How Is Cheek Reduction Performed?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 32 Chinese female who is interested in cheekbone reduction. More specifically, I find that my left zygomatic arch sticks out more than my right, so I want to reduce by a little bit to balance out my face. Can I you send you pictures to see if I am a good candidate for this procedure?
Also I have a couple of questions:
 1) I am very worried of sagging of the soft cheek tissue, what is the risk of this and what type of procedure is done to avoid this.
2)  Is this surgery common at your office? How much experience do you have doing cheekbone reduction?
3) Will is be possible to see pictures of your previous patients that have undergone cheekbone reduction at your office?
4) Since I am an out of town patient, how long will I have to stay in town for this procedure?

I have been contemplating this surgery for a very long time and I am very keen to do it.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

A: Thank you for your inquiry. Please send me some pictures of your face for my assessment. Cheek osteotomy reduction, specifically that of the zygomatic arch, is done by a combined anterior zygomatic osteotomy (from inside the mouth) and a posterior zygomatic arch osteotomy where it attaches to the temporal bone. (from a small temporal scalp incision) In answer to your questions:

1)      Soft tissue sagging is not a concern with this type of cheek osteotomy because the soft tissues are not detached from the arc bone during the procedure. They simply move inward with the medial movement of the zygomatic arch.

2)      This is a common aesthetic craniofacial procedure in my practice. It is done almost exclusively for Asian patients.

3)      Out of respect for patient privacy and their confidentiality, we do not send  out patient photographs to prospective patients.

4)      This is a type of facial osteotomy procedure in which you could return home within 48 hours after surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana