Cheek Reduction in Boston

Name: Cheek Reduction
Brand: The Spiegel Center
Rating: 4.6 (552 reviews)

Get that beautifully contoured, slim face by reducing the prominence of your cheekbones.

patient looking in handheld mirror and poking her cheek with doctor beside her

Round Or Wide Face? There Is A Solution

As a general rule, high cheekbones are a sought-after feature. However, there can be too much of a good thing. If you were blessed with an overabundance of cheeks, the very prominent and wide cheekbones may make the face look wider and flatter. If it’s chubby cheeks that are the problem, we may recommend buccal fat pad reduction.

However, if you have excessively large bony cheeks, facial contouring by shaving or changing the shape of the cheekbones can soften the face, balance proportions, and improve your overall appearance.

Cheek Reduction Overview

What Is Cheek Reduction Surgery?

Cheekbone reduction surgery involves reducing the large bones of the malar area of the facial skeleton. This will soften and smooth the cheeks, while likely improving the common issue of hollowness in the upper face and temples. Cheek reduction surgery is safe and has an overall slimming effect on your whole appearance. Patients love this procedure because it also makes most patients look younger.

How Is Cheek Reduction Performed?

During your consultation, your Spiegel Center surgeon will educate you about the ideal proportions for your face considering its length, width, and other significant ratios. Cheek reduction surgery is performed with IV sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure takes between 60 and 90 minutes.

Our surgeons perform the surgery from inside the mouth so that there are no visible incisions or scars. In this way, we are able to access the zygomatic bone and delicately shave the bone to contour the desired look. The incisions are then closed. Typically, dissolvable sutures are used, which disappear on their own.

What Can I Expect During Recovery?

Following the surgery, you should go home and relax for the day. You’ll likely have some bruising and moderate cheek swelling, but significant pain or discomfort is unlikely and uncommon. Over the next week, the swelling goes down substantially to where you should feel quite comfortable seeing people, but the final result won’t be evident for some time after that.

Dimpleplasty vs. Cheek Augmentation, Buccal Fat Removal, and Cheek Reduction

When designing your ideal facial profile, it helps to distinguish between treatments that change your overall facial shape and those that add charming, dynamic expressions.

Quick Comparison

Procedure	Primary Goal	How It’s Done	Best For
Cheek Augmentation	Add volume & lift	Dermal fillers or implants	Flat, deflated, or aging upper cheeks
Buccal Fat Removal	Slim & contour the lower face	Removing the lower cheek fat pad	"Baby-faced" or round cheeks wanting a chiseled look
Cheek Reduction	Narrow the facial width	Shaving or repositioning the cheekbone	Physically wide or prominent bone structure
Dimpleplasty	Create facial dimples	A tiny suture anchoring skin to muscle	Adding a subtle, charming smile accent

Focal Accents vs. Silhouette Changes: Procedures like augmentation, reduction, and fat removal adjust the overall frame of the face. Dimpleplasty focuses entirely on adding localized, animated detail when you smile.

Natural Synergies: Many patients pair a dimpleplasty with buccal fat removal, as slimming down the lower cheek fat pad creates the perfect canvas for a newly defined dimple accent.
Minimally Invasive: Unlike surgical bone or volume reduction, a dimpleplasty is a quick, internal-suture procedure that leaves no visible external scars.

⚠️ Pro Tip: Dimples are dynamic—they should ideally appear when your expressions change rather than looking static. Choosing a surgeon who understands the anatomy of the tethering muscles is key to achieving an authentic look.

Are you interested in dimpleplasty on its own, or would you like to pair it with a contouring procedure to enhance your overall results?

Arranging A Consultation

The most important step in preparing for cheek reduction surgery is deciding on the right doctor to perform it. Our highly qualified double board-certified surgeons will be happy to tell you more about cheek reduction surgery and its benefits. The Spiegel Center is known around the world for our skill in surgical facial feminization and welcomes patients seeking gender affirming surgery. Contact The Spiegel Center in Newton, Massachusetts, today to schedule your consultation.

Cheek Reduction FAQs

Will Cheek Reduction Make My Face Look Weak or Undefined?

No, when performed with careful surgical planning, cheek reduction narrows excessive width while preserving natural facial contour and cheekbone structure, aiming for a softer, more proportionate look rather than a flat or weak appearance.

Is Cheek Reduction Reversible?

No. Because the procedure involves shaving or repositioning actual bone, the changes are considered permanent. This is why a thorough consultation to confirm goals and expected proportions is an essential first step.

How Long Does Facial Swelling Last After Cheek Reduction?

Noticeable swelling typically improves substantially within the first week. However, the fully settled final contour of the cheeks may not be fully visible for several months, as deeper tissue continues to heal.

Is Cheek Reduction Surgery Painful?

Because the procedure is performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia, patients do not feel pain during surgery. Afterward, discomfort is typically mild to moderate and manageable with prescribed medication.

What's the Difference Between Cheek Reduction and Buccal Fat Removal?

Cheek reduction addresses the underlying bone structure of a wide face, while buccal fat removal only addresses soft tissue fullness in the lower cheeks. Patients with a naturally wide bone structure need reduction rather than fat removal to see meaningful change.

Are There Nerve Risks With Cheek Reduction Surgery?

As with any procedure near the midface, there is a small risk of temporary numbness or nerve sensitivity because the surgery is performed close to the facial nerve branches. This risk is minimized with a surgeon experienced in facial bone contouring.

Can Cheek Reduction Be Combined With Jaw or Chin Contouring?

Yes. Patients pursuing overall facial slimming or a V-line appearance often combine cheek reduction with mandible or chin contouring for a more comprehensive, balanced result.

Will I Need a Special Diet After Cheek Reduction Surgery?

Since the incisions are made inside the mouth, a soft or liquid diet is typically recommended for the first several days to protect the healing tissue and reduce irritation while eating.

What Are the Risks and Side Effects of Cheek Reduction?

Risks include bleeding, infection, and temporary numbness or nerve sensitivity near the surgical site. Less commonly, patients may experience asymmetry between the two sides or an outcome that feels overly narrowed, which is why conservative, balanced bone reduction is emphasized during planning.