A Guide to Flat Cheekbones: Causes & Best Treatments

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Get prominent, defined cheeks with makeup & procedures

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: August 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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What are flat cheekbones?

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Natural Solutions

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Cosmetic Treatments

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Causes

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Are they attractive?

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Final Thoughts

If you have flat cheekbones, this simply means your cheekbones don’t protrude forward very much, which can cause them to appear less visible. While flat cheekbones can give someone a soft and attractive appearance, it’s also okay if you’d prefer to have more prominent and defined cheekbones. In this article, we’ll go over natural ways to lift and define your cheekbones, as well as cosmetic procedures that can help, with advice from makeup artists, plastic surgeons, and dermatologists. We’ll also explain what causes flat cheekbones. Keep reading to learn more!

What does it mean to have flat cheekbones?

Flat cheekbones refer to cheekbones that don’t protrude forward or appear prominent, which can make someone’s face look less angular. This is usually caused by genetics or aging. Ways to make the cheekbones appear more defined include applying cheek contour, getting cheek filler, or getting cheek implants.

Section 1 of 6:

What are flat cheekbones?

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Flat cheekbones are cheekbones that lack prominence and definition. Cheekbones, also called zygomatic or malar bones, are the bones under the eyes and cheeks that give the midface structure.^{[1]
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National Cancer Institute
An agency in the National Institutes of Health focused on cancer research and patient support

Go to source} If someone has flat cheekbones, this just means that they don’t protrude forward very much. Because their cheekbones are less prominent and visible, this can cause their face to appear flat, soft, and less defined from the front and side profile.
- Celebrity examples: Jennie Kim, Priyanka Chopra, Elizabeth Taylor, Brad Pitt, Nicholas Cage
- Flat cheekbones can be either high or low. The fact that they’re flat just means that they’re not very prominent or defined.
- Prominent cheekbones are the opposite of flat cheekbones. Whether they’re high or low, prominent cheekbones protrude forward, sculpt the face, and give it a more angular look.
- If you want to give your cheekbones a bit of definition, we’ll go over some natural methods and cosmetic treatments to enhance your look. Just know that there’s nothing wrong with having flat cheekbones—they aren’t something you need to change!
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Nini Efia Yang is a makeup artist with over 10 years of experience in the industry, as well as the owner of makeup and hair studio Nini's Epiphany.

Alana Schober is a licensed cosmetologist and makeup artist at Pout by Lipsticknick, an inclusive beauty bar in Los Angeles, CA.

Laura Menendez is a makeup artist and licensed esthetician with over 7 years of experience in the industry.

Asif Pirani, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Toronto, Canada, who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Adarsh Mudgil, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.

Section 2 of 6:

Natural Ways to Define Your Cheekbones

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Apply contour and highlight makeup to your cheekbones. According to makeup artist Nini Efia Yang, contouring is a great way to add definition and structure to your face. The areas you contour appear further back in space, so contouring underneath your cheekbones makes them look more prominent. On the flip side, highlighting brings things forward, so highlighting along the top of your cheekbones helps them pop even more.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Nini Efia Yang
Makeup Artist

Expert Interview}
- To contour your cheekbones: Use a contour brush or damp beauty sponge and apply the contour under your cheekbone in the shape of a banana, says makeup artist Alana Schober. Place the product at the top of your ear and draw it down so it hugs your cheekbone. Then, use your brush or sponge to blend out the contour in an upward motion.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Alana Schober
  Pout Pro Makeup Artist
  
  Expert Interview}
- To highlight your cheekbones: Using a small fluffy brush, fan brush, or your finger, makeup artist Laura Menendez says to sweep on the highlighter in an upward direction along the top of the cheekbone. Then, brush on a bit more around the eye in a “C” shape around the eye bone. Menendez says it tends to blend in better this way.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Laura Menendez
  Makeup Artist & Licensed Esthetician
  
  Expert Interview}
- For even more definition, Schober says to apply foundation in 1 to 2 shades lighter than your skintone right underneath your contour line. Then, buff the products together so there are no harsh lines. She says this extra bit of highlight helps bring out the contour line, so your cheekbone really pops.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Alana Schober
  Pout Pro Makeup Artist
  
  Expert Interview}
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Try facial exercises to lift up your cheekbones. Many people claim that facial exercises help strengthen the cheek muscles to add structure and definition to their face. While there’s no scientific evidence that facial exercises are effective, it is possible that they can help your cheekbones appear more lifted. Plus, there’s no real harm in doing these exercises, so feel free to give them a try:^{[6]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

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- Exercise #1: Tuck your lips under your teeth and press your lips together. Then, use your cheek muscles to pull your lip corners upward, holding the position for 1 second before relaxing. Repeat the exercise for 1 minute.^{[7]
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- Exercise #2: Place the base of your palm and thumb next to each nostril, gently pressing into your skin. Then, glide your hands upward, following the curve of your cheek up to your temple. Repeat the motion for 30 to 60 seconds.^{[8]
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Practice mewing to define your cheekbones and jawline. Mewing is a tongue posture technique that claims to help sculpt your cheekbones and jawline. While many influencers assert that mewing helped them, there’s no scientific evidence that it works to change the structure of your face. However, it’s mostly harmless to practice, so give mewing a try to see if it helps you.^{[9]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- To mew: Press your entire tongue along the roof of your mouth—saying the letter “N” can help you get your tongue in position. Then, hold your tongue there, continuing to press it into the roof of your mouth, for 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat several times throughout the day.
- Mewing can help to make your jaw and cheekbones pop temporarily, but again, there’s no support to the claim that it sculpts your face in the long term.

Section 3 of 6:

Cosmetic Treatments to Get Defined Cheekbones

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Dermal fillers According to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Asif Pirani, fillers are a common, non-surgical way to add volume and structure to the cheeks.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Asif Pirani, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Interview} Before the procedure, a physician or nurse numbs your cheek area. Then, they inject the filler underneath your skin.^{[11]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- Filler is temporary and usually lasts between 6 to 18 months. How long it lasts largely depends on the type of filler your physician uses.
- The most common fillers are made of hyaluronic acid (JUVÉDERM, Restylane), calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse), and poly-l-lactic acid (Sculptra).
- The most common side effects are some bruising and swelling, which may last for a few days.
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Fat transfer Dr. Pirani says that fat transfer is an effective surgical option to help lift your cheeks and make your cheekbones look more prominent.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Asif Pirani, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Interview} The procedure starts with a plastic surgeon removing fat from your belly, hips, or thighs using a liposuction tool. Then, they purify the fat and inject it into your cheeks.^{[13]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- Fat transfer is considered a permanent procedure.
- The procedure is usually completed under local anesthesia.
- The most common side effects are bruising, swelling, and tenderness, which may last for a few weeks.
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Cheek implants Cheek implants are another surgical procedure that helps add structure and definition to your cheeks, says Dr. Pirani.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Asif Pirani, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Interview} During the procedure, a plastic surgeon makes a small incision inside your mouth. Then, they secure the medical-grade silicone implant on your cheekbone and stitch up the incision.^{[15]
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Johns Hopkins Medicine
Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital

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- Cheek implants are permanent, though they can be removed by a plastic surgeon at any time.
- The procedure is done under local or general anesthesia.
- The most common side effects are swelling, redness, and soreness, which can last up to 6 weeks. This is also the point when you can start to see your results.
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Mid facelift A mid facelift, commonly called a cheek lift, is a type of surgical face lift that specifically targets the cheek and lower eye area to lift and tighten the skin. As a result, it can help your cheeks appear more prominent and defined. During the procedure, a plastic surgeon makes a small incision along your ear and hairline. Then, they lift up your pads of fat onto your cheeks and tighten your skin.^{[16]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- A mid facelift is a semi-permanent procedure, with results typically lasting for 10 years.
- The procedure is typically done under general anesthesia.
- Recovery can take several weeks, and side effects may include bruising, swelling, and some pain or soreness. People usually start to see results after about 6 weeks..

Section 4 of 6:

What causes flat cheekbones?

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Genetics For many people, flat cheekbones are simply a facial feature that they inherited from their ancestors. The prominence and position of your cheekbones largely comes down to your DNA.^{[17]
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- For instance, some face shapes, like round and rectangle, may be more likely to have flat cheekbones, while heart and diamond-shaped faces often have more prominent cheekbones.
Several facial changes happen as you get older, which can cause your cheekbones to appear flatter and less structured. Collagen and fat decreases, which can cause your skin to sag and your cheek area to appear less full.^{[18]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

Go to source} Additionally, bone density decreases, which can cause you to lose structure in your midface.^{[19]
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Lifestyle and environmental factors According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Adarsh Mudgil, MD, certain factors can damage your skin and speed up the effects of aging, like smoking, stress, and sleep deprivation.^{[20]
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Expert Source

Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist & Dermatopathologist

Expert Interview} Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kavri Karhade, MD adds that sun exposure can also damage and age your skin, which can contribute to sagging and flatter-looking cheekbones.^{[21]
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Kaveri Karhade, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview}
- To help take care of your skin, Dr. Mudgil recommends eating healthily, exercising, getting enough sleep, reducing your stress, and wearing sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.^{[22]
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  Expert Source
  
  Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist & Dermatopathologist
  
  Expert Interview}
People with certain genetic disorders may be predisposed to having flatter faces, while other conditions can cause issues during development that lead to flatter features. For instance, it’s common for people with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, Char syndrome, and Stickler syndrome to have flat cheekbones.^{[23]
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MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine

Go to source}

Section 5 of 6:

Are flat cheekbones attractive?

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Yes, lots of people think that flat cheekbones are an attractive feature. Flatter, less visible cheekbones can give someone a softer appearance, which lots of people find beautiful. For instance, less prominent cheekbones are considered a desirable feature in many East Asian countries.
- Remember, what’s considered beautiful is entirely subjective and based on personal preferences.
- What makes you attractive is also a combination of all your features and how they work together. Each feature is just a small puzzle piece that makes up your beautiful and unique face!

Section 6 of 6:

Final Thoughts

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Flat, less prominent cheekbones are a common facial feature that lots of people are born with or develop as they age. While there are several natural and cosmetic ways to get more defined cheekbones, know that they’re not something you need to fix. Flat cheekbones are simply a facial feature that adds to your unique beauty.