My cheeks get puffy and wide when I smile though my face is slim without smiling. What procedure would be ideal? (photos)

Question

My cheeks puff up sideways when I smile causing my face from diamond shaped to looking pear-shaped. The apples of my cheeks are also bulky, causing my eyes to squint upwards. Here are photos for reference

Benjamin Caughlin, MD, FACS · Answer

This is a tough one. Buccal fat can chang the static or sultry look to the face, but I am always very careful to explain to patients that the smile is a hard thing to change as it is a dynamic process.  Muscles, fat, skin and bone all come into play. As far as changing how one looks with smiling I think the best bet is filler in the upper 1/3 of the face. If we are able to make the zygomatic arch area more prominent it makes the smile appear slimmer. That in conjunction with a bit in the lips will help to draw attention to other areas. We are able to show this process with some nifty 3D imaging we have created. Hope this helps,Best of luck,DrC

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question. It seems like you can benefit from Buccal fat removal, this is a good option to contour the face. Buccal fat excision can be done comfortably, awake, under local anesthesia in under an hour. The results are long lasting and the recover is quick. I recommend you to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for proper evaluation.

Seung Il Ha, MD · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question!
I personally think that you look great and I wouldn't undergo any procedure, but liposuction and buccal fat removal can help you get a slimmer face. You have to know though, that even after the procedures, your face will look a little wider when smiling that when don't make any expression.
Good luck!
Dr. Ha, Seoul Queen PS, South Korea

Val Lambros, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

that's what a normal smile does. Get over it. If you reduce the cheek fat pad you might make the smiling cheek size a little smaller but you will also likely make the resting look of the cheek flatter and older looking. You could paralyze you cheek muscles with botox so they don't move at all, but this winds up looking like you had a stroke. You look great now both smiling and not.

My cheeks get puffy and wide when I smile though my face is slim without smiling. What procedure would be ideal? (photos)

Answers (4)

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