Cheekbone Reduction

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in cheekbone reduction. I am a 24years old female. I would like to have Zygoma reduction. (by intraoral route if its possible) I want to do this surgery to have more slim face. Do you do on the CT face scan analysis and do you use melting screw? Do you do Anterior segmental osteotomy surgery? Looking forward to hear from you. Thank you.

A: Cheekbone reduction osteotomies for facial narrowing is usually done with an intraoral anterior osteotomy of the posterior zygomatic body combined with a posterior osteotomy of the zygomatic arch where it connects to the temporal bone with a very small incision in the hairline. Small 1.5mm titanium plates and screws are used for bone fixation. While resorbable plate and screws can be used they are much more expensive than titanium and do not work as well. While an anterior osteotomy of the posterior zygomatic body can be done alone, it does not create as much facial slimming as when a posterior zygomatic arch osteotomy is done as well. I usually like to see a 3D CT scan before surgery to determine how much inward movement can be obtained with cheekbone reduction osteotomies.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana