ON Facial Contouring Zygoma Revision: Repairing a Cheekbone With 20+ Pins
This patient had previously undergone zygoma reduction Surgery at another hospital, but visited O.N Clinic due to several issues that arose after the Surgery. When I first checked the 3D CT images, I was quite surprised. The patient had the following problems:
- More than 10 fixation pins embedded in the cheekbones
- Wide gaps observed between the bones (bone gaps)
- Increased difficulty of reoperation due to pins located too close to the eyes
Furthermore, the pins located too close to the eyes were a major reason for the increased difficulty of reoperation.
Why is Zygoma Reoperation Difficult?
Zygoma reoperation goes beyond simply re-shaping the bone. The key is to accurately identify and resolve the problems that arose from the previous Surgery. In this patient's case, the excessive use of fixation pins and the widened bone gaps hindered bone fusion and caused asymmetry. More pins do not necessarily lead to better results. On the contrary, unnecessary pins can increase the risk of inflammation or nerve damage, and can also impede the natural Recovery of the bone. Especially, pins too close to the eyes required a very cautious approach, as their removal could damage important structures such as the optic nerve.
O.N Clinic's Diagnosis and Customized Planning
The patient's face had severe left-right asymmetry, and the jaw was also slightly misaligned. While eye area asymmetry or jaw misalignment are difficult to improve with zygoma Surgery alone, we determined that the asymmetry of the cheekbones themselves could be sufficiently corrected. We meticulously analyzed the patient's bone structure, the location of existing pins, and the extent of bone gaps using 3D CT. Based on this, we established a customized Surgery Planning to achieve maximum fixation effect with minimal pins, simultaneously resolve asymmetry, and ideally adjust the length of the midface.
Fixation Pin Removal and Bone Gap Improvement
The most urgent task was to safely remove the 20 existing fixation pins. Especially, pins located very close to the eyes required a high degree of concentration and delicate skill. After successfully removing all pins, the widened bone gaps were precisely aligned to induce fusion. To resolve the problem of bone gaps occurring despite the use of many pins previously, we used only 4 essential pins to firmly fix the bone. This was a choice to ensure bone stability while minimizing unnecessary foreign body sensation.
Asymmetry Correction and Midface Reduction
The patient's left and right cheekbone lengths were distinctly different, and the midface length was also long. Through Surgery, we adjusted the length of both cheekbones to be close to a straight line, effectively improving the severe left-right asymmetry. Additionally, by reducing the long midface area by more than one-third and Lifting it upwards, the overall face appeared shorter and younger. The left and right cheekbone lines, which were distinctly different when viewed from below, also transformed into a balanced appearance after Surgery. By resolving these complex issues, the patient was able to achieve satisfactory results.
"In this patient's case, the reason the Surgery was difficult was the challenging pin removal. 20 left and right fixation pins too close to the eyes. There were more than 10 pins, 10 pins. And it was really hard to remove them, especially those close to the eyes." — Dr. Oh Myung-jun
The Surgery was a very challenging process, but through precise Diagnosis and skilled techniques, all problems could be successfully resolved. The patient was highly satisfied with the noticeably improved facial contour and the resolution of asymmetry after Surgery. Zygoma reoperation is much more complex and difficult than the first Surgery, so it is crucial to entrust it to a Medical Team with rich experience and expertise. O.N Clinic is committed to accurately diagnosing each patient's condition and providing safe and effective solutions.
O.N Clinic | Last reviewed 2026-05-23