How to Reduce Prominent Cheekbones | Risks of Face-Slimming Massage and Recommended Cosmetic Treatments

"Every time I look in the mirror, my prominent cheekbones bother me"
"I want to make my angular face look a little smoother…"

Many people may be diligently performing self-massage every day in hopes of addressing these concerns.

However, in reality, self-massage alone cannot reduce prominent cheekbones, and in fact, strong stimulation carries the risk of damaging important tissues that support the skin.

In this article, we will introduce the risks of massaging to reduce the appearance of cheekbones, as well as methods to conceal them with makeup and hairstyling.

We will also introduce cosmetic medical approaches to make cheekbones less noticeable, so if you have a complex about your cheekbones, please use this as a reference.

What is needed to reduce prominent cheekbones?

First, we will explain what you should stop doing immediately and what is necessary to reduce cheekbones.

Risks of self-style massage

Repeatedly performing self-care such as small face massage can stretch the ligaments that support the skin, potentially leading to sagging and wrinkles in the future.

Furthermore, the friction from massage further increases the risk of dark spots and wrinkles.

A surgical approach is essential to reduce cheekbones

With small face massage and similar techniques, it is medically impossible for hand pressure to move facial bones. Moreover, as mentioned above, it carries various risks.

Therefore, if you want to reduce the bone structure, a cosmetic procedure that physically addresses the bone (osteotomy) is necessary.

【For those who want to do something about their cheekbones right now】How to cover with makeup and hair styling

Due to the various risks involved, self-style massage is not recommended, but in some cases makeup and hairstyling techniques can cover the cheekbones to a certain degree.

Here are some tips for makeup and hairstyling to cover cheekbones on your own.

How to make cheekbones less noticeable with makeup

To make cheekbones less noticeable with makeup, the key is to create a visual effect using highlight and shading.

【Tips for creating shadows with shading】

• Where to apply:
  Apply diagonally from the most prominent part of the cheekbone toward the temple, and along the hollow beneath the cheekbone. This visually recedes the projection of the cheekbone and creates a natural shadow on the side of the face, reducing the impression of the cheekbone.
• Note:
  It is important not to apply too heavily and to blend it so it blends naturally with your skin tone.

【Tips for directing the gaze with highlight】

• Where to apply:
  Apply to the center of the forehead, the bridge of the nose, the tip of the chin, and a high position inside the cheekbone below the eye (around below the outer corner of the eye). By drawing attention to the center of the face or a higher position away from the prominent cheekbone area, you can divert attention from the cheekbone projection.
• Note:
  Where light gathers, the cheekbones can actually be emphasized. Avoid applying highlight to the most prominent part of the cheekbone.

How to make cheekbones less noticeable with hairstyle

To make cheekbones less noticeable with hairstyle, cover them with a diamond silhouette and side hair strands.

• Diamond silhouette:
  Adding volume around the face and creating a diamond silhouette draws attention away from the prominent cheekbones. A style with height at the top and a taper at the jaw line is ideal.
• Side hair strands (bangs/loose strands):
  Softly cover the most prominent part of the cheekbone with longer bangs or side bangs (strands around the face). The key is to create a natural flow rather than keeping it tight.

Non-surgical cosmetic treatments to reduce the prominence of cheekbones

If prominent cheekbones are caused by muscle tension, stiffness, puffiness, or sagging, non-surgical cosmetic treatments that inject hyaluronic acid around the cheekbones to make them less noticeable can be expected to deliver results.

By injecting into the "temples" and "sunken cheeks," a smooth facial contour can be created.

However, please understand that hyaluronic acid injection is not a fundamental correction of bone structure, but rather a method of "filling the surrounding area to make it less noticeable."

Learn more about hyaluronic acid injection

Kai Clinic Tokyo's Surgical Approach to Reducing Prominent Cheekbones at Their Root

When prominent cheekbones are caused by bone structure, a surgical approach is effective.

At Kai Clinic Tokyo, we offer small face and facial contouring procedures through bone cutting.

• Facial contouring through bone cutting:
• Jaw, cheek, and chin bone-cutting surgery involves cutting or shaving protruding jaw bones, cheeks, and the tip of the chin to refine the facial line and achieve a small face effect.
• Cheekbone setback:
• This procedure involves making multiple bone cuts in the cheekbones and moving the entire bone inward and backward (setback) to reduce cheek protrusion and width, achieving a smooth small face effect.

【Recovery / Downtime / Precautions】

Swelling / Bruising	Swelling and bruising are most noticeable for 2–3 days after surgery, but gradually subside over about 2 weeks until you are presentable in public. Complete recovery takes approximately 3 months.
Daily Activities	Regarding meals, to reduce strain on the jaw, please choose soft foods for approximately 1 month after surgery.
Risks / Side Effects	Possible complications include swelling, asymmetry, bruising, infection, scarring, hyperpigmentation, foreign body reaction, pain, numbness, sensory abnormalities, hair loss, tissue necrosis, vision impairment, facial nerve damage, allergic reactions, and shock reactions. ※The appearance of symptoms, the course of recovery, and the healing process may vary from person to person.

For more details about Kai Clinic Tokyo's small face and facial contouring procedures through bone cutting, please visit the following page.

Learn more about small face and facial contouring through bone cutting

If You Are Concerned About Reducing Prominent Cheekbones, Visit Kai Clinic Tokyo

At Kai Clinic Tokyo, our board-certified plastic surgeons offer the most suitable solutions for patients concerned about prominent cheekbones.

We pursue "natural beauty that looks innate, free from the look of cosmetic surgery" through bone-cutting surgery aimed at achieving an "app-filtered appearance."

Our staff includes members who have personally undergone bone-cutting surgery, allowing us to provide counseling that addresses each patient's individual concerns, along with bone-cutting procedures backed by advanced skill and knowledge.

Rather than simply performing surgery, we provide thorough support from before the procedure through to after recovery, so if prominent cheekbones are a concern for you, please feel free to consult us.

Summary

Many people perform small face massages on their own when they are bothered by prominent cheekbones.

However, moving the cheekbones through massage is not only medically impossible, but also carries the risk of causing sagging and wrinkles in the future. A cosmetic medical approach is necessary to achieve fundamental improvement.

At Kai Clinic Tokyo, we propose a bone-cutting approach for those troubled by protruding cheekbones.

If you are considering improving prominent cheekbones and achieving "beauty that is uniquely yours," please feel free to consult Kai Clinic Tokyo.