Facial Contouring Types & Care

The main types of facial contouring

1) Zygoma (cheekbone) reduction

Surgeons reshape the zygomatic body or arch to soften a wide midface. Candidates often have prominent lateral cheeks that create a strong shadow in photos. Goals include a balanced front view and a smoother side profile. Planning with three-dimensional imaging helps protect the infra-orbital nerve and preserves midface support.

2) Mandibular angle reduction (V-line jaw)

This option reduces a square lower face by trimming the mandibular angle and the lateral cortex. Some cases add a cortical shaving along the jawline to remove extra width. Surgeons protect the inferior alveolar nerve and keep a natural curvature so the chin and jaw blend without sharp steps.

3) Genioplasty (chin reshaping)

Sliding genioplasty moves the chin segment forward, backward, up, or down. It improves projection and lip-chin balance without adding a foreign implant. Patients with microgenia or a retruded chin often prefer this choice for stable bone-to-bone healing. Others may choose a chin implant for shorter downtime.

4) Malar reduction and repositioning

This technique addresses high or droopy cheekbones that make the face look long or tired. Surgeons contour the malar prominence and, when needed, reposition soft tissue with internal suspension. The goal is a youthful arc from the cheek to the mouth corner without hollowing.

5) Buccal fat removal (careful selection)

Selected round-face patients can benefit when the buccal pad bulges in the submalar zone. Surgeons avoid over-resection to prevent a hollowed midface later in life. Thin patients rarely qualify because removal can age the face.

6) Masseter reduction by surgical contouring

When a bulky masseter muscle creates width, surgeons may combine bony contouring with controlled muscle reduction. In mild muscle hypertrophy, doctors can start with nonsurgical reduction; in structural width, bone work leads the plan.

7) Combined sequences

Many faces need a plan that blends two or more methods. A common pair is zygomatic reduction + V-line, or genioplasty + mandibular angle trim. Staging reduces swelling and protects the airway. Your team should explain which sequence improves safety and downtime for your case.

Match procedures to face types

• Square lower face with flat chin: mandibular angle reduction plus genioplasty often brings the best balance.
• Wide upper midface with shadow at the cheek: zygoma reduction softens the front view and the three-quarter angle.
• Short or weak chin with normal width: sliding genioplasty or a chin implant improves projection and cervicomental angle.
• Full lower cheeks on a round face: consider buccal fat removal only if the pad bulges on bite and smile.
• Strong masseter bulk: evaluate muscle versus bone; treat the priority structure first.

Pre-op checklist

(start seven to ten days before)

Build a safe baseline. Review all prescriptions and supplements with your surgeon. Blood thinners and some herbs, such as ginseng or gingko, can raise bleeding risk. Stop nicotine and avoid alcohol for at least seven days to support wound healing and stable blood pressure. Remove lash extensions and avoid contact lenses for several days before surgery. Practice gentle facial cleansing with a mild, fragrance-free wash each night. Prepare the home kit: sterile gauze, cold packs, a soft neck pillow, saline spray, and a pill box. Arrange help at home for two light days and plan easy meals that are low in salt.

Day-of-surgery guide

Keep the routine simple. Arrive with a clean face and no makeup, sunscreen, or moisturizer. Wear a zip-front top to avoid pulling fabric across the face later. Eat a light meal a few hours before the procedure unless your surgeon says otherwise. Confirm the plan again: target areas, incision locations, bone versus implant work, and anesthesia type. Ask the nurse to review red-flag symptoms and the first seventy-two-hour schedule. Clear expectations reduce stress and improve compliance.

The first seventy-two hours after surgery

Cold control and quiet rest lead recovery. Use cold compresses for ten to fifteen minutes every hour while awake. Keep your head elevated at about thirty degrees during naps and at night. Take prescriptions on time, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medicine, and pain control. Avoid bending, running, or any heavy lifting that raises blood pressure in the face. Limit screens and follow the twenty-twenty-twenty rule to reduce eye strain. Sip water often and choose soft, low-salt foods. Call your clinic if you notice severe pain, expanding swelling on one side, fever over 38 degrees Celsius, vision change, or bleeding that does not slow with gentle pressure.

Days three to seven: switch to gentle warmth

As swelling plateaus, switch from cold to warm compress twice a day for five to seven minutes. Warmth improves circulation and helps the body clear bruising. Keep incisions clean per your protocol. If you have intraoral incisions, rinse with prescribed mouthwash after meals and avoid spicy or crumbly foods. Walk indoors, but skip high-intensity workouts. Many patients attend suture removal between day five and day seven. Your team will check nerve function, bite, and symmetry at that visit.

Weeks two to four: back to routine, with limits

Light cardio returns around week two if swelling stays mild. Delay heavy lifting until week three or week four. Avoid direct pressure on healing bones, such as tight mask straps or hard chin rests. If your plan includes a chin implant or plates, your surgeon may advise a soft diet for up to two weeks. Use sun protection outdoors. Wear a wide-brim hat and apply mineral sunscreen along healed skin, not open wounds. With intraoral incisions, keep excellent dental hygiene and floss gently every night.

Months two to three: refine, protect, and monitor

Most swelling resolves by week eight, yet subtle changes continue. Nerves wake up, and sensation improves in small steps. Your surgeon may approve scar massage once the incision seals and the skin tolerates pressure. Some patients use silicone gel or sheets for three to eight weeks to reduce scar visibility. Keep sodium low and hydration steady if you still see evening puffiness. Book a three-month review to check bite stability, midface support, and chin projection. Discuss any asymmetry; mild differences often fade as tissues relax.

Nutrition and lifestyle that help results

Aim for enough protein each day to support collagen and bone healing. Split protein across meals to keep energy even. Add vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits that digest easily. Sleep seven to nine hours with the head slightly raised during the first two weeks. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, which reduce blood supply to healing tissue. Delay alcohol until your surgeon clears it. Gentle neck and shoulder stretches reduce tension that can pull on the jawline.

Red-flag checklist to contact your clinic

Call right away for fever over 38 degrees Celsius, sudden vision change, severe one-sided swelling, foul odor from incisions, or loss of bite alignment. Report numbness that worsens after the first two weeks or pain that spikes despite medication. Prompt feedback keeps healing on track.

Education guide for clinics

Clinics raise safety and trust when they standardize education. Build one-page SOPs for pre-op calls, day-of check-in, discharge, and day-three follow-up. Use the same words across the team so patients hear one message. Give every patient a small care kit with gauze, a cold-warm compress card, a pill box, and QR codes for videos. Send automated SMS at twenty-four hours, seventy-two hours, and day seven. Each text links to a short page that repeats the key steps. Hold a monthly case review. Track one improvement item, such as better mouth-rinse compliance after intraoral cuts or clearer diagrams for cold versus warm timing. Consistency lowers complication rates and improves ratings.