Will Reducing My Jaw Angles Help My Neck Pain?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am an Asian female with prominent jaw angle. I would like them reduced to be more angular. They are also causing pain to my neck and shoulders. I want to make them more narrow so my neck isn’t as tight.

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. I can clearly see your flared jaw angles which seem not to fit the rest of your face. I have not heard of prominent jaw  angles causing neck discomfort and tightness but you would know best how it feels on you.  The jaw angles are enveloped by the pteryomassteric muscles and not any neck muscles per se so I can not speak for how successful they would be in reducing your neck and shoulder pain. Your jaw angles could be reduced by a sagittal saw reduction technique to narrow them as opposed to a complete transection technique of the entire angle. This is my preferred method which I think gives a better aesthetic result.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana