Do Chin and Cheek Reductions Come with Any Dangers?

Question

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?

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

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, there is concern of nerve damage, since the nerves run through the bones and the soft tissue.  However, with an experienced surgeon, your risks are minimized - not eliminated.  
Insurance companies do not cover cosmetic cases.  If you had a congenital (from birth) or trauma-related asymmetry, then it would be advisable to talk to your insurance company to clarify your benefits. 
Your best bet would be to talk to a plastic surgeon who does the congenital and/or trauma-related maxillofacial surgery.

Harrison H. Lee, MD, DMD, FACS · Answer

Yes, any surgery can lead to potential complications. Chin surgery can lead to numbness of the lip and chin which can be either temporary or permanent whereas cheek reduction surgery can lead to asymmetry and other complications. These are procedures that are performed all the time in my practice however we can not guarantee that these procedures are not without complications.

Benjamin Caughlin, MD, FACS · Answer

The cheek reduction is done by buccal fat pad removal. The neck and chin are typically sculpted with liposuction. Every surgery has risks but relatively this is a safe procedure. I am able to do it with local anesthesia which increases the safety significantly.Buccal Fat pad removal =  4,500 $Submental chin neck lipo = 2,500 $Combo is 6000 $ with our group.Hope this helps.Best of luck,DrC

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

Hello Ms. Yi,We do this all the time - but you are right that there are potential risks.  Both areas have nerves around them that we need to watch for.  I've not injured the nerves when doing cheek or jaw surgery but one must be careful!

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

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.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

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 with the extra tissue of the chin pad.

Cheek reduction is not as commonly performed here and can be done through an intraoral approach as well. Caution should be exerted near the surrounding nerves here.

Cheek reduction is not as commonly performed here and can be done through an intraoral approach as well.  Caution should be exerted near the surrounding nerves here.

Narendra Kaushik, MCh, MS, MBBS · Answer

Not many in female go for the surgery, Chin and Cheek reduction surgery is performed as a part of FFS surgery. In many Male to Female Transition, Chin and Cheek feminization is performed to give more feminine look.
We have many Chin and Cheek Reduction Surgery here in Delhi, Any surgical procedure comes challenges of Anesthesia, If the patient is fit for anesthesia, He/She is fit for the surgery. Since Chin and Cheek reduction is cosmetic surgery here in India no Insurance company is covering it.

Regina Rodman, MD · Answer

Great question!  All surgeries have risks, but some have more than others. 
 I perform these surgeries, and have read many of the reports from East Asia to try and see other people's experience to learn from their mistakes.  
For cheek reduction, there is about a 10% risk of complications. In that surgery, we break the cheekbone and put it in a less prominent position.  There is a risk of the bone not healing right, not matching the other cheek, the soft tissue over of the cheek looking droopy, as well as bleeding, scarring, temporary numbness of weakness on that side of the face. 
The cost ranges $4000-$6000 and unfortunately insurance does not cover it.  Insurance rarely pays for surgery that only change appearance (and not a function).
Best of luck
Dr Rodman

Yong Kyu Kim, MD · Answer

HelloI am working in Seoul, Korea.Of course, every surgery has a risk even small surgeries.In my experience, it is not so high risk surgery. It takes just 40 minute and no hospitalization. Usually 3-5days after surgery , patients go back to their job. I think some Korean-American doctors can do cheek bone surgery well in USASome doctors visited my clinic for observing facial bone surgeries.You need a experienced doctor if you worry about complications.Thanks

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

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 of the rounder Asian faces and the Asian ideals of beauty facial skeleton reduction surgery and reduction in the size of the chewing muscles of the jaw are MUCH more common in the Far East. There is NO surgery which is free of potential complications and the more involved the operation, the greater and more frequent the risks.

	If you still have family and friends in Korea I would definitely recommend you research this completely and have your surgery there AFTER planning to stay there for a while and getting a clear understanding on how would potential complications should they occur, be handled.

	Dr. Aldea

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