How Can My Cheekbone Fracture From A Year Ago Be Corrected?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Sustained a cheek fracture last year and hospital did not want to intervene! I notice a big difference in facial symmetry with malar depression. Just looking for help because it has caused emotional pain.

A: This is a classic depressed ZMC fracture. At one year after the injury the depressed cheekbone is now healed into this abnormal position. The options now are either to refracture the bone and try to reposition it back closer to normal (secondary osteotomy) or leave the bone where it is and make a custom cheek implant overlay matching the shape of the other side. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. But for either one getting a 3D face CT scan is importsnt to have a clear understanding  of the cheekbone’s exact shape. Such an understanding may influence how successful either approach would be, particularly the osteotomy method.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon