Buccal Fat Removal

Buccal Fat Removal/Cheek Reduction

Buccal Fat Removal

Where is the buccal fat?
This fat is a natural fat deposit below your cheekbone. As you gain weight, some people deposit the fat here and make your face look ‘fat.’

What is buccal fat removal surgery?

The buccal fat can be remove easily under local anesthesia in the clinic via a small incision in the inner cheek. Depending on your goals, we tailored the amount of fat removed. This can improve the contrast between your cheekbone and cheek, and give you a narrower lower face. 

Who is a good candidate for buccal fat removal?
People who have ‘chubby’ face can benefit from buccal fat removal. Sometime we also recommend a combination of procedures and other intervention to help you achieve your goals. This might include botox to the masseter muscle, cheekbone augmentation with fillers or fat or implants, and facial fat grafting/sculpturing. 
You may consider the procedure if:
-Don’t like the fullness in your cheeks
-Healthy and have stable weight. 

How is buccal fat removal done?
Buccal fat removal can be performed either at a hospital or in your healthcare provider’s office, and you'll be able to return home the same day.

Here's what to expect during the procedure:

You'll receive a local anesthetic to numb your facial skin, ensuring you don't feel pain, and you'll stay awake throughout the process. If multiple procedures are being done simultaneously, general anesthesia may be used instead. If general anesthesia is administered, you’ll need to arrange for transportation afterward.

The plastic surgeon will make a small incision inside your mouth on each side of your face to access the buccal fat pads. They will gently press on the fat pads to expose them further, then proceed to cut and remove the fat. Lastly, the incisions will be closed with sutures, which are often dissolvable. Your provider will inform you if you need to return for suture removal.

Will buccal fat removal make me look old as I aged?
If done conservatively in the right patient, buccal fat removal will not make you look old as you age. 

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What to expect after?

We will give you a special mouth rinse to help keep things clean. You should be on liquid diet for 1-2 days, then transitioned to softer diet and then slowly progress about about 1 week.

-Some swelling and bruising for 1-3 weeks after. 
-Numbness/sensitivity at the incision sites for a couple of weeks while the incision heals.
-You can return to work after about 1-3 days.

You need to wait 3-6 months to see the result as the swelling come down.

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Risks?
-Infection
-Bleeding that might require repeated operation
-Injury to the facial nerves or salivery duct.
-Changes in sensations
-Asymmetry