Gangnam Seocho Malarplasty, Essential Checklist Before Choosing a Hospital — 21plastic surgery
Author: Director Lee Won (Plastic Surgeon Specialist: Representative Director of 21plastic surgery) This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Practice Act.
Q. How do I choose a good hospital for malarplasty in Gangnam? A. Since this is a high-difficulty surgery involving bone osteotomy, movement, and fixation, comparing based on surgeon qualifications, surgical method, and cheek sagging prevention plans is far more important than price. Please check the checklist below first.
Why Hospital Selection Is Particularly Difficult for Malarplasty in Gangnam
When comparing hospitals for malarplasty, many people find themselves overwhelmed and confused by the sheer amount of information. However, there are structural reasons why hospital selection is especially critical for this procedure.
According to Seoul National University Dental Hospital Facial Contouring Surgery Center materials, malar bone reduction surgery is a procedure that shaves down or cuts the protruding bone to create a slimmer face shape. While incision sites are inside the mouth and in areas covered by hair (or a small area in front of the ear), so scarring is not a major concern, the surgical plan differs for each patient. The same source explains that the surgical method itself must differ, dividing cases into 45-degree malar bone prominence type and combined 45-degree and lateral malar bone prominence type.
In other words, even the same "malarplasty" can produce vastly different results depending on which osteotomy method is used and how fixation is performed. This is why simply choosing a hospital based only on location, price, and review numbers often leads to regret later.
Why Is Malarplasty Surgery So Complicated?
The malar bone is among the smallest and thinnest facial bones while bearing the strongest force. According to clinical data, due to these structural characteristics, malarplasty is considered the highest difficulty among facial contouring surgeries.
There are two key challenges.
① Balance Between Resection Amount and Bone Stability
As noted in HiDoc Expert Column, to sufficiently reduce the 45-degree malar bone, bone resection is necessary, but the greater the resection amount, the greater the risk of bone stability problems post-surgery. Since it is inappropriate to sacrifice stability for maximum effect or to excessively reduce effect for stability, precise surgical planning before surgery is especially important.
② Prevention of Non-union and Cheek Sagging
According to [Korean Dental Association Journal](https://www.kda.or.kr/kda/kdajournal open/kdajournalopencont1/journal_detail_view.kda?journal_key=66&journal_sub_key=441) materials, if bony fragment non-union occurs, revision surgery must be performed to re-organize the cortical bone at the osteotomy line and perform appropriate bone fragment fixation, and if the malar arch bone fragment displaces, functional problems such as limited mouth opening can also occur. Correct fixation from the beginning can reduce revision surgery risk.
The table below summarizes the characteristics of major surgical methods.
| Surgical Method | Characteristics | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| L-osteotomy + Rotational Movement | Bone is rotated and moved after osteotomy for three-dimensional reduction | Precise planning of resection amount and rotation angle required |
| 3D Malar Rotation | Bone rotates and shifts, reducing overall cheek volume | Advantageous for improving cheek sagging and non-union risk |
| Double Fixation | Both anterior and posterior aspects of the osteotomized bone are fixed | Key is resection amount adjustment and solid fixation with titanium material |
Compare Hospitals Using These Five Criteria
There are many plastic surgery clinics dealing with facial contouring within Gangnam-gu. By directly confirming the following five items during consultation, you can gauge substantial differences between hospitals.
| Confirmation Item | Why Is It Important? |
|---|---|
| ① Whether Plastic Surgeon Specialist Performs Surgery Directly | You must clearly confirm whether surrogate surgery is involved during consultation |
| ② 3D CT Analysis Before Surgery | Precise planning based on understanding bone thickness and nerve location determines results |
| ③ Osteotomy Method and Double Fixation Method | There must be specific explanation of how the bone is cut and how and where it is fixed |
| ④ Presence of Anesthesiology Specialist On-site | Since this is general anesthesia surgery, the presence of an on-site anesthesiology specialist is a basic safety requirement |
| ⑤ Presence of Cheek Sagging Prevention Technique | Check whether the surgical plan includes structural methods of preventing cheek sagging after malarplasty (ligament fixation, concurrent lifting, etc.) |
According to related clinical data, incorrect fixation location or method, or excessive dissection can cause skin sagging and cheek hollowing, making it important to consider this aspect from the surgical planning stage.
Located between Shinnon Hyun Station and Gangnam Station, 21plastic surgery centers on three types of non-sagging contouring (malarplasty, square jaw long-curve, chin advancement) and conducts systematic consultations that first examine individual facial balance. The process of directly confirming the above five items during consultation, rather than price comparison, is the most practical way to reduce revision surgery risk.
Extra Caution Needed for These Cases
When considering malarplasty, if any of the following items apply to you, sufficient additional discussion with your attending physician before surgery is necessary.
— Age 35 or older or low skin elasticity: Clinical cases show that when skin elasticity is decreased, the possibility of cheek sagging after malar bone reduction is relatively higher. It is necessary to plan cheek sagging prevention techniques together before surgery.
— Significant cheek fat (deep cheek fat): If there is substantial subcutaneous fat in the cheeks, the skin tends to sag after malar reduction. Concurrent deep cheek fat removal can prevent cheek sagging to some extent and should be reflected in the surgical plan.
— Expecting shorter recovery period: Major swelling subsides in approximately 2 weeks, but full settling takes 6 months to approximately 1 year. In clinical cases, temporary numbness in the cheeks, lips, and teeth appeared and gradually improved over 1 month to 1 year.
— Overlooking bone union period: After osteotomizing, moving, and fixing the malar bone, it is good to avoid external impact and hard foods for the 3 months during which the bone heals.
— Considering simultaneous correction of malar bone and square jaw: Combined contouring surgery is possible, but the surgical plan itself differs from single surgery, so clarify this separately during consultation.
📌 For residents of nearby areas considering Seocho-gu malarplasty, Shinnon Hyun facial contouring, or Yeoksam contouring plastic surgery, the above checklist applies identically. Since the location is within walking distance of Gangnam Station and Shinnon Hyun Station, you can conveniently visit from Seocho-gu and Yeoksam-dong.
If You're Curious About the Right Direction for You, Check It Out in Consultation
In a direct consultation with 21plastic surgery Director Lee Won, check the malarplasty direction that fits you.
Malarplasty is best approached by confirming the surgeon and surgical plan directly in an in-person consultation, rather than deciding on a hospital based solely on online information or price comparison. Since many patients visit from overseas including Japan, China, Thailand, and North America, 21plastic surgery offers customized consultation environment based on individual facial harmony, and the convenient accessibility within walking distance of Shinnon Hyun Station and Gangnam Station is also a strength.
After making a consultation reservation, through direct examination by the director, check what surgical method is appropriate for your malar bone type (45-degree malar prominence dominant type / combined 45-degree and lateral malar bone prominence type) and how the cheek sagging prevention plan is designed. If you're curious about the direction that fits you, confirm it through consultation.
These Are Common Questions
Q1. What's the difference between malarplasty and malar botox (reduction injection)?
Malar botox (masseter botox) is a non-surgical method that reduces the volume of chewing muscles to make the lower jaw appear slimmer. In contrast, malarplasty is a surgery that changes the malar structure by osteotomizing and moving the bone itself. If the 45-degree malar bone and lateral malar bone are developed from the bone structure itself, botox alone may have limited effectiveness, so it's good to first confirm whether surgery is indicated.
Q2. How long does post-surgery swelling take to subside?
Swelling is most prominent up to 3 days post-surgery, and major swelling subsides within approximately 2 weeks. Daily life activities can usually resume from about 2-3 days after, but fine residual swelling gradually subsides over 6 months and the final result can be confirmed 6 months to 1 year later. If you have important events, it's good to plan the timing with margin.
Q3. Can cheek sagging occur after malarplasty?
Cheek sagging is one of the most commonly worried aspects in malarplasty. If you are 35 years of age or older or have low skin elasticity, or if you have significant cheek fat, the possibility of occurrence can be relatively higher. Be sure to check whether cheek sagging prevention techniques such as ligament fixation or concurrent lifting are included in the surgical plan. Since procedure effects vary by individual, please consult thoroughly with a specialist before deciding.
Q4. Can malar and square jaw surgery be done simultaneously?
Combined contouring surgery involving simultaneous malarplasty and square jaw surgery is possible, but the surgical plan differs from single surgery. When handling both areas simultaneously, more detailed planning is necessary in terms of recovery period, swelling, and nerve management, and customized design considering overall facial balance is important. If you're considering simultaneous correction, clarify this separately during consultation.
ℹ️ Procedure effects vary by individual; please consult with a specialist before making a decision.