How Can I Get Rid Of The Cheek Fullness After A LeFort 1 Osteotomy?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello, I had a Lefort 1 surgery done a month ago which left me with fuller cheeks. I want to get my slimmer face back and was wondering what could be done. Hopefully I would be able to achieve my former look. I could attach before pictures if you would like. Thank you have a nice day.

A: Thank you for you inquiry and sending your pictures. A LeFort 1 osteotomy, by definition, moves the lower base of the upper jaw forward, meaning there are certain fascial changes that will occur to the bone right above the teeth roots. (base of nose moves forward, tip of nose may rotate more upward and fullness will appear in the lower cheeks) How significant these facial changes are depends on the amount of forward movement one has. I don’t know your degree of maxillary movement but t hat issue aside I can make the following comments:

1) It takes a minimum of 3 or 4 months until all of the facial swelling subsides AND the overlying soft tissues shrink back down around the reshaped bone. You will know more by then how whether what you are seeing now resolves or merits surgical improvement.

2) The surgical improvement would be to remove the plates and screws and contour down the bony step off located in the under the cheekbone area which is where you see the new fullness.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana