Cheekbone Reduction

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in cheekbone reduction or recontouring. I’m wondering if there is a possible solution to my low cheekbone contour, by this I mean the ‘hollow’ shadow line that you see in many male models or those with high cheekbones. From looking at my face at the front is the cheekbone insertion too low or are my cheekbones just too large in length size? I ask this because the cheekbone seems to start at a high position i.e. just under my eye but seems to extend a lot length wise down my face. Any possible solutions to this would be appreciated.

A: Interestingly, while many men seek to obtain the cheek look that you have (and can’t) yours appears to be a question as to how to change your high and wide cheekbone prominence. Your cheek look is a function of both the high and wide shape of your cheek bones as well as the lack (or minimal amount) of facial fat. As a result you have a very classic pattern of ‘cut out’ cheek bones whose pattern can be seen very clearly on your face. Since a face like yours is very unlikely to maintain any injected fat, the only possible solution is to recontour your cheek bones. A reduction in your cheekbones (cheekbone reduction) to reduce its width, and possibly adding a small submalar implant (to fill out the submalar hollows), would be the one way I can see to modify your cheekbone shape.

Cheekbone reduction surgery is often about modifying the shape of the cheekbones as opposed to just pure bone removal.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana