Does Orthodontic Treatment Reduce Cheekbones? Does It Affect or Change the Cheekbones?
Mai Truc Anh
Asked: 09/05/2026
Doctor, I have mild protruding teeth and I’m planning to get braces, but I’ve heard people say that orthodontic treatment can make the cheekbones smaller or change the facial bone structure. Doctor, does orthodontic treatment reduce cheekbones, or can it make the cheekbones appear less prominent? I’m worried that after braces, my face might change too much and I don’t know whether it would still suit me.
Hello, the doctor understands that many people with prominent cheekbones often wonder, “Can orthodontic treatment reduce cheekbones?” and whether orthodontics can help make the face appear softer and more harmonious. This is a very good question, but it can also easily lead to misunderstandings if not clearly analyzed from an anatomical and professional perspective. The doctor will explain in detail so you can have the most accurate understanding.
Can Orthodontic Treatment Reduce Cheekbones?
The doctor’s answer is that orthodontic treatment cannot truly reduce cheekbones, nor can it change the position of the cheekbone structure.
The reasons are:
Orthodontic treatment helps create a more harmonious appearance for faces lacking balance in the teeth and lip area
Orthodontic treatment only affects the teeth and alveolar bone, helping correct the bite, align the teeth, and improve chewing function.
The cheekbones are part of the midface skeletal structure, connected to the temporal bone and upper jaw, completely unrelated to the teeth–alveolar bone system. Therefore, orthodontic treatment cannot “lower the cheekbone structure.”
However, the doctor would like to emphasize that orthodontic treatment can still make the face appear more harmonious thanks to changes in the teeth–lips–jaw area, creating the impression that the cheekbones are no longer as “high” or “prominent” as before. This is a visual effect rather than an actual skeletal change.
Cases Where Orthodontic Treatment Helps the Cheekbones Look More Harmonious
In some cases, although orthodontic treatment does not affect the cheekbone structure, it can make the face appear more balanced, thereby making the cheekbones appear less prominent. These cases usually include:
People with malocclusion may have cheekbones that appear more harmonious and balanced after orthodontic treatment
People with malocclusion (mild protrusion or underbite)
Orthodontic treatment helps reposition the lips and jaw into proper alignment, making the features in the middle third of the face more harmonious and causing the cheekbones to appear softer.
People with protruding teeth causing hollow cheeks
When the teeth are moved inward, the soft tissue on both sides stabilizes, helping reduce hollow cheeks and making the cheekbones appear less protruding.
Faces lacking balance in the teeth–lip area
For individuals whose upper jaw slightly protrudes forward, orthodontic treatment helps move the teeth backward, making the overall facial structure appear more harmonious.
Therefore, orthodontic treatment only “improves the appearance of the cheekbones” by adjusting the proportions of other facial features, and does not truly reduce the cheekbones.
Cases Where Orthodontic Treatment Does Not Help Reduce Cheekbones
There are cases where orthodontic treatment creates almost no noticeable change in the appearance of the cheekbones, including:
High cheekbones caused by bone structure
This is the most common cause. If the cheekbone structure is strongly developed and protrudes outward, only surgery can address it.
High cheekbones caused by bone structure
High cheekbones combined with sunken temples
A strongly developed midface bone structure combined with volume deficiency in the temple area makes the cheekbones appear even more prominent.
Angular facial features caused by jawbone or cheekbone development
Orthodontic treatment only addresses the teeth, so it cannot resolve issues originating from the bone structure.
Cases of facial asymmetry caused by bone structure
Cases of facial asymmetry caused by bone structure
Orthodontic treatment can only correct misaligned teeth, not asymmetrical bones, so the difference in cheekbone prominence remains unchanged.
In these cases, effective cheekbone reduction requires cosmetic procedures involving bone modification.
Effective Cosmetic Methods for Cheekbone Reduction
If your goal is to truly reduce the cheekbones and improve the bone structure long-term, the following methods are the ones that can deliver effective results:
4K Endoscopic Cheekbone Reduction
At Gangwhoo Cosmetic Hospital, the cheekbone reduction technique is performed using 4K microsurgical endoscopic technology, allowing doctors to clearly visualize nerves and blood vessels for more precise and safer dissection.
Cheekbone Cutting and Reduction with the Aesculap Bone-Cutting System
The ultrasonic cutting technology creates smooth cuts without burning tissue, minimizes bleeding, and shortens recovery time.
Bone Fixation with Specialized Titanium Threads
Instead of rigid plates and screws, titanium threads help the bones heal naturally without protrusion or discomfort.
Supportive Soft Tissue Cosmetic Methods
Filler injections to balance the lower cheek area
Fat grafting to the temples and hollow cheeks
Doctor’s Conclusion
In summary, can orthodontic treatment reduce cheekbones? – The answer is no. Orthodontic treatment only helps adjust the teeth and bite, sometimes making the face appear more harmonious, but it cannot affect the cheekbone structure.
If you have prominent cheekbones caused by bone structure and truly want to change them, the doctor recommends visiting Gangwhoo Cosmetic Hospital for a CT scan evaluation and consultation on the most suitable treatment method.
If you need the doctor to further analyze your specific case, you can message again or visit Gangwhoo Cosmetic Hospital for a direct consultation.
