In Korea, facial contouring is a group of bone operations that change the outline of the face by reducing the cheekbones, trimming the jaw angles or reshaping the chin, alone or in combination. Surgeons work mostly through cuts inside the mouth, under general anesthesia, after a CT scan of the skull. The face stays swollen for weeks, and the slimmer outline usually settles around three months after jaw work. Lip or cheek numbness, uneven sides and a long recovery are the main trade-offs. Below: which bone does what, how surgeons plan, and the risks to raise at consultation.
Guide
Which bone controls the outline you want to change
A face that looks wide can be wide in different places. Width high between the temples and cheeks usually comes from the zygoma and its arch. Width low comes from flaring mandible angles. A long, broad or pointed chin points to the front of the jaw. Matching the complaint to the right bone is the first job of the consultation.
A frank surgeon will also say when the bulk is muscle or fat rather than bone, because no bone cut can thin a large masseter muscle.
| Area | Typical bone work | Usual access | Specific risk to ask about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper-mid face width | Cheekbone reduction: zygoma body and arch moved inward | Mouth plus a small sideburn cut | Cheek drooping, uneven arch healing, numbness under the eye |
| Square lower face | Jaw angle resection, often with outer bone shaving | Inside the mouth | Bleeding, a step at the cut edge |
| Wide, long or short chin | Genioplasty: chin bone narrowed, shortened or moved | Behind the lower lip | Lip and chin numbness |
Guide
Why surgeons plan from the whole face, not one bone
Writing in Facial Plastic Surgery in 2020, Lee and Park note that trimming only the side contour of the mandible may change the frontal view very little. Their approach combines a narrowing genioplasty, done by removing a central strip of chin bone, with resection of the outer cortex along the jaw, so the lower face looks slimmer from the front as well as in profile.
The same authors stress assessing symmetry, the bite between the upper and lower jaw, the covering soft tissue and overall facial balance. They add that ideas of an attractive face shape vary with ethnic and cultural background, so a visitor from abroad should say clearly how much change looks natural to them.
- Ask to see your CT scan and where the cuts are planned.
- Ask whether a bite problem needs orthognathic surgery instead.
Guide
How healing unfolds after facial bone surgery
Lee and Lee, describing mandibuloplasty and genioplasty in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open in 2017, report that patients may eat regular food from the day after jaw surgery, gargle for two weeks and start mouth-opening practice after two weeks. Swelling around the chin can linger, and the slimming effect is usually apparent about three months after surgery.
In practice the first days bring tight swelling, a compression garment and a soft diet. Bruising fades over the following weeks while the face still looks fuller than the final result. Plan the trip so the treating surgeon checks the wounds before you fly, and get that clearance date in writing.
Guide
Risks to weigh honestly before saying yes
Bone surgery on the face carries real risks. Nerve injury worries visitors most. Lee and Lee describe mental nerve symptoms as uncommon and report that most patients with numbness or tingling improve without treatment over six months to two years, so some people live with altered lip sensation for a long time.
- Numbness of the lower lip, chin or cheek, occasionally lasting.
- Asymmetry between the two sides, sometimes needing revision.
- A step or secondary angle along the jaw where bone was cut.
- Cheek soft tissue sagging after the zygoma is moved inward.
- Bleeding, infection or slow bone healing.
- Results that cannot be reversed, because removed bone is gone.
Guide
When non-surgical slimming is the more fitting route
Some faces look square because of muscle, not bone. Botulinum toxin in a large masseter can soften the jaw line over several weeks without an incision, though it wears off and needs repeat sessions. Hyaluronic acid filler can add projection to a short chin. Neither makes a bone smaller.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Contouring the Mandible for Aesthetic Enhancement in Asian PatientsFacial Plastic Surgery · 2020 · doi:10.1055/s-0040-1717080
A technique review arguing that lower-face slimming in Asian patients needs narrowing genioplasty combined with outer-cortex resection, planned from symmetry, bite, soft tissue and the patient's own aesthetic preference.
- Facial Contouring Surgery—Mandibuloplasty: Genioplasty and Mandible Angle CorrectionPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open · 2017 · doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000001296
A video-based technique report from Seoul covering T-shaped narrowing genioplasty and angle resection, with recovery steps and complications such as mental nerve numbness and step deformity.
FAQ
Questions about Plastic surgery in Gangnam
Is facial contouring in Korea done under general anesthesia?
Yes, cheekbone, jaw angle and chin bone operations are normally performed under general anesthesia in a surgical facility. Operating time grows when two or three areas are combined, and an overnight stay for observation is common. Ask who gives and monitors the anesthesia and which emergency equipment is on site. Those details matter more for bone surgery than for shorter facial procedures.
Can facial contouring korea clinics operate on just one bone?
Yes, a single procedure such as a genioplasty or a cheekbone reduction is common when only one area causes the width. Lee and Park, in Facial Plastic Surgery in 2020, note that side jaw trimming alone can change the frontal view little, which is why combinations are often proposed. Ask the surgeon to show on your scan what one operation would and would not achieve.
How long can numbness last after facial contour surgery in Korea?
Numbness usually improves over months, though recovery can take up to two years for some people. Lee and Lee, in a 2017 report in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, describe most patients with chin numbness or tingling improving without treatment in six months to two years. Cheekbone surgery can affect sensation below the eye in a similar way, so ask how the nerves are protected.
Does cheekbone reduction make the cheeks droop?
It can, because the cheek soft tissue loses some bony support when the zygoma is moved inward, and detached tissue may settle lower. Surgeons limit this by lifting less tissue and fixing the bone firmly. Thin skin, older age or existing laxity raise the risk, so ask whether a smaller reduction suits you. A firm, well-supported cheek tends to tolerate the change.
What scans are needed before facial bone surgery in Korea?
A CT scan of the facial skeleton is the standard planning scan, often with standardized photographs and a bite check. It shows bone thickness, the route of nerves and differences between the two sides. Ask whether records sent from home will be reused, and keep copies of every scan for future follow-up. A doctor at home will need them if questions arise later.
Can contouring surgery fix an uneven face?
It can reduce some bony asymmetry, but perfectly matching sides are not a realistic goal. Every face has natural differences in bone, muscle and soft tissue, and swelling can make one side look different for weeks. If the unevenness comes from the bite, orthognathic surgery may be the appropriate route. A surgeon should name that option before planning any reduction.