from just under your ears to the tip of your chin. In combination with a sliding genioplasty, which moves the chin forward or back, V-line surgery can dramatically change the lower face.

The procedure is known by many names: Asian V-Line jaw surgery, V-shaped face surgery, jaw reduction surgery, square jaw surgery, or a mandibuloplasty.

Most candidates for V-line surgery have have either a short chin or a square jaw. The surgery reduces the width of the jaw by shaving down or cutting off portions of the bone, creating a more defined chin profile.

The surgical procedure is especially popular in South Korea, where a V-shaped jawline is a beauty ideal for Korean women.

It's also a common type of facial feminization surgery, either as a gender-affirming procedure or for cis women who just want a softer jawline.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of V-line surgery?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

How much does V-line surgery cost?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

V-line surgery before and after pictures

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

What happens during V-line surgery?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

How long does V-line surgery take?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

What should you expect during recovery?

Accepted Answer

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.”

Question 8

Are there alternatives to V-line surgery?

Accepted Answer

One alternative to V-line surgery is a chin implant, to reshape the jawline and add more definition. An implant can be an especially good option for those who have a weak chin, but some doctors say that the results of this less-invasive procedure don't look as natural as those from V-line surgery. They also point to complications—including nerve damage, scarring, and bone resorption—that can arise from inserting a foreign object (the implant) into the body.

Dermal fillers are a temporary option to augment the chin, which can create a more tapered chin and defined jawline.

Botox injections can also be used on the sides of the jaw along the mandibular angle to weaken the masseter muscle and ultimately slim the face. However, this reshaping option is also temporary, so you'd need follow-up treatments every four to six months.

Discuss all options with your surgeon to determine what's right for you.

Related: Jawline Sculpting—Why It’s Not All About Filler

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Megan Deem

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