A patient we met in the consultation room was concerned about their facial width still appearing broad even after orthognathic surgery. Specifically, their prominent side cheekbones made their face appear wide, a concern not addressed by conventional orthognathic surgery.
Limitations of Orthognathic Surgery and Midface Zygoma Surgery
Many people consider orthognathic surgery to reduce facial width. However, as Dr. Myungjun Oh explains in the video, orthognathic surgery alone does not reduce the width of the midface, specifically the cheekbone area below the eyes. The patient's 3D CT images show a characteristic where the head appears wider than the skull itself. In such cases, achieving satisfactory width reduction with orthognathic surgery alone is challenging.
At On Clinic, we propose 'Midface Zygoma Surgery' for these situations. This is not merely a method of shaving down the cheekbones, but an approach that fundamentally reduces facial width by repositioning the bones, similar to orthognathic surgery.
"Even with orthognathic surgery, this area won't shorten. We're not just shaving the cheekbones; we're performing surgery on the cheekbones like orthognathic surgery."
What Changes Can Be Achieved?
Midface zygoma surgery reduces width by adjusting the protrusion of the side and front cheekbones, while simultaneously filling in sunken front cheekbone areas to add volume and dimension.
- Facial Width Reduction: The side cheekbone area is reduced, leading to a slimmer face.
- Effect of Larger Eyes: As the cheekbones move inward, the area around the eyes widens.
- Improved Volume and Dimension: Sunken front cheekbone areas are filled, creating a more vibrant impression.
- Balanced Proportions: Harmonization of overall facial proportions.
Post-Surgery Results
After surgery, the patient was surprised by the change, exclaiming, 'My eyes look bigger!' Dr. Myungjun Oh summarized the results by saying, 'It's a perfect 100 out of 100.' Comparing before-and-after 3D CT scans confirms a reduction in cheekbone width and a softer facial contour. The nearly halved side cheekbones are particularly impressive.
Results may vary by individual, and an accurate assessment will be provided after an in-person consultation.
Dr. Myungjun Oh, On Clinic | Last reviewed 2026-05-23