Jaw Surgery and Facial Contouring: Avoiding Excessive Expectations

 When considering jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) or facial contouring procedures, it is crucial to refrain from having unrealistic expectations.

The lower jaw (mandible) contains sensory nerves responsible for the sensation of the lower lip and chin. Individuals contemplating jaw reduction surgery (square jaw surgery) often express the following request:

"Please cut everything below the jaw nerve!"

Similarly, those considering jaw surgery or facial contouring procedures such as cheekbone reduction, jaw reduction, or chin surgery frequently request:

"Make my face as small as possible!"

Procedures that alter facial bone structure, like jaw surgery and facial contouring (cheekbone reduction, jaw reduction, chin surgery), are complex and not minor surgeries. They typically require general anesthesia, making the decision to undergo them more challenging. Most individuals deciding on facial bone surgery carefully consider their options before making a difficult decision.

Once individuals commit to facial bone surgery, there is a tendency to harbor excessive ambitions, hoping for significant transformations. There is often a desire for considerable movement or removal of bones. Surgeons performing jaw surgery or facial contouring find it challenging to ignore such requests.

However, beauty lies in harmony. Harmony implies elements that fit well together without conflict or discord. The optimal aesthetic state occurs when each facial feature complements the others. Increasing the amount of bone movement or removal to induce drastic changes may disrupt this harmony. Excessive alterations to any facial feature make it challenging for the rest to remain harmonious.

A face with disrupted harmony appears awkward. When referring to cases where signs of surgery are evident and the individual looks unnatural, it is often called 'Senggwa,' meaning a monster. While seeking cosmetic surgery to enhance beauty, being labeled a monster is something to be avoided.

In reality, many cases of individuals seeking secondary surgery after jaw surgery or facial contouring analysis reveal that the primary cause of problems is often excessive bone removal or movement. Complications also arise when excessive bone removal causes skin sagging issues.

Surgical effectiveness is limited to the range allowed by the skin's elasticity covering the facial bones. Once this range is exceeded, sagging begins, and excessive bone removal in areas prone to sagging makes resolution challenging, even with additional surgeries. For instance, excessive bone removal in cheekbone reduction may result in sagging under the cheek, creating an unnatural appearance. Similarly, aggressive jawbone removal in square jaw surgery may lead to a 'square jaw' that looks awkward, giving the illusion of aging.

In conclusion, when contemplating jaw surgery, facial contouring, or similar facial bone surgeries, it is essential to discard the notion that significant changes are always better. When choosing a medical facility, it is crucial to avoid places that guarantee substantial effects. Finding a clinic that performs surgery in moderation, tailored to individual needs, and maintains harmony with the rest of the face is paramount.