This is a guide for anyone looking to get zygoma reduction in Korea.
Zygoma reduction aims to slim down the shape of your face. It is a perfect procedure for those wanting slimmer or more feminine-looking facial features.
In this guide, we will give you all the information you need about zygoma reduction in Korea. Slimmer and feminine facial features are a beauty standard in Korea, so zygoma reduction is popular there.
Keep on reading to find out:
- What is zygoma reduction
- Zygoma reduction cost in Korea
- Why is Korea a top destination for zygoma reduction
- Finding top zygoma reduction clinics
- Much more
Let’s dive right in by first going over what zygoma reduction even is:
Another phrase that you might find online for zygoma reduction is cheekbone reduction. This is because this procedure targets the zygomatic bone in order to reshape your cheeks.
The shape of the cheek is essential in creating facial beauty. Zygoma reduction will ”reduce” your cheeks making them appear higher and more oval.
With the help of zygoma or cheekbone reduction, you will get a better and more pleasing balance of facial features.
Zygoma reduction is popular among both men and women. It is not a gender-specific surgery.
To better understand what exactly this surgery targets, it’s essential to know the zygomatic bone and its function in your facial features.
Zygomatic Bones
The zygomatic bones come in pairs and are located in your cheek area.
Above you can see the location of the zygomatic bone on your face. Of course, you have this bone on both sides of your face.
What this bone does is help create a structure and the shape of your face. Cheek structure is essential for facial features and this bone shapes it.
This is also the bone targetted during a zygoma or cheekbone reduction. Depending on the shape and size, the surgeon decides what to do with the bone to achieve more balanced and slimmer-looking cheeks.
Expected Results After Zygoma Reduction
Zygoma or cheekbone reductions can greatly change and provide more balance to your facial features.
Usually, chin surgery is performed to reshape and slim the chin to give it a more even appearance.
Your face will look smaller and have a much smoother look. It can also help with skin sagging and have an anti-aging effect.
It will also give a more v-shaped-looking face as this is usually the goal for zygoma reduction. However, the results fully depend on what your wishes are.
Before And After
Zygoma Reduction In Korea: What To Expect
The steps of zygoma reduction are not much different in Korea compared to the rest of the world.
In Korea, two types of ”cuts” are usually used to perform zygoma reduction surgery, giving different results. These two types are Low-L Osteotomy and High-L Osteotomy.
The Low-L Osteotomy is done by cutting the bone toward the front at a 45 to 90-degree angle. The High-L Osteotomy uses a cut between 30 and 90 degrees giving a much more apparent reduction.
The preferred mention in Korea is the High-L Osteotomy since it gives a bigger reduction of the cheekbone.
Procedure Steps
Zygoma reduction surgery is typically done in 5 steps. Of course, you will also need to prepare for the surgery beforehand.
When it comes to preparation before surgery, simply follow your surgeon’s instructions. Most of the time, these include fasting before surgery (anesthesia), eating healthy, stopping smoking or drinking, etc.
As for the surgery, here are the main steps of zygoma reduction:
- Anesthesia: You will first get general anesthesia for the surgery
- Incision: The surgeon makes an incision on the inside of your mouth and/or outside (discuss with your surgeon)
- Cutting of the bone: The surgeon cuts the zygoma bone according to your wishes.
- Repositioning: After cutting, the surgeon repositions the cheekbone into the position you want
- Fixation: Your surgeon fixates the bone using either 2 or 4-point fixation and/or small metal plates (discuss with your surgeon)
Zygoma reduction usually takes about 2-3 hours. After the surgery, you will stay at the clinic for a few hours. Sometimes, your surgeon will keep you in overnight.
In most cases, the incision is only on the inside of your mouth. Surgeons in Korea tend to use self-dissolvable stitches. This way, there is no visible scar.
However, sometimes, for better access, the surgeon makes an external incision as well. Don’t worry, this is a small incision that leaves a barely visible scar.
Keep in mind that the above information can vary from clinic to clinic. You will discuss everything with your surgeon before zygoma reduction. Don’t worry, they will explain everything and give suggestions.
Conventional Vs. Korean Zygoma Reduction
There is a slight difference in how Korean surgeons perform zygoma reduction.
Korean surgeons tend to use the 4-point fixation instead of the conventional 2-point method when fixating the bone.
This method ensures that the bone has the proper support and prevents the muscles from detaching. It also helps prevent skin-sagging and loose skin on the cheek.
Post-Zygoma Reduction Stay In Korea
Since zygoma reduction is a bit more complicated procedure, a stay in Korea after the surgery is almost a must.
Most clinics recommend a stay of around 10-14 days in Korea after zygoma reduction. We stand by this recommendation since it is enough time for you to recover well enough for a plane ride.
However, there are a few things you should know about post-zygoma reduction stay in Korea.
Firstly we will cover the recovery process, what you should avoid doing, and what you should do.
Lastly, we will give you tips on spending time in Korea after zygoma reduction.
Recovery
There are a few things you should keep in mind during your recovery.
The first thing is the time immediately after zygoma reduction. Usually, there is no need for an overnight stay at the clinic. However, in some cases, your surgeon might recommend it.
You will wear a compressive bandage to help with healing. You can take pain medication if you need to.
After you are okay to leave, you will have to be very careful for about 3 days. You might experience some after-surgery side effects like:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Bruising
Do not worry too much, since these usually go away after a few days. Nevertheless, discuss possible treatments and outcomes with your surgeon at your consultation.
During the first few days, our tip is to rest and relax as much as possible. You can also go on some short walks.
Avoid strenuous activities for 1-2 months, and do some light exercises instead. You can also return to work 1-2 weeks after surgery.
You should schedule at least three appointments with your surgeon during your stay in Korea. After approximately seven days, the stitches can be removed.
You can continue with appointments and recovery at home with your selected doctor!
However, this is just a basic overview of recovery. Everything differs from person to person! This is what the consultation is for, so you can ask as many questions as possible.
What To Do In Korea After Zygoma Reduction
For the first three days, the best thing you can do is rest. However, don’t stay in bed all day as this can slow your recovery.
We have just the perfect recommendation for that. Take a relaxing walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream in Seoul. It is over 10km long and is a great way to spend the afternoon.
Next on our list of recommendations is shopping. There are a ton of large shopping malls in Korea where you definitely find something for you.
You can also do some sightseeing. Since we recommend taking walks after zygoma reduction, you can check out lots of sights in Seoul. Find some of the most popular tourist sights in Seoul here.
Another thing you can do is take a sightseeing bus around the city. If you don’t feel like walking, this is a great way to see Seoul.
Lastly, we recommend you visit local markets in Seoul. Since you might have some limitations about food, you can find great local stands selling amazing soup and drinks.
Not only that, but markets are a great place for shopping. Great deals on clothing and souvenirs are why they are worth visiting.
Zygoma Reduction Cost In Korea
The average cost of zygoma reduction in Korea is around 6,000,000 KRW (= 4,600$).
However, it is hard to set an accurate price for this procedure. There are a lot of clinics in Seoul and each has their prices set.
Nevertheless, we can still pinpoint some factors that influence the price. We believe these are the ones that have the biggest effect on the cost of zygoma reduction in Korea:
- Clinic reputation: This one is straightforward. More reputable clinics tend to charge more. That doesn’t mean you will get better results.
- Surgeon experience: Sometimes, clinics set their prices based on how experienced their surgeons are.
- Additional procedures: More procedures done simultaneously mean a higher price. However, it also means you can get a large discount on the final cost.
At this point, we should also warn you that some clinics charge extra fees. These are more or less consultation fees. However, they usually do not exceed 66,500 KRW (= 50$).
Korean prices are not only affordable, but they also include everything. This means you won’t have to worry about additional costs on top of the initial price.
Let’s explain this further. Korean prices include, besides surgery costs, anesthesia, and staff costs. On top of that, plenty of clinics offer package deals with extra services (translators, concierge, discounted room prices, …)!
Keep in mind, that the above price is only an estimated average. At some clinics, prices might be very cheap or very expensive at others.
Do some research before settling on one clinic. Ask around for the prices and demand a quote from them.
Korean Prices Vs Other Countries
Compared to other countries, prices for zygoma reduction are similar but higher, than those in Korea.
Zygoma reduction is extremely popular in Asia, especially in Korea, and not so much elsewhere. This is because of the desired v-shaped face in Korea.
Nevertheless, we still did some research and came up with prices for zygoma reduction in popular Western destinations for plastic surgery.
Here is what you can expect to pay:
- The US: an average of 8,400,000 KRW (= 6,500$)
- Australia: an average of 7,700,000 KRW (= 5,800 $)
- New Zealand: an average of 7,400,000 KRW (= 5,600$)
As you can see, the prices in Western countries are not that much more expensive than in Korea. However, when you factor in all the additional costs, the difference becomes significant.
Let’s take the US as an example. In most clinics, you have to pay extra for anesthesia, staff costs, consultations, etc. Not only that but VAT is not included in the prices.
That is not the case in Korea. There is a huge competition between customers. To attract them, they offer affordable and all-inclusive prices. This is why prices in Korea have great price-to-value!
On top of that, there are lots of ways you can lower the cost in Korea even more.
Tips For Lowering Your Zygoma Reduction Cost In Korea
We already covered the cost of zygoma reduction in Korea. While not exactly cheap, the prices are still quite lower than in Western countries.
However, there are plenty of ways to lower the final cost of your zygoma reduction in Korea.
We asked around, talked to former patients of Korean clinics, and did some research. We came up with a few very good tips you can use.
If you feel like we missed any or have questions about a certain tip, feel free to reach out.
Paying In Full
This one seems pretty straightforward since we are used to paying in full for everything. However, in Korea, clinics offer payments over monthly installments too.
If you pay in full instead of in installments, clinics happily offer small discounts of up to 10%.
There may be clinics that provide discounts for cash payments, but we cannot confirm this information.
Modeling For The Clinic: Before And After Pictures
This is a great way to get some nice discounts. Clinics always appreciate it when someone is ready to model for them.
If you are a perfect candidate, and feel confident enough, go ahead and volunteer. You might get lucky and they pick you. Just for that, they might offer you huge discounts, even up to 50%!
These are just simple before and after pictures, nothing too difficult. They use them on their websites and social media sites to showcase results and attract customers.
Additional Procedures
Even though additional procedures sound like an even higher price altogether, it is worth looking into it.
If you get complementary procedures simultaneously, you can get a pretty nice discount on the final cost. This way, clinics save money on anesthesia and staff costs and it is all because of you.
Zygoma reduction is a perfect chance for you to get something else done. Here are just a few recommendations:
- Jaw reduction: This can enhance results from zygoma reduction and make your fave even smoother.
- Genioplasty: A great option if you struggle with a receding chin, both procedures go hand-in-hand.
- V-line surgery: It can help you achieve that v-shaped, slim-looking face. Great surgery that complements lots of procedures.
- Thread lift: This is a non-invasive surgery that is done very fast. It can lift your face nicely and works great with zygoma reduction. Complements a lot of procedures.
These are just some of the suggestions. A good surgeon will give his recommendations at your consultation.
Lastly, simpler anti-aging procedures like Botox or dermal fillers are quick, affordable, and effective. They make a great choice for an additional procedure.
Tax Refund
As a foreigner in Korea, you are eligible for a VAT refund when leaving Korea.
This is an easy way to get some money back. The only requirement is that you are not a Korean citizen. You should also check with clinics if they are eligible. Most of them are so don’t worry.
Keep all of your receipts and keep an eye out for tax refund machines at airports.
Why Is Korea A Top Destination For Zygoma Reduction
We covered some must-knows about zygoma reduction in Korea, now let’s go over why Korea is the best country for this surgery.
Korea is famous worldwide as the ”plastic surgery capital of the world”. Every year, there are more than 1 million surgeries performed across 500 clinics in Seoul.
In 2020, Reuters estimated that the plastic surgery industry is worth over $10 billion. This puts Korea at the very top of the plastic surgery field.
Korean Beauty Standards
Although this might not be your first thought about Korean plastic surgery, it plays a crucial role in it.
Their standards are why zygoma reduction stands out among surgeries in Korea. It makes your face slimmer and helps achieve that v-line shape.
Korean clinics and surgeons are often dubbed as the leaders of innovations in plastic surgery. All this trying to come as close to the beauty ideal.
That is why Korean surgeons are amongst the most experienced and skilled in the World, and clinics are among the most advanced and modern.
Cost
Even though cost should not be the deciding factor, it is still very important. A lot of the time, people make the decision based on the cost of something – in this case, plastic surgery.
As we already covered in the ”Zygoma Reduction Cost In Korea” section, zygoma reduction is cheaper than in Western Countries. On average, it is at least 20% cheaper in Korea.
In Korea, medical prices are all-inclusive, covering surgery, anesthesia, staff costs, VAT, and more. You get an amazing price-to-value for zygoma reduction in Korea.
Lastly, Korean clinics offer a variety of different services at a very reasonable price. Sometimes, those are also included in the cost of your surgery.
Surgeon Experience
Finally, we believe Korea is a top destination for zygoma reduction due to the expertise of its surgeons.
We already mentioned the influence of Korean beauty standards on plastic surgery in Korea. That translates into surgeon experience too.
Korean surgeons are among the most experienced in the world. They perform a ton of surgeries every year, and a lot are zygoma reductions.
The procedure of zygoma reduction results in a more slender face, which is highly sought after in Korea.
The popularity of this v-line facial feature is also why many Korean surgeons specialize in facial contouring, which includes zygoma reduction.
Lastly, we want to point out techniques Korean surgeons use for zygoma reduction. For this procedure, this is the 4-point fixation of the bone.
Finding Top Clinics In Korea For Zygoma Reduction
As the last part of this guide, we would like to talk some more about finding top clinics for your zygoma reduction.
We believe it’s crucial to choose the best clinic for plastic surgery in Korea. However, there are a lot of options in Seoul only. This is not the easiest decision to make.
We did the leg work for you and came up with some great clinic recommendations for zygoma reduction. These clinics are your best shot at avoiding a botched surgery.
We will also give you some pointers on what to look for in clinics. There are quite a few factors to look into, such as:
- Clinic and surgeon specialization
- Customer reviews
We believe the two factors above are the most important when it comes to selecting clinics for zygoma reduction.
We completely understand that choosing a clinic can be stressful and overwhelming. That is why we want to stress the importance of doing your ”homework” when choosing one.
It can be tempting to pick the cheapest clinic or select one randomly. However, that is not what we recommend.
Do proper research before selecting one. Now, let’s dive right into why specialization and reviews are two very important factors.
Clinic And Surgeon Specialization
Firstly, let’s talk about the importance of specialization (clinic and surgeon). We believe this should be one of the key factors when opting for a clinic.
Zygoma reduction falls under facial contouring. So, to put it simply, clinics specializing in facial contouring and having surgeons from that specialty, are the top choice for zygoma reduction.
However, the bad side of Korean clinics is, that most do not have their ”specialty” outlined straightforwardly.
We did the necessary research and determined which clinics specialize in facial contouring. When it comes to figuring out the specialization we looked at:
- Procedures they offer
- Specializations of their surgeons
- Customer reviews
If you are researching clinics for zygoma reduction, make sure to consider what we outlined above.
As for the specialization of their surgeons, look for clinics with surgeons specializing in facial contouring. Those will be the best to perform your zygoma reduction.
Clinics specializing in facial contouring that also have surgeons from that specialty are the best and safest choice for zygoma reduction.
Customer Reviews
Lastly, we want to talk about customer reviews. We believe reviews give you a good insight into how the clinic works.
As to what reviews to focus on, look for reviews about facial contouring. Even better if you find ones about zygoma reduction.
Clinics with good reviews about facial contouring will be a good and safe choice for you. You should also read other reviews to find out about how the clinic treats customers.
A good review should have some information about:
- How clinics treat customer
- Results from procedures and whether or not they are satisfactory
- Communication and responsiveness
- …
You should also be on the lookout for fake reviews. Unfortunately, they are becoming popular, as clinics try to do everything to attract customers.
When we do research, we tend to focus on Google reviews, since they are harder to fake. Other websites, like WhatClinic, are also okay. We also contact format patients to learn about their personal experiences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Korea is a great choice for zygoma reduction.
Not only is Korea cheaper than Western countries, but their surgeons are among the most experienced in the world. They are also at the very top of the plastic surgery field worldwide.
Specialized clinics with experienced surgeons, great facilities, and amazing price-to-value are some of the reasons why Korea should be your choice for zygoma reduction.
Now that you read this guide, you have all the necessary information about zygoma reduction in Korea.
Remember to check out our list of recommended zygoma reduction clinics in Seoul. Picking a good clinic is very important so do proper research and take time making your selection.
If you have any questions about how we find the best clinics or any general questions about this procedure, do not hesitate to contact us.
Our team has plenty of experience with Korean plastic surgery and can help you navigate through Korean clinics so you have a stress-free zygoma reduction.
FAQ
How much does zygoma or cheekbone reduction cost in Korea?
The average cost of zygoma reduction in Korea is around 6,000,000 KRW (= 4,600$).
However, the final cost depends on a lot of factors. In the end, the price altogether can be higher or even cheaper than the average.
Is zygoma reduction safe?
Yes, zygoma reduction is a relatively safe procedure. There are some risks associated with zygoma reduction, but that is the case with every plastic surgery.
However, when performed by an experienced and specialized surgeon, zygoma reduction can be a safe procedure. Korea, for example, has one of the best safety standards for plastic surgery.