Jawbone contouring is a cosmetic procedure that reshapes and refines the lower face — correcting a wide, square, asymmetric or over-prominent jaw — to create a more balanced, harmonious and defined facial profile. It can be performed surgically through mandibular angle reduction (shaving the bony corners of the lower jaw through incisions inside the mouth, leaving no external scars), masseter muscle reduction, or genioplasty (chin reshaping). It can also be performed non-surgically using Botox injections to slim an overdeveloped masseter muscle, or hyaluronic acid filler to add structural definition and projection to a weak jawline. The right approach depends on whether your jaw concern is caused by bone structure, muscle bulk or a lack of volume — determined at consultation through clinical assessment and imaging.

This is the most important question in jaw contouring — and the answer determines everything. A simple clinical test helps distinguish: if you place your fingers on your jaw angles and clench your teeth hard, you can feel whether it's a muscle that bulges outward (masseter hypertrophy — ideal for Botox) or bone that is permanently prominent (bone-driven — requires surgical contouring for permanent correction). Your doctor at Maynee will perform this assessment at consultation along with X-ray or CT imaging if needed. Patients with muscle-driven jaw width respond very well to non-surgical Botox. Patients with bone-driven jaw width require surgical mandibular angle reduction for a lasting result. Many patients have both contributing factors and benefit from a combined surgical + non-surgical approach. The wrong treatment for the wrong root cause will not achieve your goal — which is why accurate assessment at consultation is so critical.

No — jawbone contouring surgery leaves no visible external scars. All surgical incisions are made inside the mouth between the cheek and the lower gum, giving the surgeon access to the jawbone through the oral mucosa. There are no cuts on the skin surface of the face, neck or jaw at any point. Incisions are closed with fine, dissolvable sutures internally — which means once healed, there is nothing visible externally. This scar-free approach is one of the most significant advantages of jawbone contouring surgery compared to other facial cosmetic procedures — patients can undergo a dramatic lower face transformation with no traceable evidence of surgery on the skin.

Masseter Botox (non-surgical jaw slimming) involves injecting small amounts of botulinum toxin into the masseter muscle — the large chewing muscle on either side of the jaw. In patients whose square or wide jaw appearance is caused by overdeveloped masseter muscles (from teeth grinding, clenching or habitual heavy chewing), the Botox relaxes the muscle, causing it to gradually reduce in bulk. Unlike facial wrinkle Botox that works in days, masseter Botox works more slowly — you begin to see the jaw slimming effect at 4–6 weeks, with the peak result visible at 3 months as the muscle progressively atrophies. The results last 4–6 months initially. With repeated treatments, the masseter atrophies progressively and intervals between treatments often lengthen over time. It also helps significantly with jaw pain, teeth grinding and tension headaches as a secondary benefit.

After surgical jawbone contouring, you can expect: the first 1–2 days — rest at home; facial compression garment worn for 2 weeks; significant swelling and jaw tightness managed with prescribed medication. Week 1–2 — most patients take time off work; diet strictly limited to liquids and very soft foods. Weeks 3–6 — swelling progressively reduces (~70% gone); softer foods gradually reintroduced; most patients return to work and normal activities. By 6–8 weeks, swelling has significantly resolved and the jaw contour is much improved and clearly visible. However, subtle deep-layer swelling continues to resolve for up to 6–12 months — the truly final, fully resolved result is typically visible at 9–12 months post-surgery. During this period, the jaw will look progressively better and more refined as each month passes.

Yes — jawbone contouring is the primary cosmetic procedure performed specifically to achieve a V-line face shape. The V-line result — where the face tapers from the widest point of the cheekbones down to a refined chin — is achieved by reducing the width and prominence of the mandibular angles (the bony corners of the lower jaw) and often simultaneously refining the chin (genioplasty) to create a more pointed, elegant chin as the tip of the V. If the jaw width is primarily muscle-driven, masseter Botox combined with chin filler can achieve a meaningful V-line improvement non-surgically. The most comprehensive V-line results are achieved through surgical mandibular angle reduction combined with genioplasty — but the appropriate approach for your specific anatomy is determined at consultation.

After surgical jawbone contouring, your chewing ability will be temporarily reduced during recovery — a liquid and soft diet is required for 4–6 weeks while the jaw heals, and hard or chewy foods are avoided for up to 8 weeks. However, once fully healed, your chewing ability and bite function return to normal. The mandibular angle reduction targets the aesthetic bony prominence at the back corners of the jaw — not the joint or the primary chewing mechanism. For masseter Botox patients, some temporary reduction in chewing power (particularly with very tough foods) is noticed for the first few weeks — this is entirely expected and temporary. Most patients find this mild and quickly adapt. Over time, as the masseter reduces in size, normal chewing remains completely functional.

Yes — masseter Botox is one of the most effective treatments for bruxism (habitual teeth grinding or jaw clenching). By relaxing the masseter muscle with Botox, the involuntary force of jaw clenching during sleep is significantly reduced — protecting the teeth from grinding damage, reducing jaw joint (TMJ) strain and alleviating the chronic tension headaches that many bruxism sufferers experience, often for years. The cosmetic benefit — a slimmer, more oval lower face — is achieved simultaneously. For patients presenting with overdeveloped masseter muscles from bruxism, masseter Botox delivers a genuine dual clinical outcome: aesthetic jaw slimming and functional bruxism management in a single treatment. It is not a cure for bruxism (the underlying habit remains), but it is a highly effective symptom management strategy.

The cost of jawbone contouring at Maynee in Chennai is discussed fully at your consultation after a thorough lower face assessment and personalised treatment plan have been completed. Cost varies significantly depending on the approach: surgical mandibular angle reduction involves anaesthesia, operating theatre, surgical fee and post-operative care, so it is naturally more involved than non-surgical options; non-surgical masseter Botox and jaw filler are significantly more accessible cost-wise and require no facility or recovery costs. The specific combination of procedures planned for your jaw anatomy and goals determines the final cost. We provide complete, transparent pricing at consultation with no hidden fees — and no pressure to commit at that appointment.

Surgical jawbone contouring (mandibular angle reduction) delivers a permanent result — the jawbone is structurally reshaped and the change is lasting. It cannot be reversed, which is why careful pre-surgical planning, realistic expectations and honest consultation are essential before choosing the surgical approach. Non-surgical options offer significantly more flexibility: Masseter Botox results are temporary (4–6 months) and naturally fade as the Botox metabolises — no reversal is required. Hyaluronic acid jaw filler is fully reversible at any point using hyaluronidase (a dissolving enzyme). For patients who want to experience a jaw improvement before committing to surgery, non-surgical options offer a low-risk trial — though it is important to understand that non-surgical results will never replicate what surgery can achieve for bone-driven concerns.