If you're researching facial contouring or orthognathic surgery (double jaw surgery) in Korea, you'll quickly notice something unusual: the surgeons performing these procedures come from two completely different educational backgrounds. One trained in medical school. The other trained in dental school. And yet both operate on your jaw and facial bones. Understandably, this confuses a lot of international patients — so here's a clear breakdown of what the difference actually means for you.
The Background Difference
Plastic Surgeons (성형외과 전문의)
Plastic surgeons complete medical school, followed by a surgical residency with a focus on aesthetics and reconstruction. In Korea, many top plastic surgeons have sub-specialized in craniofacial surgery and facial contouring, making them highly experienced in procedures like zygoma reduction, jaw angle reduction, and chin surgery. Their approach tends to be aesthetics-first — how the result looks, and how it harmonizes with the overall face.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (구강악안면외과 전문의)
Here's where it gets interesting. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFS) in Korea complete dental school first, then go on to a hospital-based surgical residency focused on the bones, joints, and soft tissues of the jaw and face. Despite coming from a dental background, their surgical training is extensive — and crucially, orthognathic surgery (moving the jaw bones themselves) is squarely within their area of expertise. In many countries, OMFS surgeons are actually considered the primary specialists for jaw surgery.
So Which Specialty Is Better for Which Procedure?
Facial Contouring (zygoma, jaw angle, chin reshaping)
This is primarily aesthetic bone work, and both specialties are well-represented in Korea's top clinics. Plastic surgeons tend to dominate this space in Apgujeong and Gangnam, given their aesthetic training background. That said, many OMFS surgeons perform excellent contouring work, particularly when bone repositioning (rather than just shaving) is involved.
→ Slight edge: Plastic Surgery, for purely aesthetic contouring cases
Orthognathic / Double Jaw Surgery (양악수술)
This is where OMFS surgeons have a strong argument. Orthognathic surgery involves cutting and repositioning the upper jaw (maxilla) and/or lower jaw (mandible) — which is fundamentally about jaw structure, occlusion (bite), and skeletal alignment. OMFS surgeons train extensively in jaw anatomy and occlusal function in a way that plastic surgeons typically do not.
In Korea, many of the most respected orthognathic surgeons are OMFS specialists, and major university hospitals typically have OMFS departments handling these cases.
→ Slight edge: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, especially when functional bite correction is involved
The Korea-Specific Reality
In Korea's competitive plastic surgery market, the lines have blurred significantly. Many clinics in Apgujeong employ both plastic surgeons and OMFS surgeons working together, combining aesthetic planning with structural precision. Some of the most well-known facial contouring clinics have OMFS surgeons on staff specifically for jaw work, while plastic surgeons handle the aesthetic design and overall facial harmony planning.
What this means for patients: the specialty title alone is less important than you might think. A highly experienced OMFS surgeon who has performed thousands of orthognathic cases is almost certainly a better choice than a general plastic surgeon who does jaw surgery occasionally.
Why This Question Matters More for Jaw Surgery Than Other Procedures
Orthognathic surgery is one of the highest-stakes procedures in facial surgery. It affects your bite, your airway, your facial nerves, and your long-term jaw health — not just your appearance. Unlike a rhinoplasty or zygoma reduction, a poorly planned jaw surgery can cause chronic pain, TMJ issues, numbness, and bite misalignment that is extremely difficult to correct.
This is why, for double jaw surgery specifically, many experts recommend:
- Choosing a surgeon with a dedicated orthognathic surgery focus (not just "we do jaw surgery too")
- Ensuring proper pre-surgical orthodontic planning is in place
- Selecting a hospital or clinic where OMFS and orthodontics work together as a team
Key Questions to Ask During Your Consultation
- Is this surgeon's primary focus facial contouring / jaw surgery, or is it one of many procedures they offer?
- For jaw surgery: has proper bite analysis and pre-surgical orthodontic planning been discussed?
- How many orthognathic surgeries does the surgeon perform per year?
- What is the clinic's protocol if complications arise?
- Can you speak with the actual surgeon performing the operation (not just a coordinator)?
Bottom Line
For purely aesthetic facial contouring (zygoma, jaw angle, genioplasty), both plastic surgeons and OMFS surgeons can deliver excellent results — focus on the individual surgeon's portfolio and experience.
For orthognathic / double jaw surgery, an OMFS specialist with dedicated jaw surgery experience is generally the safer and more specialized choice — regardless of the fact that their degree came from dental school. In this case, the dental school background is actually a feature, not a limitation.
When it comes to your jaw and facial bones, credentials matter — but experience, specialization, and surgical volume matter even more.