[ARTICLE] What Is the Difference Between High-L Zygoma Reduction and Conventional Zygoma Reduction Surgery?

When considering zygoma reduction surgery, patients may be concerned not only about the width of the face from the front, but also about the prominence of the cheekbones from a 45-degree angle. Since the location and degree of cheekbone prominence, as well as the underlying bone structure, vary from person to person, it is important to carefully assess the facial shape and anatomical structure before surgery. Conventional 3D zygoma reduction surgery is generally performed through an intraoral incision. The main body of the zygomatic bone is osteotomized in an “L” shape and then repositioned inward. The location of the osteotomy and the amount of bone movement are determined according to the patient’s cheekbone shape and degree of prominence.

In relation to this, Dr. Kwon Soon Beom, Chief Director of ARC Plastic Surgery, previously presented research on zygoma reduction techniques at the international aesthetic plastic surgery conference, APS KOREA 2025. The “High-L Zygoma Reduction” technique described by Dr. Kwon is characterized by positioning the osteotomy line higher than in conventional zygoma reduction surgery. The most prominent point of the cheekbone is defined as the MMP (Most Maximal High Point), and the surgical plan is designed to include this area within the osteotomy range. According to Dr. Kwon, one of the differences from conventional zygoma reduction is that the osteotomy range is determined by considering the shape and location of cheekbone prominence not only from the frontal view, but also from the 45-degree angle.

Dr. Kwon explained, “In zygoma surgery, rather than simply focusing on reducing as much bone as possible, it is important to accurately identify where the cheekbone actually protrudes on each patient’s face and plan the osteotomy range and amount of bone movement accordingly. The shape of the cheekbones should be evaluated from various angles, including the frontal and 45-degree views.” However, a higher osteotomy line cannot be applied in the same way to every patient. Important anatomical structures, including the infraorbital foramen and infraorbital nerve, are located around the cheekbone. Therefore, the possible surgical range may vary depending on each patient’s skeletal anatomy and nerve location.

For this reason, High-L Zygoma Reduction also requires a thorough preoperative assessment using 3D CT imaging to evaluate the shape of the zygomatic bone, the location of its prominence, and the surrounding anatomical structures. Based on these findings, the osteotomy range and amount of bone movement should be planned according to the individual patient’s skeletal characteristics. Dr. Kwon added, “Even when patients appear to have similar cheekbone prominence, the skeletal structure and the exact area of protrusion can differ from person to person. Therefore, rather than applying a specific surgical technique uniformly to every patient, it is important to determine the appropriate surgical method after a thorough evaluation.”


Source: Rapportian (https://www.rapportian.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=240764)