Masseter Muscle Reduction (Jaw Shaving Surgery)
Achieve facial harmony
Why Jaw Reduction?
Your jawline determines a huge part of your facial structure and balance. How can you slim your jawline or get a more defined jawline? The answer is Masseter Muscle Reduction, also called Jaw Slimming Surgery, Jaw Contouring, or Jaw Shaving.
What is the Masseter Muscle?
The masseter muscle is the muscle used when chewing or talking. It attaches around the jaw angle and goes into the cheekbone and temple areas. You can feel this best below the ear when you open your mouth wide and move your jaw. Over time, this muscle can grow and become bulkier in patients who grind their teeth or chew gum excessively. You can also have a naturally wider bone structure in your jaw, which is then exacerbated by the masseter muscle on top.
What is Masseter Muscle Reduction (Jaw Slimming Surgery)?
Masseter Muscle Reduction, also known as jaw reduction surgery or jaw shaving, is a procedure done to reduce the size of the masseter muscle. This helps to achieve a slimmer, more feminine, more symmetrical face for people who feel that their jawline is too masculine, strong, square, or prominent. Reducing the jawline and giving it a more feminine shape makes a huge difference in the overall appearance of the face and helps to balance all other features.
It is often done in combination with other procedures in facial feminization surgery for patients seeking to transition from male to female. Typically, male jaws are wider, heavier, and more square than female jaws. Female jaws are narrower, more rounded, and more tapered, giving them an oval or heart shaped face as opposed to a square shape. Jaw contouring can help you achieve a softer, more balanced female face, especially when used in combination with other feminizing procedures.
Jaw Reduction Surgery Risks
Some methods of jaw reduction surgery involve restructuring the jaw by cutting pieces of bone off and reattaching them in a different way, which can be dangerous. Dr. Zukowski does not practice these methods – he reduces the muscle and aggressively recontours the bone by shaving it. Because of this, jaw reduction surgery performed by Dr. Zukowski is no more dangerous than the other types of cosmetic facial surgery that he offers.
What Can I Expect Before, During, and After the Procedure?
Before: As with all surgeries, Dr. Zukowski and his staff will advise you on how best to prepare. You will be asked to stop using tobacco products 21 days before surgery, and you may be asked to stop taking certain medications. You will have at least one pre-operative appointment.
During: During the surgery, you will be under general anesthesia. Dr. Zukowski will make 4” incisions inside your mouth where your cheek meets your gums. He will trim down the masseter muscle, being very careful to work along the lines of the muscle bundles for good uniformity. He will also shave down your jaw bone according to your anatomy to contour your face for a more feminine structure.
After: Immediately after the surgery, you will wear a compressive dressing on your face. You will be instructed to apply cold compresses to the surgical area to reduce swelling. You will not be able to eat solid food for the first couple of days after the procedure. Dr. Zukowski likens it to having all four wisdom teeth removed, since many adults have undergone that surgery.
If you follow your post-op instructions and your recovery progresses well, you can expect to feel comfortable going out in public in as little as 2 weeks, though this can vary by patient. Complete healing typically occurs within 12-16 months.
The most important part of recovering from masseter muscle reduction surgery is doing the prescribed jaw exercises. You use your jaw throughout the day to talk, eat, and yawn. As the muscle heals, it grows tight. This will make you reluctant to open your mouth as wide, but you must perform exercises to stretch the masseter muscle so that it recovers to full function and range of motion.
Dr. Zukowski can give you a softer, more balanced, more feminine facial structure. He will ensure that your new jawline matches the rest of your facial features to help you achieve a beautiful harmony.
If you have any concerns or questions about masseter muscle reduction surgery (jaw reduction), please don’t hesitate to contact our office in Chicago to learn more.
Visit the patient gallery to see before and after transformations.