Jaw feminization narrows the lower third of the face by reshaping the mandible. The flared angle at the back is reduced, the thick outer surface of the bone is thinned, and the lower border is smoothed into a gentler line.
A wide, square jaw is one of the strongest masculine cues in the face, and one of the few that photographs and video conferencing exaggerate rather than soften. It is also entirely bony in most people, which means no amount of weight change or soft-tissue treatment alters it.
How much does jaw feminization cost in 2026?
Typical market ranges for surgeon, anaesthesia and facility fees. Indicative figures, not quotes.
| Country | Typical range | Approx. in EUR |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $15,000 – $26,000 | €14,000 – €24,000 |
| Canada | C$19,000 – C$32,000 | €13,000 – €22,000 |
| United Kingdom | £10,000 – £17,000 | €12,000 – €20,000 |
| Turkey (Hetzner Health partner surgeons) | €3,000 – €5,000 | €3,000 – €5,000 |
| Usually included | Usually extra |
|---|---|
| Surgeon’s fee and surgical team | Flights to and from Turkey |
| General anaesthesia and anaesthetist | Hotel nights beyond the planned stay |
| One to two nights in hospital | Chin surgery, if added (see V-line) |
| 3D CT or cone-beam scan and virtual planning | Cheek implants or fat grafting, if combined |
| Compression garment and dressings | Orthodontic treatment, if your bite needs it |
| Antibiotics, mouthwash and post-operative medication | Travel insurance |
| Transfers and interpreter for every appointment | Revision surgery, if it is ever needed |
About these figures: indicative ranges for budgeting, not an offer. A real price follows review of your scan. See our Medical Disclaimer.
What does jaw feminization change?
| Feature | Typical starting point | Feminization goal |
|---|---|---|
| Mandibular angle | Flared outward and downward, close to 90° | Softer, more obtuse, tucked in |
| Jaw width from the front | Wide, often as wide as or wider than the cheekbones | Narrower than the cheekbones |
| Outer surface of the jaw body | Thick cortical bone, creating a shelf | Thinned, blending into the cheek |
| Lower border | Straight, heavy, clearly defined | Curved and gently tapered |
| Masseter muscle | Bulky, adding width at the angle | Reduced where it contributes |
| Overall face shape | Square or rectangular | Oval or heart-shaped |
Width is usually three things at once: bone at the angle, thickness of the bone’s outer layer, and masseter muscle. A good plan addresses whichever combination you actually have, which is why the scan and the examination come before the quote.
Where does your jaw width come from?
| Source | How it is identified | How it is treated |
|---|---|---|
| Flared mandibular angle | Visible on 3D scan as outward flare at the back of the jaw | Curved osteotomy removing the angle and part of the lower border |
| Thick outer cortex | Scan shows a thick outer bone layer along the jaw body | Shaving (cortectomy) of the outer layer |
| Masseter muscle bulk | The jaw hardens and widens visibly when you clench | Muscle reduction during surgery, or botulinum toxin |
| Buccal fat and soft tissue | Soft, pinchable fullness above the jaw line | Buccal fat removal, which is a different area |
| Wide chin | Front view shows a broad, square chin | Chin feminization or V-line surgery |
Who is a good candidate?
| You are likely suitable if | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your face is as wide at the jaw as at the cheekbones | Lowering the widest point of the face is the core change |
| Your jaw angle flares visibly in front or three-quarter view | This is what angle reduction corrects |
| Your dental health is good | The incisions are inside your mouth |
| You are in good general health | It is a two to three hour general anaesthetic |
| You do not smoke, or will stop 4 weeks either side | Nicotine raises infection risk in intraoral bone surgery |
| You can stay in Turkey 10–14 days | Wounds and swelling need review before you fly |
| You can accept a slow, visible recovery | The lower face is swollen for weeks, not days |
When should surgery be postponed or avoided?
- Untreated dental or gum disease — must be resolved before intraoral bone surgery.
- A bite problem that has not been assessed — if your teeth do not meet properly, contouring may not be the right operation. Orthognathic surgery is a different discussion.
- Active temporomandibular joint disorder, which can be aggravated by prolonged mouth opening and by the surgery itself.
- A very thin, angular face already, where removing bone risks a gaunt, ageing look.
- Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy, until managed — this is a vascular area.
- Ongoing nicotine use, including vapes and patches.
- Unwillingness to follow a soft diet for a month, which genuinely affects healing.
What preparation is needed?
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| At enquiry | Photographs front, three-quarter and profile, plus a clenched-jaw photograph |
| Before the quote | 3D CT or cone-beam scan of the mandible, reviewed and virtually planned by the surgeon |
| Before travel | Dental check-up and treatment of any active disease |
| 4+ weeks before | Stop smoking, vaping and all nicotine |
| 2 weeks before | Pause aspirin, anti-inflammatories, fish oil, vitamin E and ginkgo unless advised otherwise |
| 1–4 weeks before | Pause or adjust oestrogen if your surgeon requests it |
| Before you fly out | Buy soft foods, protein drinks and a supply of your mouthwash |
| On arrival in Turkey | Bloods, anaesthetic review, scan review with you, final plan agreed |
How is the procedure performed?
- Virtual planning on the 3D scan maps the osteotomy line and the position of the inferior alveolar nerve on each side.
- General anaesthesia is given; the operation takes two to three hours alone.
- Incisions are made inside the mouth along the gum line, and the jaw exposed while protecting the nerve where it exits.
- A curved osteotomy removes the flared angle and continues forward along the lower border, so no secondary corner is created — a straight cut leaves a visible step.
- The outer cortex is shaved along the body of the jaw, narrowing it from the front view.
- The lower border is smoothed and both sides compared for symmetry.
- Masseter muscle is reduced where it is a significant contributor to width.
- Drains are placed, the incisions closed with dissolving sutures, and a compression garment applied.
What does recovery look like?
| Time | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Marked swelling of the lower face and neck; liquid diet; drains removed before discharge |
| Days 4–7 | Swelling peaks around day 3–4 then eases; bruising may track down the neck |
| Week 2 | Soft diet; talking easier; most swelling visibly reducing |
| Weeks 3–4 | Back to desk work; compression garment can usually be reduced |
| Weeks 4–6 | Normal diet resumed; jaw movement back to normal range |
| Weeks 6–8 | Most swelling resolved; the new shape becomes apparent |
| Months 4–6 | Final contour; numbness largely recovered |
Aftercare:
- Wear the compression garment as instructed — usually most of the day for two to four weeks. It genuinely affects the final contour.
- Liquid diet for three to five days, soft diet for three to four weeks. Plan the food before you travel.
- Antiseptic mouthwash after every intake of food or drink.
- Sleep with your head elevated for two weeks.
- No strenuous exercise for four weeks; nothing that risks impact to the face for eight weeks.
- Avoid wide mouth opening — yawning, large bites, dental work — for four weeks.
What are the risks and possible complications?
- Prolonged swelling of the lower face and neck, the most universal complaint
- Numbness of the lower lip and chin from inferior alveolar nerve irritation — common temporarily, uncommon permanently
- Asymmetry between the two sides, the usual reason for revision
- A visible step or secondary angle if the osteotomy was cut straight rather than curved
- Bleeding, occasionally significant, as this is a vascular area
- Infection, uncommon but relevant with intraoral incisions
- Mandible fracture during or after surgery, rare
- Limited mouth opening (trismus) for several weeks
- Sagging of the soft tissue over the new, smaller bony framework, particularly in older patients
- Temporomandibular joint pain or clicking
- Anaesthetic and thromboembolic risks common to any general anaesthetic
This list is not exhaustive. Seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, fever, spreading swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or pus from the mouth incisions. Your individual risks belong in a documented consent discussion with the operating surgeon.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
| Combined with | Why it is often done together |
|---|---|
| Chin feminization | The jaw and chin form one continuous line; treating both is what creates a taper |
| V-line surgery | The combined jaw-and-chin operation, planned as a single contour |
| Cheek feminization | Building above while narrowing below produces the heart-shaped face; same intraoral access |
| Buccal fat removal | Addresses the soft-tissue element of lower-face fullness |
| Tracheal shave | Adjacent area, minimal added recovery |
| Upper-face surgery | Balances all three thirds in one recovery period |
What results can you expect?
A narrower lower face, a softer angle at the back of the jaw, and a face whose widest point sits at the cheekbones rather than the jawline. The change is clearest in front and three-quarter views, which is how you appear in photographs and on video calls.
It will not change your bite, your chin projection or the soft tissue of your neck. And it is slow: the operation is over in three hours, but the result takes four to six months to appear.
On before-and-after photographs: each reflects that patient’s bone thickness, nerve position, muscle bulk and soft-tissue quality. They record an outcome, not a prediction.
How Hetzner Health arranges the process
- Online assessment — photographs including a clenched-jaw view, reviewed by a partner surgeon.
- Imaging — 3D CT or cone-beam scan, virtually planned before any final price is quoted.
- Dental clearance — confirmed before intraoral bone surgery is scheduled.
- Written plan and quote — what is removed and where, whether chin work should be added, inclusions listed.
- Travel — you book flights; we arrange hotel, transfers and an interpreter.
- Pre-operative day — bloods, anaesthetic review, scan reviewed with you and the plan confirmed.
- Surgery and one to two hospital nights, with a coordinator reachable throughout.
- Before you fly — wound check, garment fitting, written aftercare and diet plan.
- After you are home — remote review at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, with the contour judged at four to six months.
Before you decide: this page is general information and does not replace an examination. How much bone can safely be removed depends on where your nerve runs, and only your own scan can answer that.