ON V-line Contouring Review: Adding a V-line After Cheekbone Surgery
Why I Decided on V-line Surgery at O.N Clinic
Hello, I am Dr. Oh Myung-jun of O.N Clinic. Today, I would like to share the story of a patient who underwent V-line jaw Surgery after cheekbone revision Surgery. The patient had undergone cheekbone revision Surgery with me about a month prior and was so satisfied with the results that they decided to proceed with V-line Surgery. During the initial Consultation, the patient still had some swelling from the cheekbone Surgery, but they were already noticing changes in their facial line.
The patient wanted to improve their blunt-looking chin. I focused not just on shaving the jaw, but on designing it to consider the overall harmony and natural lines of the face. In particular, I aimed to preserve the jaw angle as much as possible while giving it a short and rounded feel, making the entire face appear smaller and softer, in proportion to the previously reduced midface.
The Importance of Cortical Bone Excision and Asymmetry Improvement
One of the areas many people are curious about regarding V-line Surgery is cortical bone excision. The patient also asked, "Do I need to cut the cortical bone?" I explained that both the outer and inner cortical bone should be excised simultaneously. This is because if only the outer cortical bone is cut, the jawline can actually sag and droop. Understanding the bone structure accurately and approaching it delicately is essential to increasing satisfaction and stability after Surgery.
Furthermore, the patient was concerned about jaw asymmetry. While CT scans confirmed a slight misalignment of the lower jaw, it is difficult to achieve perfect symmetry through Surgery for pre-existing asymmetry. Instead, I focused on making the right jaw slightly shorter while preserving the angle, and adjusting the height difference between both sides to create the most balanced line possible.
"For cortical bone excision, you must cut both the outer and inner cortical bone simultaneously. If you only cut the outer cortical bone, the jawline will actually sag and droop." – Dr. Oh Myung-jun
Post-Surgery Pain and Recovery Process
When asked which was more painful between the cheekbone Surgery and jaw Surgery, the patient surprisingly said that the jaw Surgery did not hurt at all. They also mentioned that the swelling was not severe, which seems to have been partly due to the long-term use of a compression band. The lower jaw swelling will further subside over time, resulting in an even more slender line.
Looking at the pre-Surgery CT scans, the patient tended to have a slightly protruding mouth and a long-looking jaw. After Surgery, the mouth appeared to recede and the jawline improved as if they had undergone orthognathic Surgery, showing such a dramatic change that they might even be asked if they had undergone orthognathic Surgery. The nerve line, which was the patient's biggest concern, was also perfectly avoided, ensuring a safe Surgery.
- Before Surgery: Mouth appears to protrude, jaw appears long
- After Surgery: Mouth recedes, jawline shortens, transforming into a sophisticated impression
Long-term Management and Patient Satisfaction
Comparing with the pre-Surgery photos, the patient was very satisfied, confirming that the jaw length was definitely shorter and the face appeared smaller despite the swelling. In particular, they evaluated that the improvement in the square jaw was much better than expected. Since excessive rounding of the jaw angle can lead to skin sagging, it is important to maintain an appropriate angle while refining the line. In this patient's case, by adhering to this principle during Surgery, a beautiful line could be achieved without sagging. I informed the patient that we plan to monitor their progress at 2-month, 6-month, and 10-month intervals and further improve skin contraction through Lifting Treatment such as Ultherapy and Thermage at the dermatology clinic. This will help maintain a more elastic and beautiful facial line in the long term. The patient expressed gratitude for the very satisfactory results and promised to meet again for the next follow-up.
O.N Clinic | Last reviewed 2024-05-23