Recessed Maxilla (Upper Jawbone): Symptoms & Treatment

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Board-certified plastic surgeon Usha Rajagopal, MD, explains the signs and symptoms of a recessed maxilla

Co-authored by Usha Rajagopal, MD and Amber Crain

Last Updated: November 26, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Definition
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• Signs & Symptoms
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• Causes
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• Is treatment required?
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• Treatments
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• Does pulling or mewing help?
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• Video

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If you’ve seen “recessed maxilla” posts on social media, especially in looksmaxxing circles, you’re probably wondering what it means and how to tell if your own maxilla is recessed. We’re here to answer all of your questions about maxilla recession, including what it is, what the symptoms are, how it relates to attractiveness, and how to treat the issue. We’ll also talk about what causes a recessed maxilla and why mild cases may not require medical treatment.

Recessed Maxilla vs. Normal Maxilla

Board-certified plastic surgeon Usha Rajagopal, MD, says a recessed maxilla is when the upper jawbone is set too far back in the face. This can affect facial appearance and health. Signs of a recessed maxilla include flat cheekbones, a sunken under-eye area, a prominent jaw, misaligned teeth, and breathing problems.

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Section 1 of 6:

What is a recessed maxilla?

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1. 
   A recessed maxilla is when the upper jawbone is positioned too far back. The maxilla is the medical term for the upper jawbone, which also includes the cheeks and lower part of the eye sockets. A recessed maxilla (also known as maxillary hypoplasia) is when the upper jawbone is underdeveloped or set back too far, causing improper alignment with the lower jaw.

   • Because your maxilla makes up a big portion of your face, a misalignment can affect a lot of things, including your face shape, dental health, and overall health (depending on the severity).
   • Maxilla recession can be mild or severe. Mild recession usually doesn’t cause significant (if any) symptoms, but severe recession can affect your health in numerous ways.
   • What should you do if you think you have a recessed maxilla? Make an appointment with an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor or an orthodontist for an evaluation. A medical professional can help you diagnose and treat a recessed maxilla.
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Tell If You Have a Recessed Maxilla

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   You have a flat midface appearance. Mild maxilla recession usually doesn’t cause any significant issues, but it can affect facial aesthetics to some degree, especially in the middle and lower parts of your face. Observe your profile in the mirror and check for facial features that look flattened, undefined, or asymmetrical. The most common symptoms include:

   • Flattened cheekbones
   • Hollow or sunken under-eye area
   • Thin upper lip and pronounced lower lip
   • Prominent lower jaw
   • Uneven facial features
   • Prominent nose
   • Weak or recessed chin
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   You have misaligned teeth. A recessed maxilla can cause a variety of dental issues, mainly because of the misalignment it causes. Misalignment can affect things like your bite (causing an underbite) and the effectiveness of your teeth and jaws. Dental symptoms caused by a recessed maxilla include:

   • Crowded or crooked teeth
   • Teeth grinding
   • Pain in the jaw joint (TMJ disorder)
   • Erosion of tooth enamel
   • Difficulties with speech or pronunciation
   • Cleft lip or palate (severe recession only)
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   You have breathing problems. People with recessed maxillas often struggle with breathing problems. They may gasp for air or take shallow breaths, especially when they’re sleeping. This is called sleep apnea, and it prevents your body from getting enough oxygen, leaving you exhausted and making it harder to function during the day. Related symptoms include:

   • Shallow breathing
   • Gasping for air
   • Mouth breathing
   • Snoring
   • Sinus infections
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Section 3 of 6:

Causes of a Recessed Maxilla

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   Genetics Having a recessed maxilla, especially when it’s minor, usually just comes down to genetics. If a person has a recessed maxilla, it’s highly likely they inherited it from one of their parents. Genetics play a significant role in facial bone structure in general, and that includes the development and appearance of the maxilla.
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   Underlying health conditions In more serious cases, a recessed maxilla may be a symptom of a rare health condition like Pierre-Robin syndrome. Other syndromes that can disrupt development in childhood, like Crouzon syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and fetal alcohol syndrome, can also cause a recessed maxilla.
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   Facial trauma Facial trauma, especially if it occurs when a person is young and still growing, can cause issues like a recessed maxilla. This is because facial trauma disrupts normal bone growth, which can cause the maxilla to be underdeveloped or recessed.
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Section 4 of 6:

Do I need to fix a recessed maxilla?

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1. 
   Treatment is only needed if you’re experiencing pain or a diminished quality of life. A lot of the information you see on social media is slightly exaggerated–having a mildly recessed maxilla is not going to make you unattractive or ruin your health. That said, anything beyond minor recession can cause discomfort, difficulty breathing, and other health problems. In that case, seeking treatment is encouraged to improve your quality of life.

   • If your maxilla is mildly recessed and you don’t like how it affects your facial features, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve that! It’s completely up to you—just keep in mind that social media is full of unrealistic beauty standards, and you don’t need to change yourself to meet them.

Section 5 of 6:

How to Treat a Recessed Maxilla

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   Orthodontic headgear Reverse pull headgear can help fix an underbite caused by a recessed maxilla by pulling the upper jaw forward. The headgear has a vertical frame that goes in front of the face, connected to a wire mouthpiece that’s fitted to the upper back teeth.

   • Headgear is more effective for younger people whose bones are still developing, but it could potentially work for adults, too. Your best bet is to speak to an orthodontist.
   • Cost: $1,500 to $3,000.
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   Filler injections Dermal fillers can be injected to add volume and definition to the midface area. This adds structure and dimension to the face and can also correct issues with asymmetry. Fillers usually last between 6 and 18 months before dissolving naturally, so they’re a temporary fix and will need to be repeated. That said, it’s a very effective treatment option.

   • Cost: $500 to $1,500 per syringe (each treatment typically requires 1-3 syringes)
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   Orthognathic surgery Orthognathic surgery corrects misaligned jaws and is the only permanent fix for severely recessed maxilla. It can be a complicated (and expensive) surgery and the recovery takes at least 6 weeks, but the surgery does have a 94% success rate. If you do decide to pursue surgery, you can be reasonably certain that you’ll be happy with the results.

   • Cost: $2,000 to $50,000 (depending on the complexity of the surgery)
   • Recovery: According to board-certified dentist & oral surgeon Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS, be sure to “follow your dentist’s post-treatment instructions. These instructions include staying hydrated, resting after surgery, icing the area, and sticking to a soft diet."
     • Board-certified plastic surgeon Edward S. Kwak, MD also recommends that you “avoid alcohol for at least 3 days and then for 2 weeks after surgery” to minimize bruising.
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Section 6 of 6:

Does pulling or mewing help?

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1. 
   There’s no scientific evidence that mewing or pulling can correct a recessed maxilla. Mewing and pulling are both types of jaw exercises that can supposedly correct jaw issues, accentuate the jawline, and improve one’s facial appearance. Mewing and pulling are extremely popular on social media (especially in looksmaxxing circles), but there’s no scientific evidence that these exercises can reshape your jawline, especially for adults since their jawbones are already fully formed.

   • Mewing: There’s no harm in trying mewing for yourself as long as you don’t do it too often (which can strain your jaw). To do it, just close your mouth and press your teeth together. Then, push your tongue up against the roof of your mouth and hold the position for 2-3 minutes.
     • The term “mewing” was named after Dr. John Mew, who founded and popularized the jaw exercise, but most medical professionals do not back up his claims for what mewing can do. Dr. Mew lost his dental license in 2019.​​
   • Pulling: Pulling (also known as thumb pulling) is also mostly harmless to try if you’re curious about it. To do it, place your thumbs on the roof of your mouth, right behind your front teeth. Push up and forward with both thumbs for 10-60 minutes a day.

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