Causes of Cheek Sagging After Cheekbone Surgery and How to Prevent It

There are many misunderstandings about cheek sagging after cheekbone surgery.

 

Often, people are confused by misleading claims that because cheekbone reduction surgery is performed through the inside of the mouth, cheek sagging occurs, and that a scalp incision must be made to prevent it.

 

Of course, if a scalp incision is made, the surgeon may have a clear view and the operation may be easier to perform. However, the origin of scalp incision techniques is in neurosurgery, where they are used in brain surgery, so as a method for cosmetic surgery for young people, it feels somewhat excessive.

 

Then, let us consider what causes cheek sagging in relation to cheekbone surgery.

 

Cheek sagging after cheekbone surgery does not occur because of the intraoral incision; rather, it occurs due to the following causes.

 

First, when the cheekbone complex itself sags downward

• If the front and back portions of the cheekbone complex are osteotomized (cut) and then not properly fixed, the cheekbone itself does not settle into the correct position and instead sags downward, resulting in nonunion. In such cases, it can create the appearance of sagging and a depressed-looking face.

 

Second, when part of the cheekbone body that forms the contour of the front cheekbone is cut and fixed after being moved forward

• For a youthful and lively facial shape, the ideal method is to preserve the volume of the front cheekbone while reducing the outward projection of the side cheekbone. However, if the front cheekbone is cut and moved medially and fixed simply because it is easier to access and the surgical method is somewhat simpler, the soft tissue of the front cheek area that was attached to the front cheekbone area will sag downward.

 

To determine which of the above cases applies, it is necessary to accurately analyze the appearance of the cheekbones through a three-dimensional CT scan (3D-CT) after cheekbone surgery, identify the cause, and address it.

 

However, due to temporary swelling after cheekbone surgery, the cheeks may appear a bit fuller for about 3 to 6 months, but over time, it is fine to expect a change in a direction that makes the face look much younger.