All about cheekbone reduction (zygoma reduction) in Korea

Cheekbones actually play an important role in determining the overall look on your face. Having high cheekbones are a sign of beauty and youth, and are considered attractive. But having overly protruding cheekbones is quite the opposite.

Because when you have overly protruding cheekbones, your face appears to be bigger than it is, and give off a strong and masculine look. In fact, the more protruded your cheekbone (zygoma) is, the stronger and more masculine impression it gives. Sometimes, it can even make you look older because of the impression that your cheeks are sunken.

So if you have excessively protruding cheekbones or a wide and flat face due to large cheekbones, you should consider cheekbone reduction surgery for a smaller, younger and more feminine look.

Golden ratio of the perfect v-line face shape

Having appropriately high cheekbones and symmetrical facial proportions will, no doubt, make you look more attractive, feminine and younger. In fact, here’s the optimal ratio for the perfect v-line face:

Golden ratio for forehead to eyebrow to tip of nose to chin is 1:1:1, and the width of your jawline should be 0.7 times of the width of your cheekbones.

Ogee curve of beauty is the double S-shaped curves which gives your face contour and dimension from a 45° angle.

What is cheekbone reduction surgery?

Cheekbone reduction, also known as malar reduction or zygoma reduction, is a plastic surgery procedure that reshapes overly protruding cheekbones. Its purpose is not to flatten or remove your cheekbones but rather, to reshape them to reduce facial width while also giving your face a more 3D projection that suits your overall facial contours.

Signs that your cheekbones are overly prominent for your face:

• Your face width is wide, with your mid-face especially wide.
• When looking at your front view, your high cheekbones make your face look uneven.
• The area under your cheekbones looks dented in and sunken.
• Your face looks flat and wide because of your large cheekbones.

In fact, cheekbones have a three-dimensional structure – frontal cheekbones, 45° cheekbones, and side (lateral) cheekbones. And having cheekbones that are proportionately angled can give you a beautiful contour and dimension at your front, 45°, and side views.

Benefits of cheekbone reduction surgery

If you feel that you face is too wide, angular or asymmetrical, reducing your cheekbones might be the ideal solution. Zygoma reduction surgery is suitable for those who:

• Want a softer and more feminine look
• Have a flat or large face due to over-developed cheekbones
• Have a fierce and strong image due to protruded cheekbones
• Look like they have sunken cheeks or temples due to protruded cheekbones
• Have large cheeks due to their bone structure
• Want to transform their uneven face line and slim down the cheekbones
• Have asymmetrical cheekbones

However, as with all other surgical procedures, it does come with some side effects and risks of its own. Common side effects include sagging and droopy cheeks (if too much cheekbones are being removed), but it can be fixed with treatments such as thread lift and SMAS lift.

3 types of cheekbone reduction methods

Zygoma reduction in Korea is performed through a L-shaped osteotomy (bone cut) from incisions inside your mouth so there won’t be visible scarring. The methods used largely depends on the current shape of your cheekbones and how excessively protruded they are. In cases of severely protruded cheekbones, you might need the combination of 2 or 3 reduction methods:

1. Cheekbone rotation method

Cheekbones (zygomas) are cut, then rotated, and fixed with plates. Effective for reducing protrusion on the side cheekbones.

2. Cheekbone repositioning method

Cheekbones are cut, then repositioned by shifting inwards, and fixed with plates. Effective for reducing cheekbone protrusion at the 45° view.

3. Partial cheekbone removal

Excess cheekbones are cut off and remaining cheekbones are then repositioned, and fixed with plates. Effective for those who have severely large and over-developed cheekbones.

How long does cheekbone reduction surgery take?

Cheekbone reduction surgery in Korea usually lasts 1 hour and is performed under general anesthesia so you will not feel any pain.

When can I see results?

Major bruising and swelling (about 70%) will subside in 2~3 weeks and actual results can be seen after 3 months. During the healing period, dental care is extremely important in order to avoid infections. Also, be careful not to open your mouth too big for at least 1-2 months.

Actual recovery time vary among individuals, and is subjected to one’s health condition & healing response.

How long should I stay in Korea?

Zygoma reduction surgery in Korea is not a major surgery so hospitalization is not required. But do stay until your stitches are removed. And go shopping in the meantime!

Stitch removal

Stitches are usually removed 7 days after surgery.

Cautions on stitch removal

If you remove the stitches earlier then advised, your wound might reopen, therefore causing an infection. And if you remove it too late, you risk further scarring and pigmentation.

Due to time constraints, you might be thinking of having your stitches removed at the local hospitals in your home country.

Although that is possible (but not recommended), it largely depends on how well you have been healing and is also subjected to doctor’s approval.

Alternatives to cheekbone reduction surgery

Unfortunately, there isn’t an alternative to cheekbone reduction surgery. For some, getting frontal cheek fat injections might improve the appearance of a flat face, but it is not effective for those with severely protruded cheekbones and wide faces.

What other surgery complements cheekbone reduction surgery?

1. Square jaw reduction surgery

Getting square jaw reduction surgery will help you to have a smoother facial contour and enhance the results from your cheekbone reduction surgery.

2. Genioplasty

For those with receding (short) or overly long chins, genioplasty is recommended for reshaping of the chin to improve overall facial harmony.

3. V-line surgery

V-line surgery is the combination of square jaw reduction surgery and genioplasty to give you a slender and smooth jawline, all the way from your ears to your chin.

4. Facelifts

If you are experiencing saggy cheeks or jowls after your cheekbone reduction surgery, fret not! Because it can be fixed with treatments such as thread lift, SMAS facelift or full facelift.

5. Frontal cheek fat injections

For those with flat cheeks, frontal cheek fat injections can help improve the appearance of your cheeks and enhance the results of your cheekbone surgery.

Conclusion

High cheekbones may be a sign of beauty and youth but overly protruding cheekbones are not. So if your cheekbones are making your face look larger and giving off a more masculine image, zygoma reduction could be right for you.

However, zygoma reduction is not a simple surgery because of the many nerves and blood vessels surrounding the cheek area. Therefore, it is very important for you to get a highly skilled doctor who is experienced in facial contouring surgeries if you want the best results!