Zygoma Reduction Surgery: Quick Zygoma vs. 3D Zygoma Surgery Differences in Effect and Selection Criteria

Hello, this is Dr. Jo Hyun-woo of Stature Plastic Surgery.

Today, I will talk about the difference in effectiveness between quick zygoma reduction surgery and 3D zygoma reduction surgery.

Many patients ask, "I heard quick zygoma surgery has no effect?"

Quick zygoma reduction surgery is a surgical method with a history of more than 20 years.

If this surgery had no effect and were not a procedure that should be performed, it would have disappeared long ago.

In recent years, quick zygoma reduction surgery became popular, but it had drawbacks such as many reported side effects and only minimal effectiveness.

However, the zygoma develops differently from person to person, and the surgical method also varies depending on the type.

Naturally, compared with a method that makes an incision inside the mouth, cuts the bone, and then moves it inward, the effect may be smaller.

Because the difference in the amount is not very large, if you are currently considering zygoma reduction surgery, you should first identify what type of zygoma you have so that you do not undergo an unnecessary surgery.

(left) Before surgery, (right) After surgery

This is a schematic view of the zygoma seen from below.

As shown in the figure above, before and after surgery refers to the surgical method of quick zygoma reduction surgery.

The actual amount by which the bone is reduced is

(a) Quick zygoma reduction surgery

(b) 3D zygoma reduction surgery

Figure (a) is a graphical representation of quick zygoma reduction surgery. It reduces by the red volume indicated.

Figure (b) shows the volume of the zygoma that is reduced after general 3D zygoma reduction surgery.

(c)

Through figure (c), you can compare the volume reduced in each case.

The side zygoma area, which is the part where the zygoma moves in the most, is reduced by the same amount, and the difference appears as you move toward the 45-degree area.

However, when performing 230-degree zygoma reduction surgery, which compensates for the shortcomings of the existing quick zygoma reduction surgery, results can be brought as close as possible, though not quite to the level of (b).

Roughly speaking, the difference in the amount reduced at the 45-degree area is about 20%.

Although 20% is not a small amount, when considering that the surgery time is short and recovery is fast,

it can be said that the difference in surgical results is not large enough to be striking.

(d) 230-degree 3D zygoma reduction surgery

Figure (d) is a graphical representation of 230-degree zygoma reduction surgery.

In the case of Stature Plastic Surgery, an additional shaving process is performed only for patients whose 45-degree zygoma is developed.

By smoothly shaving the 45-degree zygoma, the angle of the bend can be made much softer.

You can think of it as a process of carefully refining the bone by shaving it.

For reference, quick zygoma reduction surgery, which reduces the side zygoma, does not reduce the zygoma at the 45-degree area.

Next are photos of a patient who actually underwent zygoma surgery at our clinic.

230-degree 3D zygoma reduction surgery

In cases where the shaving process is included, as you can see on the CT images, the volume of both the 45-degree zygoma and the side zygoma has been reduced overall.

The bend has also become smoother and softer.

3D zygoma reduction surgery

To repeat, it is difficult to say which surgery is better between quick zygoma reduction surgery and 3D zygoma reduction surgery.

That is because the degree of reduction effect varies depending on each person's zygoma development.

Therefore, the most important point is to undergo surgery safely with the method that is appropriate for me.

For a more satisfying and safer surgical result, an accurate diagnosis and sufficient consultation are essential.

At Stature Plastic Surgery, a detailed diagnosis is made by carefully analyzing the patient's bone condition through 3D CT imaging to determine which surgery is needed.

For a highly satisfying surgical result, it would be best to accurately understand the state of your bone development and choose the surgical method that suits you.

So far, we have looked at the differences between quick zygoma reduction surgery and 3D zygoma reduction surgery through illustrations.

Thank you.