Why Cheek Hollows Occur After Facial Liposuction—The Difference Usually Comes Down to This

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It is not subject to review under Article 56, Paragraph 2, and Article 57 of the Medical Service Act,

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Hello,

I am Sung Hyun-joo, director of 청담오케이의원.

▶ Full Member, Korean Association of Cosmetic Surgery (KACS)
▶ Full Member, Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO)
▶ Full Member, Korean Association of Aesthetic and Metabolic Body Contouring (KAAM)
▶ Full Member, Korean Society of Liposuction and Body Contouring (KSSL)
▶ Full Member, Korean Society of Aesthetic Surgery (KSAS)

When consulting with patients about facial liposuction,

there is one side effect that people worry about most.

It is “cheek hollows.”

Although the facial fat has clearly been reduced,

some people are told that they look tired or older instead.

In particular, if the area below the cheekbones appears sunken

or the area around the mouth feels deeply hollowed,

satisfaction can drop significantly.

However, in practice,

the difference in results often comes down to factors

that are more important than the fat itself.

Table of Contents
1. Facial fat should not simply be removed in large amounts 2. Why do cheek hollows occur? 3. Three-dimensional definition is important for the face 4. What makes facial liposuction highly satisfying

1. Facial fat should not simply be removed in large amounts

Facial liposuction

takes a fundamentally different approach

from liposuction on the body.

The face has thin layers of fat

and is an area with frequent facial movement,

so even a slight excess can create a noticeable change.

In particular, the buccal fat area, jawline, and area below the cheekbones

each serve different functions.

If these factors are not considered

and too much fat is removed,

the balance of facial volume may actually be disrupted.

In fact, even if some fat remains on the face,

it often looks much slimmer when the contours are properly refined.

Conversely, if too much fat is removed,

the face may initially look slimmer,

but over time, it may develop a stronger sunken appearance.

2. Why do cheek hollows occur?

Cheek hollows usually occur

when the balance between the fat layers is disrupted.

Cheek hollowing

In particular, when the fat directly beneath the skin

is removed excessively,

the area below the cheekbones may appear deeply sunken.

If skin elasticity is also lacking,

the hollowed appearance may become even more noticeable.

The face is also an area

where fat naturally decreases with age.

If too much fat is removed at a young age,

a lack of volume may feel more pronounced as time passes.

3. Three-dimensional definition is important for the face

Many people focus only

on making the face look smaller,

but what actually determines the overall impression

is three-dimensional definition and continuity.

For example, even if the jawline is refined,

if the front cheeks and area below the cheekbones are hollow,

the overall impression may appear older.

Conversely, while maintaining volume at the center of the face,

if only unnecessary fat along the jawline is refined,

the result may be a much clearer and more refined impression.

For this reason, recent approaches often consider

shifting volume toward the center of the face

and balancing the contours together,

rather than simply removing fat.

4. What makes facial liposuction highly satisfying

Highly satisfying facial liposuction results

share several common features.

Rather than removing as much as possible,

the current facial shape, skin elasticity,

and fat distribution are considered together.

In addition, the contours often remain natural

not only immediately after surgery,

but also after swelling subsides and the tissues settle.

Conversely, an approach that makes the face look dramatically thinner only at first

may lead to cheek hollows or skin sagging over time.

For this reason, after facial liposuction,

many people also consider lifting procedures or elasticity care.

The important point is not simply to reduce the size of the face,

but to create naturally youthful-looking facial balance.

Ultimately, the results of facial liposuction

differ most significantly not by the amount of fat removed,

but by “where fat is preserved and where it is refined.”

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