Do Chin and Cheek Reductions Come with Any Dangers?

Eunmi, Chin and cheek reductions are not as common here in the United States. More commonly, patients request chin and cheek augmentation. With any surgery of the face, we look at the soft tissue and the underlying bone. The lower part of your cheek can be reduced by removing the internal fat pad (buccal fat pad). The upper part of your cheek can be reduced by manipulating the bone. Similarly, your chin can be reduced by cutting the bone. Anytime you are doing surgery in the face,... more

Hello Eunmi, You have posed a very interesting question. Indeed chin and cheek reduction surgeries are far more common in Korea and other Asian countries than in the United States. Chin reduction is more commonly offered here and can involve surgery that addresses the bone or the soft tissues that make up the chin. An experienced surgeon should be able to exam you and define what the main anatomical concern is that is causing the unfavorable appearance. Cheek reduction surgery is not as... more

Chin and cheek reduction is a very uncommon operation.  However, even though I don't perform this surgery routinely, I do know that there are risks.  Most of the risks are cosmetic, specifically how the soft tissue will respond to the decrease in bone volume.   Infection is possible but highly unlikely.  Since the surgery is done intraorally, there is no external incision.

Regarding: " Do chin and cheek reductions come with any dangers?   In Korea, chin and cheek reductions are popular i order to have a small face, but I have heard that there is ahigh risk. Because of this I want to do it in the United States but I cannot find any website, which talks about cheek reductions. Has any doctor done a cheek reduction surgery? How dangerous is it? How much does it cost and Is there any possibility that insurance can cover it?" Because... more

Chin and cheek reductions both involve several risks which can include an infection of the surrounding bones, nerve damage, collapse of facial bones, muscular damage and anesthetic complication to name a few.  Chin reduction is more commonly requested and can be done through an intraoral approach quite successfully in cases where the bone is the most projecting element.  In cases where the soft tissue of the chin is excessive, a submental crease may be more advantageous to deal... more