How Can I Fix The Dent From CheekBone Reduction Osteotomies?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had cheekbone reduction surgery 3 months ago. However, there is misalignment where the cheekbones are cut and reattached, causing a visible dent especially on the right cheek. The left and right side are also slightly asymmetrical. I’m looking for infraorbital malar implants to cover up the dents and make the 2 sides more symmetric.

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. It appears that you had a vertical oblique cheekbone reduction osteotomy but without a posterior zygomatic arch osteotomy it can make the bony step off through the body of the cheekbone evident… particularly if the created anterior lip of bone is not reduced as the segment moves inward. How to camouflage the step off can be done by different methods but there is no question that the ideal approach is to get a 3-D CT scan and then make coverage implants that not only fill the defects but also improves the cheekbone asymmetry. The differences between the two sides is undoubtably but a few millimeters and it takes preoperative precision planning to make such ‘fine tuning’ of the cheekbones.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon