Cheekbone Revision (Asymmetry, Non-Union): Fix Temple Bulge and Cheek Sag
Concerns After Cheekbone Re-Surgery: Resolving Temporal Bulge and Sagging Cheeks
Hello, I am Dr. Oh Myung-jun from O.N Clinic. Today, I would like to discuss in depth the potential side effects after facial contouring Surgery and their solutions, using the case of a patient who was stressed by asymmetry and non-union issues after cheekbone re-Surgery at another hospital. This patient visited our clinic two months after their initial Surgery. CT scans showed good union of the cheekbones and stable placement of the fixation pins. The bone issues themselves had been resolved. However, the patient complained that while they felt their cheekbone area had narrowed, their temples appeared more prominent, making their facial line unnatural. This is a common concern that many people may experience after facial contouring Surgery.
Causes of Temporal Bulge and the Importance of Botox Treatment
Looking at the patient's face before Surgery, the cheekbones were more prominent than the temporal area, so the presence of the temporal muscles was not very noticeable. However, after Surgery to reduce the cheekbones, as the central part of the face moves inward, the temporal muscles can relatively appear more prominent. This can be seen as a visual illusion that occurs as the ratio of soft tissues changes with bone changes. In such cases, Botox Treatment to reduce the temporalis muscle in the temporal area can provide a simple and effective improvement. Botox works by temporarily paralyzing muscle movement to reduce its volume, and it is expected that the patient's temporal area will naturally shrink over time after the Treatment, making the facial line smoother.
Misconceptions About Sagging Cheeks: Liposuction Requires Caution
The patient felt they had a lot of flesh in their cheek area and expressed a desire to resolve this through liposuction. However, I absolutely do not recommend liposuction for sagging cheeks or unnecessary facial volume that occurs after facial contouring Surgery. This is because sagging cheeks after facial contouring Surgery are usually not simply a problem caused by an excessive amount of fat.
If liposuction is performed on areas that are not fat, it can lead to side effects such as the formation of scar tissue and hardening of the skin, without any change in volume. Especially when the skin and soft tissues are still in the Recovery process after bone Surgery, such procedures can hinder Recovery and lead to unexpected results, so they should be absolutely avoided.
In the past, there were not many effective non-surgical methods for skin contraction, so liposuction was sometimes unavoidable. However, with the advancement of modern medical technology, various energy devices and treatments such as Ultherapy, Thermage, Titanium, and HIFU Lifting have been developed, making it possible to contract the skin and manage fat much more safely and effectively. These devices promote collagen production from deep within the skin and reduce the fat layer, providing natural Lifting and tightening effects.
O.N Clinic's Skin Contraction and Tightening Program After Facial Contouring Surgery
At O.N Clinic, we offer the following systematic and customized program to improve skin sagging and unnecessary volume that may occur after facial contouring Surgery. This program is characterized by providing optimized solutions for each individual patient through close collaboration between plastic Surgery and dermatology.
- Accurate Diagnosis and 1:1 Custom Design: As a plastic Surgery specialist, I meticulously analyze the patient's facial structure and skin condition, and personally Design a plan tailored to their individual skin type, thickness, elasticity, and desired final facial line. In this process, I compare 3D CT images with the actual face to envision the most ideal line.
- Optimal Device Treatment through Collaboration with Dermatology: According to the plan I Design, the dermatology Medical Team uses the most suitable energy device for the patient's skin to effectively contract the skin and fat.
- Titanium Lifting: Especially when swelling remains or more skin contraction is needed, Titanium Lifting helps improve elasticity by contracting the skin layers and inducing collagen regeneration through powerful thermal energy. Satisfactory results can usually be achieved through 2-3 treatments.
- Thermage/Ultherapy: For overall elasticity improvement and Lifting effects from the deep to superficial layers of the skin, Thermage or Ultherapy treatments are recommended. These use high-frequency or high-intensity focused ultrasound energy to regenerate collagen in the skin and contract loosened tissues. They are effective alone, but can also be combined with Titanium to maximize synergistic effects.
- Fat Dissolving Injections and HIFU Lifting: If there is localized fat accumulation in specific areas, or if more delicate facial line improvement is needed, fat dissolving injections and HIFU-based Lifting Treatment can be combined to reduce unnecessary fat and further tighten the skin.
These treatments can be performed approximately 3 times, aligning with the Recovery stages at 2 months, 6 months, and 10 months after facial contouring Surgery. The most suitable combination and number of sessions will be determined based on a precise diagnosis according to the patient's progress. O.N Clinic's goal is not merely to reduce prominent areas, but to restore skin elasticity and create a more harmonious and natural overall facial line.
Facial contouring Surgery is a very complex process that requires consideration of not only bone changes but also changes in the skin and soft tissues. Therefore, I want to emphasize that it is important to have sufficient Consultation with a plastic Surgery and dermatology Medical Team with rich experience and expertise to find the optimal solution for yourself.
O.N Clinic | Last reviewed 2026-05-23