Tissue Sagging after Jaw Shaving and Cheekbone Reduction

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a young adult male who is three weeks post-op from jaw shaving and cheekbone reduction (front and back end osteotomies) surgeries in Korea. I understand that these surgeries take quite a while for the swelling to subside but I have a question I must ask.

When I look in the mirror now, I have developed quite distinct nasolabial lines which were definitely not there prior to my surgeries. I am still quite young and I am starting to feel paranoid. 

Are these nasolabial folds the result of sagging or is it the swelling even though I am already 3 weeks post op? Will they go away over time?

A: The short answer to your question is that after jaw shaving and cheekbone reduction it would be important to let all the swelling go down, which takes up to 3 months or more after surgery to see the final facial shape result.  Only then will you know if the soft tissue effects you are seeing now is the result of the loss of cheekbone support. For now you can assume the appearance of the nsaolabial folds is an effect of the swelling. But time and healing will provide the definitive answer.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana