Is It Safer To Do Jaw Angle Reduction In Stages?

Q: Dr. Eppley, My problem is that my jaw line is low which gives me a rectangular/long face look. But honestly I don’t really mind that… I prefer having a softer angle. Mine is really low. If it was higher it would be good. But I’m wondering if you can actually do this surgery in several appointments? Like each time cut/thin off a tiny bit of the bone, so that it’s safer and faster… Honestly i’m scared that the results will be too drastic.

A: On a practical basis, you would really only go through a single jaw angle reduction procedure….and be certain that it is not too radically done. It is possible to do it in stages, and there is nothing wrong with that approach (and might end up that way anyway with a conservative reduction and if you like the improvement and want more), but most patients would only want one surgery. But the key in jaw angle reduction in general is too simply not over do it. It is somewhat easier to do more than to add back. Whether the jaw angle reduction procedure takes off a little or a lot, its safety, time to do the surgery and recovery would still be the same.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana