Jaw shaping

Jaw shaping in Turkey: what it covers and how it works

Jaw shaping is a group of procedures that change the outline of the lower face: the line from the ear to the chin, the angle of the jaw and the chin itself. There is no single operation. Depending on your anatomy, the surgeon may build the jaw up (implants, filler, fat grafting), slim it down (reduction of a square or wide jaw angle, or muscle treatment), or define it by removing fat and tightening tissue under the jaw and neck. The common aim is a more balanced face, whether that means a sharper jawline for a soft one or a narrower, more tapered lower face for a wide one.

This guide explains each route, what evidence supports it, who it suits, what it costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, and how recovery works. If your main concern is loose skin along the jaw, you may be looking at a facelift instead. See also our plastic surgery treatments in Turkey.

Get my free quote

What jaw shaping options are there, and what does each do?

Jaw implants are solid silicone or porous implants placed along the jaw angle or body through incisions inside the mouth, to add width, definition or length; jaw implant surgery has its own guide. Fillers such as hyaluronic acid sculpt the angle and chin without surgery, but last months, not years. Jaw angle reduction (mandibular angle ostectomy) removes part of the bone at the angle to slim a square or wide lower face; it is a significant operation done through the mouth. Masseter treatment with botulinum toxin relaxes an enlarged chewing muscle and can slim the lower face, with effects lasting a few months. Jawline liposuction removes fat under the chin and along the jowls to sharpen the outline. Chin surgery (genioplasty or a chin implant) adds projection.

Does jaw shaping work? What does the evidence say?

Implants and bony procedures give reliable, lasting changes in jaw outline when planned for the right anatomy, and plastic surgery and maxillofacial literature supports them as established procedures. Fillers and botulinum toxin have good evidence for short-term improvement, but they are temporary and need repeating. Jawline liposuction helps when the blurring of the jaw is caused by fat rather than loose skin, and skin tightening is modest. A crucial point is that the cause of the problem decides the answer: a heavy jaw from bone, muscle or fat each needs a different treatment. A surgeon who does not examine your bite, bone and soft tissue before recommending one method is guessing.

Jaw shaping cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany

These ranges are approximate for the whole procedure, not hospital quotes, and vary widely with the method chosen.

The low end covers fillers or liposuction and the high end bone surgery. What changes the price: implant material and whether it is custom-made from a CT scan, bone work versus soft tissue, anaesthesia, the number of nights in hospital and whether chin work is combined. A package should list the CT scan or imaging, operation, anaesthetist, hospital stay, medication, follow-up and transfers; ask what is excluded and how the clinic handles an implant that needs adjusting.

Get my written quote

Jaw shaping or facelift: which problem are you solving?

A facelift lifts and tightens sagging skin and deeper tissue along the jowls and neck; it does not widen or slim the jaw bone. Jaw shaping alters the underlying structure or the fat and muscle around it. For some people a combination is appropriate, for example an implant to define the jaw angle alongside a lift to address laxity. A younger person with a soft jaw and good skin may only need an implant or filler, while an older person with jowls may need tightening more than any structural change.

Who is a good candidate for jaw shaping, and who should wait?

Good candidates are adults with a clear, specific concern, healthy gums and teeth, a finished facial growth and realistic expectations. Dental or bite problems, a jaw that is mis-aligned and affects chewing, or facial asymmetry from a bone cause may need an orthodontic or maxillofacial opinion first, as the right answer could be corrective jaw surgery rather than a cosmetic implant. Wait if you smoke and cannot stop, have an active dental infection, have a bleeding disorder or are seeking a look you cannot describe. Body dysmorphia concerns should be raised with your doctor before any irreversible surgery.

The operation step by step

Planning starts with photographs and often a CT scan. Jaw implants and angle reduction are done under general anaesthesia through incisions inside the mouth, so no scar shows on the face. For an implant the surgeon creates a pocket along the jaw bone, positions the implant, sometimes fixes it with a small screw, and closes the incisions with dissolvable stitches. For angle reduction, the bone at the angle is carefully shaped with a surgical saw or burr. Surgery takes one to three hours. Jawline liposuction uses small incisions under the chin and is often done under local anaesthetic with sedation. A fine facial dressing or compression garment is applied afterwards.

Jaw shaping before and after: what are realistic results?

Swelling can last for weeks, so the lower face looks heavier or uneven at first. Many people see their new outline after about two to three months and the final result at around six months, when swelling and muscle tightness have settled. Photographs show a sharper, wider or slimmer jaw line from the front and side, but they do not show the change in how the face feels, the numbness some people have for a while or the asymmetry that is natural in most faces. Ask the clinic for before-and-after photographs of patients with similar bone and soft tissue, and for a simulated outline on your own photographs.

Jaw shaping recovery: trip length and week-by-week milestones

Stay about five to seven days in Turkey after an implant or bone operation, so that the surgeon can check swelling, the mouth wounds and any drain. The first week is the heaviest: swelling, bruising, a limited mouth opening and a soft or liquid diet; rinse your mouth gently after meals. Most people return to desk work after about one to two weeks. A soft diet continues for two weeks or more, and contact sport waits about six to eight weeks. Fillers and botulinum toxin need no downtime beyond a day or two of mild swelling.

Plan my trip and recovery

Risks and complications of jaw shaping

Common effects are swelling, bruising, tightness and temporary numbness of the chin or lip. Risks of implants include infection, shifting, visible asymmetry and the need for removal. Bone reduction carries risks of nerve injury, bleeding, asymmetry and fracture. Fillers can cause lumps, bruising and, rarely, blocked blood vessels with serious tissue damage, so they should only be given by trained practitioners. The NHS and professional societies advise choosing a qualified surgeon, a licensed facility and a clear plan for infection or problems after you travel home.

How to choose a surgeon and what to ask the clinic

Look for a plastic, maxillofacial or craniofacial surgeon who examines your face, bite and imaging, explains why a particular method suits you, and provides a written plan and price. Red flags include the same implant for every patient, no scan, promises of exact measurements, and no plan for revisions. Read how our process works and send photographs through the free quote page for a written plan.

• Is my problem bone, muscle, fat or skin, and how do you know?
• Which option do you advise and which do you advise against?
• Will an implant be custom-made, and from which material?
• What does the price include, and what if I need a revision?
• Who handles problems after I return home?

Get my free plan

Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey

Academic Hospital

Üsküdar, Istanbul

MoHHealth Tourism Licence+2

Get Free Quote

Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital

Pendik, Istanbul

JCIMoH+2

Get Free Quote

View all

Frequently asked questions