High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? (2024)

The structure of your face is mainly determined by your genetic background and ethnic ancestry. How do you know if you have high vs low cheekbones? Your malar bones define your cheekbones. There are various ways to accentuate your cheeks to make them seem higher, we’ll cover make-up strategies, cheek filler, face lift surgery and facial fat transfer surgery.

Understanding Cheekbone Placement

A low cheekbone is when yourmalar bone is closer to the bottom of your nose. Your cheekbones are considered high cheekbones when your malar bones are located closely below your eyes, giving a more sculpted shape to your face.

High cheekbones are often considered one of the most desirable facial features for a good side profile. Defined cheekbones can create a more radiant appearance. We’ll cover a question many people ask – how to get cheek bones to be more defined?

Facial Features and Cheekbone Width

There are different types of cheekbones, they vary based on height and width. Do you know if you have high vs low cheekbones?

Wide Cheekbones

Diamond, heart-shaped and oval face shapes tend to have wide cheek bones, which is when the cheekbones are significantly wider than the forehead or jawline.

Celebrities with Wide Cheekbones

High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? (1)

Beyonce has a stunning oval-shaped face, with wider cheekbones than both her forehead and jawline. This facial feature means she boasts beautiful wide cheekbones.

High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? (2)

Kourtney Kardashian has wide cheekbones. Her heart-shaped face means her malar bones are the widest part of her face.

High Cheekbones

High cheekbones occur when the cheekbones are closer towards the bottom of your eyes rather than the bottom of your nose. A high cheekbones smile can give your face a sharp cheekbones look.

Celebrities with High Cheekbones

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Steve Irwin’s strikingly prominent cheekbones illustrate high cheekbones, positioned near the bottom of his eyes.

High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? (5)

Chris Hemsworth’s cheeks have minimal curves so they don’t appear sharp, however, because the malar bones are located closely under his eyes they are considered high cheekbones.

Low Cheek Bones

Low cheek bones occur when the cheekbones are closer towards the bottom of your nose. Loss of volume in your skin can result in sagging cheeks, making your cheekbones look low.

Celebrities with Low Cheekbones

High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? (6)

Nicole Kidman’s face contains a subtle contour on her cheeks, coupled with low cheekbones that are closer towards her nose.

High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? (7)

Angelina Jolie’s prominent cheekbones accentuate her face, with the contours lying lower towards the bottom of her nose.

Addressing Sagging Cheeks

As you grow older, your cheeks become more hollow-looking and sunken due to a decreased amount of collagen being produced. To address sagging cheeks there a few options are available.

You can use makeup to highlight your cheekbones or fillers to add more volume and plumpness to the area. Another option to correct sagging cheeks is a facelift, which pulls loose skin to achieve high-looking cheeks.

Surgical Solutions for Enhanced Cheekbones

Facelift

High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? (8)

Aface lift orfacial refreshing is an ideal way to get rid of the changes in your face that come from age.

During the ageing process:

  • The bones in your face – including your cheekbones change shape and size.
  • Your skin stops being elastic and doesn’t have much fat, which causes saggy cheeks
  • Your skin gets more folds, under your chin, on the sides of your neck, or the corners of your mouth.

A facelift can reduce the signs of ageing, allowing you to look younger and refreshed. Dr Doyle always pairs a Neck Lift with a face lift to ensure the face lift appears natural. Other options include a Mini Face Lift or Brow Lift. Learn more with this Facelift Guide.

Facial Fat Transfer

Enhance your cheeks with a facial fat transfer. In this procedure, the fat comes from your body and is transferred into an area of your choice. This is commonly in the cheeks, under-eyes or nasolabial folds. This method can provide you with results that look incredibly natural with minimal scarring.

To get maximum benefit, consider combining face fat grafting with other refreshing procedures.

Dr Doyle’s Signature Facial Package

Dr Doyle offers a complete lower facial radiance plan that includes Lower Face and Neck Lift and Platysmal Band treatment, Fat Transfer to the Face and Chin Liposuction where needed. Every facial surgery treatment plan is customised to ensure the best individual outcome for your long-term, aesthetic results.

Non-Surgical Options for Defined Cheekbones

Cheek Fillers

Cheek bone fillers are a great non-surgical option to replace lost volume and define your cheekbones.

Dermal Filler corrects this volume loss by injecting a soft injectable gel. The filler is made from hyaluronic acid – a sugar molecule which naturally occurs in the body.

Many people ask – how long does filler last in cheeks? Cheek fillers will last from 6 months to 2 years. The length of time is different for everyone because your metabolism affects how long it takes for the filler to gradually break down. Learn more with this Cosmetic Injectables Guide.

Please note that due to TGA guidelines, we are unable to advertise the brand names of dermal filler injectables on our website. However, we stock the leading brands of all injectable fillers and can discuss these freely during your consultation.

Cheekbone Contouring with Make-Up Techniques

  • Apply contour make-up beneath the malar bones and blend upwards for a more sculpted look
  • You can use highlighter to highlight the top of the cheekbones and enhance the appearance of your cheekbones.

Final Thoughts: Which Option is Best?

There are a variety of ways to define and enhance your cheekbones without undergoing cheekbone surgery. Options to achieve more sculpted, defined cheeks include makeup techniques, facial fillers, face lifts and facial fat transfer.

Have you tried any of these methods for defining your cheekbones? Always consult a medical professional before deciding on a treatment. Book a consultation with Dr Doyle to explore which option is best for you.

About Dr Mark Doyle FRACS (Plas) – Queensland Plastic Surgeon

Servicing patients in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and New South Wales NSW – Northern Rivers, Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore and more.

Dr Mark Doyle is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with over thirty years of experience performing Breast,Body,FaceandNose surgery. Dr Doyle is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon with 30+ years of experience. He has completed all required training and only carries out approved surgical practices. There are absolutely NO undertrained doctors or cosmetic doctors acting as surgeons in our clinic.

As a highly esteemed plastic surgeon, Dr Mark is committed to achieving the best possible results for all his breast, body, face and nose patients, both men and women.

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*DISCLAIMER: All information on Gold Coast Plastic Surgery website is general in nature and is not intended to be medical advice nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Results can vary significantly and depend on individual patient circ*mstances. All images on this website, unless specified as real patient images, are stock images used for illustrative purposes only. Surgery risks and complications will be covered in detail during a consultation with your surgeon. Book a consult for details regarding your cosmetic surgery procedure.

High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? (2024)

FAQs

High vs Low Cheekbones: What Makes a Difference? ›

A low cheekbone is when your malar bone is closer to the bottom of your nose. Your cheekbones are considered high cheekbones when your malar bones are located closely below your eyes, giving a more sculpted shape to your face.

Is it better to have high or low cheekbones? ›

When you have high-set cheekbones, your face appears more defined and angular. In many cultures, it is perceived as a hallmark of attractiveness. With low cheekbones, your facial contour appears softer and less angular as the shadowing effect is less pronounced, and the face appears flatter.

What is the significance of high cheekbones? ›

High cheekbones, often celebrated for their visual impact, contribute significantly to enhancing facial symmetry – a key factor in perceiving beauty and attractiveness. The concept of facial symmetry holds that features which are evenly balanced and aligned are perceived as more pleasing to the human eye.

Do high cheekbones make you more attractive? ›

High cheekbones in men are seen as attractive because they broaden the face. A wide, square jaw combined with high cheekbones is seen as masculine and strong looking, which is what women gravitate towards.

What ethnicity has low cheekbones? ›

Ethnicity is also a key factor in the appearance of your natural look. The malar bone, another medical term for the zygomatic bone or cheekbone, determines the height of the cheekbones. West Asians are typically known for their low cheekbones.

What race has high cheekbones? ›

High cheekbones and a distinct mandibular contour characterize the appearance of East Asian persons, especially those of Korean and Japanese descent. In the West, such features are valued, and these areas are frequently enhanced for optimal aesthetic appearance.

Do high cheekbones age you? ›

High cheekbones (oval face)

High cheekbones are a desirable feature when it comes to ageing because the face keeps its shape better. People with oval shaped faces will stay youthful due to “typically high cheekbones, balanced proportions of forehead and cheeks and sharp contours”, Dr Raj said.

Do high cheekbones mean high testosterone? ›

Lefevre has found that people with higher levels of testosterone tend to be wider-faced with bigger cheekbones, and they are also more likely to have more assertive, and sometimes aggressive, personalities.

Are high cheekbones more trustworthy? ›

It has long been thought that high cheekbones and eyebrows signal trustworthiness, large eyes indicate attractiveness and a broad smile suggests approachability – but little was known about how or why our brains are wired to think this.

What face shape has high cheekbones? ›

Diamond Face Shape

Typically, cheekbones are high and strong, and the distance between them is slightly wider than the forehead length. The chin is also more narrow and pointed, and the hairline tends to come to a more angular point.

Are high cheekbones masculine or feminine? ›

Gender can also play a role, with men typically having higher-set cheekbones than women. However, it's important to note that the elevation of your cheekbones doesn't impact their functionality; it primarily contributes to the overall aesthetic of your face.

Does mewing give you high cheekbones? ›

We know that mewing can enhance your face by giving you high cheekbones, a more pointed chin, hollow cheeks, etc. Mewing also affects the eyes, although it can take a long time to see the changes. Mewing moves your average face upwards, so most people notice that over time the eyes are sunken and/or hooded.

What do low cheekbones indicate? ›

Lower cheekbones refer to malar bones that rest closer to the bottom of your nose. Having high cheekbones or low cheekbones doesn't necessarily indicate anything about you. Your ethnic history and genetic background play a strong role in influencing how your face is structured.

Can you be pretty with low cheekbones? ›

If you have high cheekbones or low cheekbones, it doesn't say anything about who you are. The form of your face is heavily influenced by your ethnic heritage and genetic makeup. High or low cheekbones, for example, are seen as indicators of traditional beauty in some cultures.

Do people prefer high or low cheekbones? ›

Around the world, cheekbones play a role in a person's perceived attractiveness with certain cultures preferring higher cheekbones and others preferring lower cheekbones.

Are low cheekbones attractive? ›

Around the world, cheekbones play a role in a person's perceived attractiveness with certain cultures preferring higher cheekbones and others preferring lower cheekbones.

Can you be beautiful without high cheekbones? ›

We have to remember that there is no correct type of cheek and that low cheeks can be just as attractive. If we have to compare low vs. high cheekbones, the reason behind the attractiveness of high cheekbones is that they are more aesthetically pleasing than low cheekbones.

Which face shape has the highest cheekbones? ›

Diamond Face Shape

Typically, cheekbones are high and strong, and the distance between them is slightly wider than the forehead length. The chin is also more narrow and pointed, and the hairline tends to come to a more angular point.

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