Cheekbone Reduction

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in cheekbone reduction. I have been very insecure about my face structure. I feel like if I get cheek bone reduction it would really change my life because I am tired of thinking about it all over again everyday, it really frustrates me and depresses me. So for my cheek bone reduction would I have any visible scar? And how stable would the cheek be? Would it be stable as before? Would it be able to take a punch? Because I’m really worried. I have attached pictures so you can see how prominent my cheek bones are.

A: Thanks for sending all the pictures. Cheekbone reduction surgery is done mainly from inside the mouth. There is a very small external skin incision on the backside of the sideburn area to get to the posterior tail of the zygomatic arch but it is very small and heals well. The bones are put together with small plates and screws for stabilization afterwards. Once the bones are healed, like any facial fracture, they can resist trauma such as taking a punch in the face. You also have to remember that the cheekbones will already be broken (moved inward) so their ability it get fractured is less anyway.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana