Facial Contouring in Korea — A Guide to Cheekbone, Jaw & Chin Surgery and Recovery for International Patients

Last updated 2026-10-28

⏱Treatment time

1–2 hours per area, around 3–5 hours for the 3-piece combination (general anesthesia)

✋Pain

No pain during surgery thanks to anesthesia; afterward several days of tightness and discomfort opening your mouth

🩹Downtime

Major swelling 2–4 weeks, liquid diet 1–2 weeks, compression band for several weeks

🏨Recommended stay

10–14 days or more (2 weeks or more recommended for the 3-piece combination)

✨Results begin

The contour shows at 1–3 months; the final result takes 6 months or more

📅How long it lasts

Permanent (though your skin will still change with aging)

🔁Sessions

One surgery (a revision is usually considered 6–12 months later)

Send front and side photos and we'll tell you — free — whether surgery is needed or a non-surgical option could workGet a free consultation →

Contents

Who it suits / who should be cautious
Types of facial contouring surgery — what is reduced and how
3D CT diagnosis and anesthesia — the starting point for safety
Alternatives to surgery — jaw Botox and filler
Order of events before and after surgery
Recovery progress — what to expect, day by day
Sample stay schedule (14 nights, 15 days)
Risks and how they are handled — know these before you decide
Preparing for surgery and aftercare
10 questions to ask at your consultation
How to choose a clinic

Who it suits / who should be cautious

People whose cheekbones protrude forward or to the side, making the face look wide and angular
People whose jaw angles (the corners at both sides of the lower jaw) are prominent, making the lower face look wide
People whose chin is short, long, wide or crooked and who are concerned about their profile and front-view proportions

Be cautious if: you are a minor whose bones have not finished growing, you have a heart or blood-clotting condition or take anticoagulants, you find it hard to stop smoking, your skin has already lost a lot of firmness (reducing bone can make sagging more noticeable), or your upper and lower teeth do not meet properly (a malocclusion may call for a different diagnosis such as double-jaw surgery).

Types of facial contouring surgery — what is reduced and how

Surgery	What it changes	Main method	Characteristics
Cheekbone reduction	Protruding front and side cheekbones (the zygoma and zygomatic arch)	Through small incisions inside the mouth and at the sideburn area, the bone is cut, moved inward and fixed in place	Reduces face width and an angular look. If fixation is unstable there is a risk of sagging or the bone not healing (nonunion)
Jaw angle (square jaw) surgery	The angular part of the jaw and the thickness of the outer bone	Through an incision inside the mouth, the angle is resected in a curve or the outer cortical bone is shaved down	Front-view width is mostly affected by the cortical bone, and the side line by the jaw angle resection
Chin surgery (V-line)	The length, width, projection and asymmetry of the chin	Through an incision inside the mouth, the chin bone is cut to narrow it, or moved and fixed	Refines the proportions of the lower third of the face and your profile
3-piece combination	Cheekbones + jaw angle + chin	Done together under a single general anesthesia	The change is large, but surgery time, swelling and recovery are the longest

Many people plan two or three of these together after looking at overall facial proportions, but you do not have to bundle in areas you do not want. Reducing bone too much raises the risk of sagging and nerve damage, so ask for a specific explanation of how much is being reduced, and why.

3D CT diagnosis and anesthesia — the starting point for safety

Facial contouring cannot be planned from outward appearance alone. A 3D CT shows the thickness and shape of the bone, the position of the nerve running through the lower jaw (the inferior alveolar nerve) and any left-right asymmetry, and only then is it decided where to reduce and by how much.

Anesthesia: most cases are done under general anesthesia, and it matters that an anesthesiologist stays throughout the surgery to monitor your breathing and blood pressure.
Hospital stay: it depends on the extent of surgery and clinic policy, but many patients stay one night so that bleeding, breathing and pain can be observed. A drain may be left in for a day or two so that blood does not collect.
Surgery time: about 1–2 hours for one area and around 3–5 hours for the 3-piece combination is typical.

Alternatives to surgery — jaw Botox and filler

	Jaw Botox	Chin and side-cheek filler	Facial contouring surgery
How it works	Reduces an overdeveloped masseter (chewing muscle)	Brings the chin forward or fills hollow areas	Reduces or repositions the bone itself
Recovery	Same day	Same day to 2 days of swelling	Major swelling 2–4 weeks
Duration	Usually 3–6 months (tends to last longer with repeat treatments)	Usually 6 months to 1 year or more depending on the product	Permanent
Best suited for	When the angular look comes from muscle, or for a short trip	When the chin is short or you want a subtle refinement	When the cause is bone and you want a definite change

If the sides of your jaw bulge hard when you clench your teeth, muscle is likely a big factor. Reducing the cheekbones or narrowing the chin cannot be done with injections.

Check that your Botox or filler is genuine: confirm that the product is opened in front of you, check the product name and amount (units or cc), and ask to see the empty vial or label after use.

Order of events before and after surgery

1
Day 1 after arrival — In-person consultation, 3D CT scan and pre-anesthesia tests. Your manager interprets, and you confirm that the surgeon you consulted is the one who operates.
2
Surgery day — Come in after fasting for 8+ hours → general anesthesia by an anesthesiologist → surgery → recovery room → in most cases one night in the hospital
3
Next day — Check-up, drain removal (if there is one), then leave the hospital wearing the compression band and move to your accommodation
4
Days 3–7 — Wound cleaning and swelling care at the clinic. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after every meal to protect the wounds inside it.
5
Days 7–10 — Stitches checked and removed (skipped if they are dissolvable), and recovery assessed
6
Before returning home — At the final check-up you confirm you are fit to fly and receive instructions on aftercare and how to reach the clinic after you return

Recovery progress — what to expect, day by day

Surgery day to day 3
Swelling is at its worst. Opening your mouth is difficult and the face feels tight. Wear the compression band, use cold packs and rest with your head raised.
Days 4–7
Swelling starts to go down little by little. Bruising may travel down to the neck.
Weeks 2–4
Most of the major swelling is gone, and with a mask you can go about daily life. You move on to soft foods.
Months 1–3
The remaining swelling fades gradually and your facial line appears. Numbness around the lips, chin and cheeks slowly returns to normal.
6 months or more
The bone heals firmly and the shape gets close to its final contour. It can sometimes take nearly a year.

Sample stay schedule (14 nights, 15 days)

Day 1
Arrive → in-person consultation, 3D CT and pre-op tests
Day 2
Surgery → one night in the hospital
Day 3
Discharge → rest at accommodation near the clinic
Days 4–10
Clinic wound cleaning, swelling care and stitch check. Liquid diet, short walks
Days 11–14
Only light walks. Avoid saunas, alcohol and crowded places.
Day 15
Final check-up → fly home

For a single area, around 10 days can be possible, but for the 3-piece combination or long-haul routes (Americas, Europe, Australia), allow 2 weeks or more. Pack your compression band and painkillers in your carry-on.

Tell us your travel dates and we'll plan a 2-week schedule covering consultation, surgery, hospital stay and your flight homeGet a free consultation →

Risks and how they are handled — know these before you decide

Symptoms that can be normal

Difficulty opening your mouth and a tight jaw (for several weeks)
Dull feeling in the lower lip, chin and cheeks (usually recovers over several weeks to months)
Swelling that differs between left and right

Rare risks to be aware of

Risk	Details	How it is reduced
Nerve damage	If the inferior alveolar nerve or mental nerve is injured, reduced sensation in the lower lip and chin can last a long time and, rarely, remain	Checking nerve position on 3D CT, an experienced specialist
Sagging cheeks or jawline	As the bone shrinks, the skin and soft tissue may look saggy	Avoiding excessive reduction, firm fixation
Nonunion / asymmetry	A cheekbone that does not heal well, or sides that recover differently	Accurate fixation, avoiding hard foods and impact
Bleeding, hematoma, infection	Blood collecting at the surgical site, or infection of wounds inside the mouth	Drain, observation in hospital, rinsing after meals and taking antibiotics

Contact your manager right away if

One side of the face or neck suddenly swells a lot, or you have trouble breathing (emergency)
You have a fever, or pus or a bad smell comes from the wounds inside your mouth
Bleeding does not stop
Swelling or numbness gets bad again (even after you return home)

Preparing for surgery and aftercare

Before surgery

Stop smoking and drinking from 2 weeks before; talk to your doctor before stopping aspirin, omega-3, vitamin E and the like
Tell the clinic accurately about any medicines, medical conditions, allergies and previous facial surgery (including implants and fillers)
Prepare front and side photos and images of the look you want

After surgery

Compression band: usually most of the day for the first 1–2 weeks, then while sleeping for a few weeks (follow the clinic's instructions)
Food: a liquid diet (porridge, soup, soy milk and so on) for 1–2 weeks, then soft foods; avoid hard and chewy foods until your doctor allows them
Oral care: rinse after every meal and be gentle with a soft toothbrush near the wounds inside the mouth
Sleep with your head raised for 2 weeks and do not sleep face down
Avoid saunas, alcohol, strenuous exercise and impact to the face for at least 1 month

10 questions to ask at your consultation

When you come from abroad, you may only get one or two consultations. Take these questions with you to protect both your results and your safety. Your manager will prepare and interpret them for you.

Is my wide-looking face caused by bone, muscle, or fat and skin?
Can you use my CT to explain which areas will be reduced and by how much?
Is the person who operates the same doctor who consulted with me?
Will an anesthesiologist be present throughout the surgery? How many days of hospital stay are there?
How do you manage reduced sensation if it occurs?
How high is my risk of sagging?
Until when do I need the compression band and liquid diet, and from when can I fly?
If the result is not what I expected, what are the criteria and cost for revision surgery?
If a problem comes up after I return home, how do I contact you and get checked?
Can I get a copy of my surgical record (areas resected, fixation materials) and CT data?

How to choose a clinic

A board-certified plastic surgeon consults and operates personally, and the doctor who consulted you is the one who operates
An anesthesiologist is on site, with a recovery room, inpatient rooms and emergency equipment
The operating room has CCTV, and you can ask for it to be recorded
You can get your surgical record and CT data if you ask
Foreign-language service and photo follow-up after you go home

KBEAU connects you with partner clinics in Gangnam and Apgujeong led by board-certified plastic surgeons. Send us your photos and we will give you an advance opinion on whether surgery is needed, whether a non-surgical option could work, and roughly how many days you will need to stay. A dedicated manager accompanies you from consultation through follow-up visits, and we can also help book a recovery hotel and an airport pickup car.

Partner clinics offering this treatment

ICON PLASTIC SURGERYSeoul Apgujeong성형외과 · 눈성형 · 코성형 · 안면윤곽 CARAMEL PLASTIC SURGERYGangnam, Seoul성형외과 · 눈성형 · 코성형 · 코 재수술

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need to stay in Korea after facial contouring surgery?

We recommend around 10 days for one area and 2 weeks or more for the 3-piece combination.

Is a hospital stay necessary?

It depends on the clinic and the extent of surgery, but many patients stay one night so that bleeding and breathing can be observed after general anesthesia.

When does the swelling go down completely?

Major swelling usually goes down in 2–4 weeks, and the remaining swelling fades over several months. The final contour takes 6 months or more, and for some people nearly a year.

What can I eat after surgery?

For the first 1–2 weeks you eat a liquid diet such as porridge and soup, then move on to soft foods. Avoid hard and chewy foods until your doctor allows them, while the bone heals.

Is it normal for my face to feel numb?

Reduced sensation in the lower lip, chin and cheeks is common and mostly recovers over several weeks to months. It can rarely last a long time, so it is important to choose a clinic that checks nerve position on a 3D CT before surgery.

Is it true that cheeks sag after cheekbone reduction?

When bone is reduced, the skin and soft tissue can look saggy. The risk varies with skin firmness, the amount reduced and the fixation method, so be sure to ask at your consultation.

Will I have visible scars?

Jaw angle and chin surgery are done through incisions inside the mouth, so there is no scar on the outside. Cheekbone reduction may involve a small incision at the sideburn area, which is often hidden by hair.

When can I fly?

You can fly once your doctor has checked your bleeding and swelling, and we usually recommend 10–14 days or more after surgery.

Can Botox replace jaw surgery?

If the muscles you chew with are what make your face look wide, Botox can also make it look slimmer and needs almost no recovery time. If the cause is bone, it has limits.

Can foreigners (non-Asians) have facial contouring surgery too?

Yes. However, facial bone structure and the look you want differ, so the plan differs too. Get the opinion of a doctor with experience operating on similar face shapes.