How can I get my cheekbones back?

March 28, 2007 8:28 PM

I noticed that after I had my wisdom teeth removed, I lost all definition in my face (specifically my cheek bones). Can scar tissue inside my mouth be removed? Or what can be done to restore my cheekbones? Also, I am a male.

I should say that this is incredibly vain but I figured I might ask before seeing my doctor to see if this is common or what i should be asking for:

Around 17 I had my braces removed (I also had a device called a CBJ for a short amount of time that caused some scarring I can still feel). About six months later I had my wisdom teeth removed. I think there was some partial impaction on a few of the teeth, I do not remember the details. I do remember it took quite a bit longer to recover than my friends and was quite painful for several weeks -- but there were no specific complications.

I do not believe it is related to orthodontics as my friends and even my girlfriend at the time mentioned how I lost my cheekbones after the swelling went away. It is now five years later and I am fit and slim still (that is loss of cheekbones was by no way related to weight gain). I do not believe that I have "chipmunk cheeks", nor do I have a fat face overall. I do not, strangely, possess visible cheekbones. My father and my brother have the same facial structure that I had before my wisdom teeth surgery (my father has his out, my brother has not for whatever reason).

I've done a bit of research on this and it appears that removing wisdom teeth should enhance the contour, not deaden it. Is it possible to have significant scar tissue on the inside of your mouth, to the point of reducing facial contour? Is it simply cheek fat, that due to puberty happened to coincide rather distinctly with my wisdom teeth removal?

I've looked up buccal fat removal and other procedures but none seem to address this, which is why I wanted to know if the community was aware of any procedures to help with this minor problem. I do no believe I would want cheekbone implants (both due to looking perhaps artificial and my young age), but I would definitely consider some sort of liposuction/tissue removal to restore to my natural state.

I am moving to a new city, so I thought now would be a good time to change things. If anyone has anecdotal experience to share, please feel free.

posted by anonymous to clothing, beauty, & fashion (5 comments total)

IANADentist, but I did some work for a cosmetic dentistry products company. Perhaps you could look into prosthetic teeth.
posted by acoutu at 8:40 PM on March 28, 2007

Your 'cheeck bones' are actually bones called your zygomatic bones, above where your teeth lie in your maxilla bones. So I don't think (but don't know for sure) that your wisdom teeth would impact the look of your cheekbones.

check out the bones here.
posted by serazin at 8:37 AM on March 29, 2007

"cheeck"? That was a good one. Coffee not working yet...
posted by serazin at 8:38 AM on March 29, 2007

mmm, is it possible that you have some nerve damage that's caused your cheeks to lose muscle tone?

i would consult an oral surgeon.
posted by thinkingwoman at 3:59 PM on March 29, 2007

I am not a dentist.

Your cheek bones are in fact above all of your teeth.

Your jaw bone supports your teeth, and in cases of tooth loss we did see some patients with resorption of jaw bone. This didn't usually happen "as soon as the swelling went down" but took some time.

I would suggest seeing a dentist to get a panoramic digital film taken of the areas that concern you. Dental implants might be an option depending on how much room you have in your face and what other conditions you have, but they are pricey.

This is not a diagnosis or a recommendation of treatment. Speak to your dentist.
posted by bilabial at 10:22 PM on March 29, 2007