Buccal Fat Removal

Buccal Fat Removal near West Bloomfield

A youthful face is a full face. This fullness gives the face a heart shape.  Some people have excess fat within the cheek, buccal fat, that causes their face to be more square because of the extra fullness just above the jawline.  Many patients feel self-conscious of their “baby face” and choose to have buccal fat removal to reduce the size of their cheeks. This procedure may be known as buccal fat removal, buccal lipectomy, or cheek reduction surgery and should be performed by an experienced, qualified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Sabbagh or Dr. Baca.

What to Expect

• Anesthesia – Local with sedation
• Length of Surgery – One hour
• In / Outpatient – Outpatient
• Recovery – Full recovery in about three weeks
• Fading of Scars – No visible scarring
• Duration of Results – Permanent

How is Buccal Fat Removal Performed?

Buccal fat removal is usually performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation. To perform buccal fat removal, a small incision is made inside the mouth on the inside of the cheek. This allows for no visible scarring. Through these incisions, your plastic surgeon will carefully remove the buccal fat pad. When these steps are complete, the incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches. This process typically takes about an hour or less.

Buccal Fat Removal Recovery

After your buccal fat removal, you can return home on the same day. Your plastic surgeon will provide you with a mouthwash to prevent infection and instruct you to follow a liquid diet for the first several days of your recovery period. You can expect some swelling and bruising, which should subside within about a week after surgery. Most patients are fully healed at three weeks after their buccal fat removal, but many return to work, school, or other routines earlier. Your plastic surgeon will monitor your healing during follow-up appointments.

Best Buccal Fat Removal Candidates:

Buccal fat removal candidates are generally healthy and at or near a stable weight. A good candidate typically has a naturally fuller or rounder-shaped face despite being at a healthy weight. If you do not have a fuller face shape, you should not have buccal fat removal to avoid a hollow or sunken appearance as you grow older. Similarly, older patients may be advised to avoid buccal fat removal to avoid signs of aging like jowls. During a consultation at Straith Clinic, your plastic surgeon will review your health history and evaluate your buccal fat pads and overall face shape to determine whether you are a good candidate for buccal fat removal.

What are the Risks of Buccal Fat Removal?

Like all surgeries, buccal fat removal involves some risks. These include adverse reactions to anesthesia, bleeding, or infection. These risks can typically be avoided by choosing a qualified plastic surgeon who will carefully review your health history and by following their advice through your recovery period.

In addition to these risks, there is a risk of a gaunt or aged appearance if poor candidates choose buccal fat removal. As you age, fat in the cheeks is naturally lost over time. For this reason, patients and their plastic surgeons should be careful to only pursue the procedure if they have an adequate amount of buccal fat to remove.

Schedule A Consultation

If you’re interested in taking the next steps to discuss buccal fat removal with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. William Sabbagh or Dr. Marissa Baca, contact Straith Clinic today to schedule an appointment.