Buccal Fat Removal
Strong cheekbones are considered an attractive feature in the face. They can give your a face a defined look, make you feel more confident, and improve your self esteem. If you have excess cheek fat, on the other hand, your face loses definition and can appear somewhat imbalanced.
Are you bothered by chipmunk cheeks and would like to do something about them? The problem can be improved with plastic surgery through buccal fat removal. Keep reading to learn all about buccal fat removal for thinner cheeks.
Anatomy of the cheeks and buccal fat pad
First, let's take a quick look at the structure of the middle and lower face. The buccal fat pad is a collection of cheek fat in the middle of the cheek. It sits on top of the cheekbone and fills the deep spaces between the face muscles. It fills the cheek hollows and acts as a gliding pad when the cheek muscles contract, during chewing and sucking, for example. The buccal fat pad also protects some important structures in the cheek area.
The buccal fat pad is present since birth and is especially prominent in babies, which is why babies often have chubby cheeks. As you get older, the baby cheeks become less prominent, but in some people they may stick and last into adulthood.
The volume of the buccal fat pad can change over your lifetime. Also, the size of the buccal fat pad can vary greatly from person to person. Some people have sunken cheeks because of flat cheek pads. Others have prominent buccal fat pads or baby cheeks. You could have chipmunk cheeks due to genetics or weight gain.
If you feel your cheeks are too prominent and you would like to make them smaller and more defined, a plastic surgeon can perform a procedure called buccal fat removal. Cheek fat removal can be combined with surgery to address jowls and other problems to give your midface and lower face more definition.
What is buccal fat removal?
Buccal fat pad removal is a cosmetic surgery. It is also called cheek reduction surgery or buccal lipectomy. The procedure involves surgical removal of prominent buccal fat pads from the cheeks. The buccal fat pad removal helps thin the cheeks and gives your face more definition with sharper angles and improved tone.
A buccal fat removal procedure can be combined with other types of cosmetic surgery, including rhinoplasty, lip augmentation, and chin implants, to address problems in the midface and lower face.
Benefits of buccal lipectomy
A fat pad removal procedure helps to improve not only the appearance of your cheeks but also the appearance of your overall facial contour. In patients with a baby face due to prominent buccal fat pads, a fat removal procedure gives the face a more sculpted and symmetrical appearance. A key benefit of buccal fat pad removal is that it is performed from inside the mouth, so there are no visible scars on the face. The plastic surgeon removes a carefully calculated amount of fat to perform the cheek reduction and contour the fat pads. Some of the benefits of a buccal lipectomy include:
- Improvement in overall facial contour
- More definition in the cheek area
- Increased symmetry in the shape of the face
- Improved self-confidence
Who's a good candidate for buccal fat removal?
Everyone is not a good candidate for buccal fat removal. There are some factors to consider before buccal fat pad removal to ensure you get the desired results.
Buccal fat pad removal is a good choice for you if you are in good physical health and are at a healthy weight. If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight with diet and exercise, you should probably wait before going in for buccal fat pad removal. This is because weight gain and weight loss can affect the prominence of the buccal fat.
A buccal fat removal procedure is recommended for patients who are unhappy with the shape of their face and think it is too round or too full. It is especially recommended for patients who don't like the fullness over the cheekbone. The procedure can help address herniation of the fat pad (rounded masses of fat in the cheek due to a weak buccal fat pad). Buccal fat pad removal is also offered as part of facial feminization surgery.
Who is not a candidate?
It is worth noting that the results from buccal fat removal may not be optimum in some patients. For example, people with a narrow face may end up with sunken cheeks due to fat loss as they get older. Also, older individuals should probably avoid buccal fat removal because the removal of the buccal fat can emphasize the jowls in the lower face and make other signs of aging more prominent. Patients with a rare disorder called Parry-Romberg syndrome are not candidates for buccal fat removal (this disorder is associated with shrinkage on one side of the face that affects the buccal fat).
How to get best results?
You will get the best results from buccal fat removal if you have realistic expectations. You can ask your plastic surgeon to show you before and after photos of other patients to get an idea of what can be achieved with buccal fat removal. Last but not least, if you are a smoker, it is a good idea to stop smoking for at least a few weeks before and after the buccal fat removal. This will help you heal from the fat removal procedure without complications.
What Is the best age for buccal fat pad removal?
The buccal fat can continue to grow until your early 20s, so plastic surgeons recommend waiting until at least the early to mid-20s before undergoing buccal fat removal plastic surgery.
What's the procedure like? What to expect during cheek fat removal surgery?
Before the surgery
Before scheduling you for buccal fat removal, your plastic surgeon will discuss your expectations and goals from the procedure. They will also obtain a detailed medical history, including past surgeries, medications and drug allergies, and drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. This information helps the plastic surgeon decide whether buccal fat removal is a good option for you as well as determine the risks of the procedure. During the consultation, your plastic surgeon will take photos of your face for comparison to photos after the surgery.
During the surgery
Buccal fat removal can be done in a plastic surgeon's office or a hospital setting. Removal of buccal fat is done under local anesthesia if cheek fat removal is all that you are getting done. You will be awake during the surgery but you won't feel any pain. If you are having other procedures done, for example, on the nose, mouth, or jawline in the lower face, then general anesthesia may be necessary. In this case, you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the surgery.
To remove the buccal fat, the surgeon will make a cut inside the cheek on either side and remove all or part of the fat pad. The incision will be closed with dissolvable sutures (stitches). The entire procedure can typically be completed within one hour.
Recovery after buccal fat removal
Because buccal fat removal involves making a cut inside the mouth, your surgeon will give you a special mouth wash to prevent infection. You will receive instructions on how to care for the incision while it heals. Initially, you will need to eat a liquid diet. However, after a few days you will be able to progress to soft foods and then a normal diet.
After the buccal fat removal surgery, there will be mild discomfort and swelling in the area. You may experience some bruising as well, but these signs and symptoms will diminish over the next two weeks. Full recovery usually does not take more than three weeks. You will see the results of the buccal fat removal over the next several months as your cheeks settle into their new shape.
How long does buccal fat removal last?
Buccal fat removal is a permanent solution to reducing the size of your cheek fat. The surgeon cuts away the fat and it does not come back. However, if you gain weight in the future, the buccal fat pads can become prominent again.
Buccal fat pad removal risks: What are the potential complications of buccal fat removal?
Buccal fat pad removal is a safe and effective procedure when performed by a board certified plastic or cosmetic surgeon or other expert. However, like all surgical procedures, there are some risks, including infection, bleeding, anesthesia risks, and hematoma or seroma formation (collection of blood or fluid under the skin of the face). In very rare cases, there can be damage to the salivary glands or facial nerve. Excess removal of buccal fat pads can lead to facial asymmetry and poor results.
You can reduce your risk of undesirable cosmetic results and surgical complications by choosing an experienced and trained expert to perform the surgery.
Is buccal fat removal worth it? Is buccal fat pad removal right for me?
If you would like to get rid of chipmunk cheeks, buccal fat removal is a quick, safe, and effective procedure to accomplish this. It can help improve the profile of your face and allow you to look your best. If you meet the health criteria for the surgery, you could be an ideal candidate for buccal fat removal.
How much does it cost to get buccal fat removal?
Buccal fat removal cost depends on where you live as well as the surgeon's experience and the type of anesthesia. In general, the costs range anywhere between $2,000 to $5,000. Since this is a cosmetic surgery, it is unlikely to be covered under your health insurance.
What to look for in a buccal fat pad removal surgeon?
It is important to get buccal fat removal done by a board certified plastic or cosmetic surgeon or other expert who has experience in this type of surgery. This will ensure you get the best results and your risk of complications is low.
Can a dentist remove buccal fat?
Yes, a dental surgeon can perform a cheek reduction procedure. However, if you want to get other parts of the face treated during the same procedure, you will have to go to a specialist such as a plastic surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon.
How can I find a board certified plastic surgeon?
The MeTime app makes it easy to find qualified providers for facial plastic surgery like buccal fat removal near you. Check the profiles once you match with providers. You can click and upload pictures and have suggestions sent directly to you. Interested in buccal fat removal? Try the MeTime app today!