Zygoma reduction narrows wide or prominent cheekbones by cutting and repositioning the cheekbone (zygomatic body) and its arch. It is facial bone contouring surgery, most often requested by East Asian patients and as part of facial feminisation.
It makes the midface narrower and softer in outline. The change is measured in millimetres per side, it is irreversible, and if the soft tissues are not supported the cheeks can sag afterwards.
What Zygoma (Cheekbone) Reduction involves
A CT scan is used to plan the cuts. Through an incision inside the mouth above the upper teeth, the surgeon exposes the cheekbone and makes an L-shaped or oblique cut through its body; a thin strip of bone may be removed. Through a second small incision in the sideburn or in front of the ear, the back of the zygomatic arch is cut. The freed segment is pushed inward and slightly backward and fixed at the front with small titanium plates and screws so that the chewing muscle cannot pull it down. Simple shaving of the bone surface with a burr is used when only a slight reduction is needed. Wounds are closed with dissolving stitches inside the mouth.
Who is a good candidate for Zygoma (Cheekbone) Reduction?
It suits adults with true bony width, confirmed on imaging.
- Your cheekbones are wide or project sideways and you want a narrower midface
- A CT scan shows that the width comes from bone rather than fat or muscle
- You are having jaw contouring or facial feminisation and want balanced proportions
- You are over 18 with good general and dental health
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Your cheek fullness is soft tissue, where other treatments suit better
- You are older or already have midface sagging, unless a lift is planned too
- You have untreated sinus disease or dental infection
- You want a change that can be reversed
- You smoke heavily, which impairs bone and wound healing
الخيارات التقنية
- L-shaped osteotomy with plate fixation: The standard method for moderate to large reduction, with stable fixation.
- Arch infracture: Narrowing the arch only, for width at the side of the face.
- Bone shaving: Minor prominence of the cheekbone body; limited effect.
- Combined with V-line jaw surgery: Overall facial narrowing in a single operation.
- Combined with midface lift: Reduces the risk of cheek droop in patients over about 35 to 40.
ماذا يحدث خلال علاجك
Surgery takes 1.5 to 3 hours under general anaesthetic with 1 to 2 nights in hospital. You wake with a compressive facial bandage and considerable swelling. Pain is moderate. Mouth opening is limited and the upper lip and cheeks feel numb.
الإعداد لرحلتك
Plan for 10 to 14 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
التعافي والنتائج
Swelling peaks at day 3 and mostly settles within 3 to 4 weeks; the last of it takes 3 to 6 months. Eat a soft diet for 2 to 4 weeks and rinse your mouth after every meal. Avoid pressure on the cheeks, sleeping on your side and wide yawning for 6 weeks while the bone unites. No contact sport for 3 months. Numbness usually recovers over weeks to months.
- Back to everyday activity: 2 to 3 weeks
- When results show: Shape at 4 to 6 weeks, final at 6 months
- How long they last: Permanent
سياسة السلامة والمخاطر والتنقيح
This is bone surgery near important nerves and the sinus, so choose a surgeon trained in craniofacial or maxillofacial work.
- Cheek sagging or deeper nasolabial folds
- Asymmetry between sides
- Numbness of the cheek and upper lip from the infraorbital nerve, usually temporary
- Non-union or displacement of the bone, with a palpable step or clicking
- Restricted mouth opening
- Infection, sinusitis or plate problems
- Weakness of the forehead branch of the facial nerve, which is rare
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Zygoma (Cheekbone) Reduction in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Zygoma (Cheekbone) Reduction, because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Osteotomy versus shaving
- Combination with jaw or chin surgery or a lift
- CT planning, plates and screws
- Hospital nights
- Surgeon's craniofacial experience
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
Will my cheeks sag?
It is the best-known drawback. Secure fixation, conservative movement and, for some, a simultaneous lift reduce the risk.
Are the plates removed later?
Usually not. Titanium plates are small and can stay for life unless they cause symptoms.
How much narrower will my face be?
Typically a few millimetres per side. This reads clearly in photographs but is not a dramatic transformation.
Are there visible scars?
The main incision is inside the mouth. The small sideburn incision is hidden in hair.