Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery

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Have you ever considered reducing your cheekbones? Like many others, you might have thought about undergoing plastic surgery to achieve the desired look. This article, prepared by Korean surgeons in collaboration with medical coordinators from the medical tourism agency “365”, offers a detailed insight into cheekbone reduction surgery.

Stay on this page, and in just 8-10 minutes, you’ll receive comprehensive and detailed information.

Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery

What is the Zygomatic Bone?

The zygomatic bone, also known as the cheekbone or zygoma, plays a significant role in defining the face. It shapes the face and thus determines the facial width. This bone can be reduced and shaped, leading to a more balanced and youthful appearance. South Korean plastic surgeons are true experts in zygomatic reduction, with the country accounting for over 80% of all maxillofacial surgeries performed worldwide.

Here are a few things you need to know before packing your bags and heading to South Korea for zygomatic reduction through the “365” medical tourism agency.

What You Need to Know:

Our clinic consultant will conduct a final consultation with you and handle the necessary paperwork for your surgery.

You will enter the operating room and undergo anesthesia, meaning you’ll sleep through the procedure without feeling any pain. Usually, this procedure is performed under general anesthesia, which requires fasting for 6-8 hours beforehand, but this may vary depending on the doctor’s methods.

The surgeon will make an incision inside the mouth and, in some cases, a pinpoint incision on the skin, near the temple, to access the zygomatic bone (cheekbone). If the bone is simply cut vertically, only a slight reduction in facial width is possible. To maximize your body’s potential, experienced surgeons can make two separate incisions. The first incision, near the nose area, can be performed using the High-L Osteotomy method. This method calculates the maximum malar projection (MMP), and then the most protruding part of the cheekbone can be reduced. This achieves a reduction in cheekbone width of 30-90 degrees. In contrast, the Low-L Osteotomy method makes an incision at the lower part of the zygoma, allowing only a lateral area reduction of 45-90 degrees. The result of this method is a non-optimal, i.e., minor reduction in cheekbones.

The next pinpoint incision the surgeon makes is on the outer part of the face. After each incision, excess zygomatic bone is removed, and the remaining bone is pushed inward. Don’t worry about this incision: just 1-2 weeks post-surgery, it resembles a tiny acne scar and practically disappears within 3-4 weeks.

The zygomatic bone is repositioned in the desired place and secured with screws to ensure its safety and self-healing ability. Drains are usually placed to prevent excessive fluid accumulation, which are removed the day after surgery. The installed screws won’t trigger metal detectors, such as those at airports or during an MRI, so over 95% of patients keep them for life without undergoing additional surgery for removal.

Then, stitches are applied, and the healing process begins.

Using screws and plates might seem intimidating, but it’s for your benefit. These processes help the cheekbone heal correctly without causing permanent damage. Dissolvable screws and plates can also be used, but there’s currently insufficient research on this topic. Potential issues could include infection due to slow degradation. If a severe infection occurs, the plates may need to be removed, or if no plate is present, internal damage could occur. Therefore, we recommend standard titanium screws, which have proven their effectiveness over time.

Low-L Osteotomy and High-L Osteotomy Methods

Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery

As detailed in previous sections, there are two primary methods for reducing the protrusion of the cheekbones from the front part near the nose. This area has the most significant impact on reducing facial width, so let’s delve a bit deeper into this topic.

There are two distinct types of cuts involved in this surgery. One is the Low-L osteotomy, also known as Low-L, which involves a cut at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees. The cut is made towards the backside of the cheekbone’s highest point. However, the limitation with this cut is that the reduction might be insufficient, and the change could be too minimal for patient satisfaction.

The preferred method is the High-L Osteotomy, also known as High-L, which involves a cut at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees. The cut is made towards the front of the cheekbone. This cut allows for a greater volume to be reduced, which can maximally satisfy the patient.

In simple terms: A Low-L cut will give you a minor reduction, and a High-L cut will provide a more significant reduction.

Post-Surgery Recovery

Since cheekbone reduction is a significant surgical procedure, some side effects might occur. You may experience:

  • Bleeding

  • Infection

  • Risks associated with anesthesia

  • Hematomas

  • Scarring

  • Pain

That’s why choosing the best team to perform your surgery is crucial, and this is where our agency steps in. We’re here to ensure you get the finest doctors, the best team, and the most satisfactory experience. Our recommended plastic surgeon will, of course, explain everything to you and take the utmost care of you as their patient.

After the operation, it is advised not to engage in strenuous physical activities for 1-2 months and to limit yourself to short walks. Walking is crucial for your recovery as it speeds up the process. Staying in bed all day, conversely, slows it down. Here is a recovery schedule you can expect, though it may slightly vary from person to person:

The day of the surgery is first up. We’ll be there to assist you and provide all the necessary support to make this day as comfortable as possible. When you wake up post-surgery, we’ll also be there to help with anything you might need. You’ll stay in the clinic overnight, and in the morning, you’ll be discharged and sent home.

The day of the surgery is over, and now we move on to the aftercare visits. The first visit is just 3 days later. On this day, they’ll disinfect the wound, check the healing process, and, if necessary, place you under a special lamp that helps reduce swelling more quickly.

The next visit is a week after surgery, where we will take you back to the clinic for APL or infrared treatments that help cleanse and remove dead skin cells, regenerate skin, and reduce swelling.

The third visit is two weeks post-surgery. On this day, the sutures will be removed, and the plastic surgeon will use RF radiofrequency or ultrasound treatment to aid healing and reduce swelling.

After this, visits become much less frequent. There should be periodic progress checks over the next 1 to 6 months, during which the surgeon will perform a CT scan or X-ray to check on the internal healing process.

The healing process is as follows: After 1-1.5 months, 80% of the wounds have healed. During this time, you can return to your daily activities. However, you should still be cautious with the restrictions your doctor gave you beforehand, such as smoking, swimming, and engaging in vigorous sports.

After 6 months, 95% of the wounds have healed. However, the operated area might still be swollen, and you should handle it with care. You’re now halfway through the healing process.

After 12 months, 99% of the wounds have healed. At this stage, internal healing will proceed much slower, and in some cases, full internal healing can take up to 1-2 years.

Regarding Swelling

One month post-surgery, you will appear normal to others, but some swelling may still be visible. This swelling should reduce by 80% within three months. After this point, improvements in swelling will occur more slowly. By six months, all swelling should have subsided, leaving only internal healing to complete.

Before and After Photos

Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery
Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery
Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery
Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery
Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery
Cheekbone Reduction in Korea: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Surgery

To better visualize the impact of the surgery and how it will transform your face, here are some before and after photos for a clearer understanding.

Is This Procedure Right for Me?

First and foremost, it’s crucial to determine if this procedure is suitable for you. If you’re dissatisfied with the width of your face due to broad cheekbones, then this surgery might be right for you. The ideal candidates for this procedure are:

  • Individuals with broad cheeks due to wide cheekbones

  • Individuals in good overall health

  • Individuals unhappy with their facial width due to “chubby” cheeks

  • Individuals with realistic expectations about the surgery’s outcomes

The last point regarding realistic expectations is particularly important. It’s common for people considering surgery to have a specific image in mind of the desired outcome, which may not always be realistic. When undergoing zygomatic reduction surgery, the plastic surgeon will be cutting into bone. The face contains many nerves, blood vessels, and other structures, which limits what can be achieved with the final result. The outcome must harmonize with your other facial features and is constrained by your own anatomical structures. Therefore, having realistic expectations is key.

What Can I Do Before the Surgery?

Remember, cheekbone reduction, or zygoma reduction, is considered major surgery. This means patients must follow strict pre-operative instructions. These include:

  • No eating or drinking at least 6 hours before the operation begins, though some doctors may recommend fasting for longer periods.

  • No aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal medications approximately two weeks before the scheduled operation.

  • No smoking at least 4 weeks before the procedure, if possible.

  • No alcoholic beverages 2 days before surgery.

  • Stop taking vitamins 1-2 weeks before the operation according to your doctor’s recommendations.

These steps are crucial for ensuring a smooth surgical process and successful recovery.

At the “365” Medical Tourism Agency, we aim to provide you with the best possible experience for plastic surgery in Korea. Our exceptional staff is ready to assist with all your queries and guide you through your transformative journey.

We offer online consultations with our team and surgeons, who are well-versed in all aspects of plastic surgery and can address any questions you might have. Following this discussion, the agency will develop a treatment plan in collaboration with numerous specialists, presenting you with various options based on your needs. You tell us what you desire, and we’ll handle the rest. There’s no need to scour the internet and sift through dozens of clinics – we’ve got you covered! We partner exclusively with the best plastic surgeons, all government-licensed, ensuring you’re in safe hands.

Once you’ve selected the optimal treatment plan, it’s time to travel to Korea, and we will support and assist you in every possible way right up until the day of the surgery. We’ll accompany you to the clinic, help with the paperwork, and ensure your trip to Korea is the best and most comfortable it can be.

As previously mentioned, we only choose the top professionals in their field. All doctors are government-verified, and the clinics utilize CCTV systems, making them a secure environment for procedures.

Ultimately, our staff will take care of you before your arrival, throughout your stay in Korea, and will always be there for you in the future.

How Much Will It Cost?

Determining a price range can be challenging due to the many factors at play. These include the clinic’s level, the case’s complexity, the duration and timing of the surgery, and the doctor’s level within the clinic. For instance, is the doctor a specialist? What’s their experience level? How frequently do they perform the procedure? Considering all these factors, the cost for zygomatic reduction surgery ranges from $4,000 to $8,000 USD. Paying the highest price isn’t always necessary, but it depends on your case. Similarly, experienced doctors may not opt for surgeries at the lowest price points due to high demand and full schedules. The best way to determine the exact price is to undergo a full consultation, send us your photos, and receive a customized treatment plan.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to come to Korea for plastic surgery, skincare, laser eye surgery, hair transplantation, dental procedures, or any other treatments, contact us for a free consultation by:

  • Messaging us on Instagram at 365plastics_korea

Or by calling/texting us at:

  • Phone (WhatsApp/Kakao/Telegram): +82-10-9628-9603 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-7pm, Sat 10am-2pm Seoul time).
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