V-line surgery reshapes the jaw and chin together so the lower border of the face runs as one continuous, tapering line from the angle beneath the ear to a narrow, softly pointed chin. It combines mandibular angle reduction, shaving of the jaw’s outer surface, and a narrowing chin osteotomy.
It is the most extensive bone procedure in facial feminization below the eyes, and it produces the largest change to face shape from the front. It also has the longest recovery of any procedure on this site apart from bottom surgery.
How much does V-line surgery cost in 2026?
Typical market ranges for surgeon, anaesthesia and facility fees. Indicative figures, not quotes.
| Country | Typical range | Approx. in EUR |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $19,000 – $33,000 | €18,000 – €30,000 |
| Canada | C$24,000 – C$40,000 | €16,000 – €27,000 |
| United Kingdom | £13,000 – £22,000 | €15,000 – €26,000 |
| Turkey (Hetzner Health partner surgeons) | €3,800 – €6,500 | €3,800 – €6,500 |
Having jaw and chin surgery separately costs more in total, requires two anaesthetics and two recoveries, and risks a mismatch where the two contours meet.
| 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 |
| Two nights in hospital | Cheek implants or fat grafting, if combined |
| 3D CT scan and virtual surgical planning | Upper-face procedures, if combined |
| Titanium plates and screws | Orthodontic treatment, if your bite needs it |
| Compression garment, drains and dressings | A future lower-face lift, if soft tissue sags |
| 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 and virtual planning. See our Medical Disclaimer.
What does V-line surgery change?
| Feature | Typical starting point | After V-line |
|---|---|---|
| Mandibular angle | Flared outward, squaring the face | Reduced and tucked in |
| Jaw body width | Thick outer cortex widening the front view | Shaved and narrowed |
| Lower border | Straight and heavy from angle to chin | One continuous curve, tapering forward |
| Chin width | Broad and square | Narrowed by a T-osteotomy |
| Chin height | Tall, lengthening the lower third | Shortened at the same time |
| Face shape from the front | Square or rectangular | Tapered V or heart shape |
The point of doing both together is the junction. A jaw narrowed to a chin that was left wide produces a visible transition — the contour runs in, then stops. Planning the whole border as one line is what makes the result read as a face shape rather than as surgery.
Is V-line the right operation for you?
| Chin surgery alone | Jaw surgery alone | V-line | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treats | Chin height and width | Angle flare and jaw width | Both, as one contour |
| Suits | Square chin, narrow jaw | Flared angle, narrow chin | Square jaw and square chin |
| Operating time | 1–2 hours | 2–3 hours | 3–4 hours |
| Hospital stay | 1 night | 1–2 nights | 2 nights |
| Stay in Turkey | 9–12 days | 10–14 days | 12–14 days |
| Back to work | 2–3 weeks | 3 weeks | 3–4 weeks |
| Soft tissue sag risk | Low | Moderate | Highest |
More bone removed is not automatically better. Surgeons who take an aggressive approach in every case produce the sagging and gaunt results that give this operation its mixed reputation. Conservative, planned removal in the right places changes the face shape without stripping its support.
Who is a good candidate?
| You are likely suitable if | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your face is square, with width at both the jaw angle and the chin | Both components are needed to justify the combined operation |
| Your face is as wide at the jaw as at the cheekbones | Lowering the widest point is the core feminizing change |
| Your skin has good elasticity | Skin must retract over the smaller framework |
| Your dental health is good | Incisions are inside your mouth |
| You are in good general health | It is a three to four hour general anaesthetic |
| You do not smoke, or will stop 4 weeks either side | Nicotine raises infection and healing risk in bone surgery |
| You can stay in Turkey 12–14 days and take 3–4 weeks off | The recovery is genuinely long |
When should surgery be postponed or avoided?
- Untreated dental or gum disease, which must be resolved before intraoral bone surgery.
- An untreated bite discrepancy — orthognathic surgery may be the more appropriate operation and should at least be discussed.
- Significant skin laxity or age over roughly 50, where removing bony support risks sagging more than it improves shape.
- A face that is already narrow at the lower third, where bone removal produces a gaunt rather than feminine result.
- Active temporomandibular joint disorder, which this surgery can aggravate.
- Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy, until managed.
- Ongoing nicotine use, including vapes and patches.
- Inability to commit to a liquid and soft diet for four weeks, which materially affects healing.
What preparation is needed?
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| At enquiry | Photographs front, three-quarter, profile and with the jaw clenched |
| Before the quote | 3D CT or cone-beam scan with virtual surgical planning of both osteotomies |
| 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 | Stock soft foods, protein drinks, a blender and your mouthwash supply |
| On arrival in Turkey | Bloods, anaesthetic review, virtual plan reviewed with you and confirmed |
How is the procedure performed?
- Virtual planning on your 3D scan maps both osteotomy lines against the position of the inferior alveolar nerve, the mental nerves and the lower tooth roots.
- General anaesthesia is given; the operation takes three to four hours.
- Incisions are made inside the mouth, along the gum line at the back and inside the lower lip at the front.
- The jaw is exposed on both sides, with the nerves identified and protected.
- A curved osteotomy removes the flared angle and runs forward along the lower border, avoiding the step that a straight cut produces.
- The outer cortex is shaved along the jaw body to narrow the front view.
- The chin is addressed with a T-osteotomy — a central strip removed, the halves brought together, and a horizontal wedge removed to shorten it.
- The chin is fixed with low-profile titanium plates, and all transitions smoothed so the border is continuous.
- The muscle layer is reattached carefully — the step that protects against soft-tissue sagging — drains placed, incisions closed and a compression garment applied.
What does recovery look like?
| Time | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Substantial swelling of the lower face and neck; liquid diet; talking limited; drains removed before discharge |
| Days 4–7 | Swelling peaks around day 3–4 then eases; bruising may track down the neck and chest |
| Week 2 | Soft diet begins; swelling visibly reducing; most people feel human again |
| Weeks 3–4 | Back to desk work; compression garment hours reduced |
| Weeks 4–6 | Normal diet resumed; jaw opening back to full range |
| Weeks 6–8 | Most swelling gone; the taper becomes clearly visible |
| Months 3–6 | Final contour; numbness largely recovered |
Aftercare:
- Wear the compression garment as instructed, typically most of the day for three to four weeks. It supports the soft tissue while it re-drapes and genuinely affects the outcome.
- Liquid diet for five to seven days, then soft diet to four weeks. Arrange this 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 to six weeks; no impact to the face for eight weeks.
- Avoid wide mouth opening, including dental treatment, for six weeks.
- Expect to lose a few kilograms during the liquid diet phase. Protein drinks are not optional.
What are the risks and possible complications?
- Prolonged swelling of the lower face and neck, universal and slower than patients expect
- Numbness of the lower lip, chin and gums — common temporarily, uncommon permanently, but the risk is higher here than with either component alone
- Soft-tissue sagging along the jawline over the smaller bony framework, the characteristic long-term concern with this operation
- Asymmetry between the two sides
- A visible step or secondary angle if the osteotomy design was poor
- Bleeding, occasionally significant; this is a vascular area
- Infection, uncommon but relevant with intraoral incisions
- Mandible fracture during or after surgery, rare
- Non-union or loosening of the chin segment, rare
- Palpable plates under thin skin
- Limited mouth opening for several weeks
- Over-reduction, producing a gaunt or weak lower face
- Anaesthetic and thromboembolic risks common to a long 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 |
|---|---|
| Cheek feminization | Narrowing below and building above is what creates the heart-shaped face; same intraoral access |
| Buccal fat removal | Addresses the soft-tissue component of lower-face fullness |
| Tracheal shave | Adjacent site, minimal added recovery |
| Forehead feminization | Balances upper and lower thirds, though combining both lengthens the anaesthetic considerably |
| Rhinoplasty | Frequently added, and profile balance is planned across nose and chin together |
Combining upper-face and full V-line surgery in one session is possible but produces a long operation and a demanding recovery. Some surgeons prefer to stage them, and that recommendation is worth taking seriously rather than treating as an upsell.
What results can you expect?
A lower face that tapers from cheekbone to chin instead of squaring off, with a continuous jawline and a narrower, shorter chin. From the front — the view that dominates photographs and video calls — it is the most transformative facial bone procedure available.
The bone result is permanent. What continues to change is the soft tissue over it, which settles for six months and then ages normally. The operation does not alter your bite, your neck skin or your upper face.
On before-and-after photographs: each reflects that patient’s bone thickness, nerve position, skin elasticity and age. They record one outcome, not a prediction of yours.
How Hetzner Health arranges the process
- Online assessment — photographs from four angles reviewed by a partner surgeon, who will say if jaw or chin surgery alone would serve you better.
- Imaging and virtual planning — 3D CT scan, with both osteotomies planned against your nerve and tooth root positions.
- Dental clearance — confirmed before intraoral bone surgery is scheduled.
- Written plan and quote — what is removed and where, whether to stage upper-face work, inclusions listed.
- Travel — you book flights; we arrange hotel, transfers and an interpreter. Budget 12–14 days.
- Pre-operative day — bloods, anaesthetic review, the virtual plan reviewed with you and confirmed.
- Surgery and two hospital nights, with a coordinator reachable throughout.
- Before you fly — wound check, garment fitting, written aftercare and a diet plan.
- After you are home — remote review at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, with the contour judged at six months.
Before you decide: this page is general information and does not replace an examination. How much bone can safely be removed from your jaw and chin is determined by your own anatomy on your own scan.