What Procedures Do I Need To Make My Face Less Square? (Facial Desquaring)

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a square jaw and wide cheekbones which give me an overall square face look.I am right now seeing who’s the best doc for the job. So far all the maxillofacial that can help me seem to be in South Korea, which I have no problem of going to but if I could find something in the US I would prefer that. Here I will attach a photo. Without me telling you what I want, what would you recommend. I am open to everything as long as the risks of complications are kept minimal.

A: Thank you for your inquiry. In the treatment of your wide cheekbones and prominent jawline, you are correct in that bony reduction of both cheeks and jawline is needed. The cheekbones are straightforward as there is only one way to reduce them…anterior and posterior cheekbone reduction osteotomies. The jaw angles/jawline is different in that there are two procedures, 1) lateral corticotomies (thinning) with mild blunting of the actual jaw angles  or 2) jawline angle/jawline amputation for a more radical reduction which eliminates the jaw angle completely. Without seeing a 3D CT scan of your face bones as well as a side and oblique pictures I can not say which may be better in your case.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana