How Much Cheekbone Reduction Can I Get?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a question in regards to cheekbone reduction. I am male looking to seek a more narrow, elongated face shape to look more appropriately masculine (rectangle face shape)

1. How much reduction is possible, particularly in those with very wide bizygomatic width (165+mm) and a hypereuryproscopic facial indexa? I wanted a reduction of of around / about 20mm but wonder if that’s possible or even safe as I am aware of that being a very large reduction.

2. Can the side of the face, as in the protruding part outside the orbits that is above the cheekbone (frontal process of the zygomatic bone?) be reduced down alongside with the main laterally protruding arch? In cheekbone reductions I often see these two end up equalling each other in width or even the arch being narrower, which creates a straight line, and a squared appearance, as you go down from the side of the face, lateral to the eyebrows down to the arch (which I do not desire and find unaesthetic), instead of the arch being slightly more prominent and creating a curve of sorts. What is that area and or bone called and can it be reduced so as to keep the zygo arch slightly wider even when the arch itself is reduced? The picture attached shows a before and after, in the top picture I drew lines with the higher line to the left being the area I am talking about being clearly narrower than the arch and maximum width of the face, then the arch is flattened while keeping this area the same which makes them equal and creates a flat, straight line in front profile as seen by the line I drew in the second picture. I am hoping you have a solution to this as I plan to get cheekbone reduction with you in the future.

A: The definitive answer to both of your questions about cheek bone reduction requires a 3-D CT face scan. From the scan measurements can be made by bizygomatic width, the degree of convexity of the zygomatic arch can be determined, as well as virtual surgery planned for the cheek bone reduction to see how much movement as possible. Any statements made without this 3-D analysis, would merely be conjecture.

Dr Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon