
What is buccal fat removal and is it right for You?
What Is Buccal Fat Removal? Buccal fat removal is a form of plastic surgery. It can simply be thought of as "cheek reduction surgery," used for exaggerating your facial shape and contour. This procedure may be done alongside other similar facial procedures, like liposuction or facelift.
How can I avoid a botched buccal fat removal procedure?
Finding a board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon (not a dentist) who has extensive experience with this cosmetic procedure is crucial to avoiding a botched buccal fat removal procedure.
Is it possible to get rid of buccal fat pad overnight?
The buccal fat pad can be very frustrating to get rid of, and it’s nearly impossible to see results overnight. Buccal fat removal is a treatment that removes excess fat from the cheek area.
What are the risks of buccal fat removal surgery?
Studies show that possible buccal fat removal complications include hemorrhaging, trismus (lockjaw), and facial-nerve damage, which can lead to numbness, other changes in sensation, and (in rare cases) partial facial paralysis. These changes are usually temporary, but they can be permanent.

Can you naturally lose buccal fat?
You cannot typically get rid of the Buccal Fat pad naturally. This fat does not interfere with age. It also does not atrophy with weight loss. The key is it's a deep fat pocket that leads to the lower third fullness in the cheek.
Does buccal fat go away with weight loss?
Does buccal fat go away with weight loss? If you lose weight, you may notice some diminishment of your buccal fat pads. However, they'll still be larger in proportion to the rest of your face.
When do people lose buccal fat?
Usually, there is a significant increase in buccal fat between the ages of 10-20, and then a slow, ongoing reduction until about 50. With that said, everyone is different.
How do you lose cheek buccal fat?
How to Lose Face Fat: 8 Effective TipsDo facial exercises. Facial exercises can be used to improve facial appearance, combat aging, and improve muscle strength ( 1 ). ... Add cardio to your routine. ... Drink more water. ... Limit alcohol consumption. ... Cut back on refined carbs. ... Get enough sleep. ... Watch your sodium intake. ... Eat more fiber.
How can I reduce my buccal fat without surgery?
Natural MethodsDrinking lots of water.Maintaining a healthy diet.Reducing your carbohydrate, fat, and salt intake.Limiting consumption of alcohol and caffeine.Weight training.Using make-up strategically to make the cheeks appear smaller.
Does buccal fat return?
Buccal fat removal is considered a long-term solution to reducing excess fullness in your cheeks. Once the fat is removed from your body, it does not come back. However, patients should keep in mind that buccal fat may increase with future weight gain.
Can buccal fat be removed at 18?
To be a potential candidate for buccal fat removal really you need to be at least 18 years of age. The reason for this is that before this point of your life (and for many some time after) your body is still developing, making surgery for purely aesthetic reasons risky.
Are chubby cheeks genetic?
The genes that cause babies and other children to gain weight differ from those that make adults overweight. Researchers have now found a genetic reason why babies get chubby cheeks, which is actually a healthy sign.
Why do my cheeks look fat when I smile?
When we smile, the zygomatic muscles pull our cheek tissues upward. However it does not pull up the buccal fat which lies beneath the muscle. I suggest you see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery to examine your face at rest and when smiling to see what might be done to alter the look.
Is buccal fat removal worth it?
Buccal fat removal has a 90% Worth It Rating from RealSelf members, and it can create a slimmer, more contoured face in the right candidate.
Do fat pads shrink with weight loss?
Hi Don, Thanks for the question! Yes, fat pads of the face grow and shrink with weight loss. Once the fat pad is removed it does not return or fluctuate with weight changes. The jowl fat pads tend to be more prominent in older patients and droop with age. Buccal fat pads tend to be large since childhood and do not usually sag or droop with age. Both of them can be addressed through relatively low recovery procedures! Hope this helps, Dr. Karan Chopra
Does buccal fat go away?
One of the common complains of my buccal fat removal patients is that no mater how much exercise or strict diet they do, the fullness of the lower anterior cheeks seems to never go away.Buccal fat is a pocket of fat that usually is resistant to weight loss in most of the patients. In some patient with very very low body fat content ( like bodybuilders which % body fat is around 9% for men and %12 for women) could reduce the fullest of the cheek, but just only while heavily training for competition. Therefore, surgical removal is generally the option that helps patients to address permanently the fullness of the lower cheeks ( like most models do).Patients interested in determining if buccal fat removal may help to achieve a chiseled face should make a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon specialized in plastic surgery procedures of the face.
Does buccal fat decrease weight?
Buccal fat tends to respond differently to weight loss and dietary changes then fat and the rest of the face and body . In particular this fat pad maybe one of the last areas for the volume of the fat to decrease in weight loss. That being said many people due noticed a reduction in jowls an facial fullness in that area with weight loss but I think as a rule other areas of the face lose volume first.Chase Lay, MD
What are buccal fat pads?
In a word, you can describe them as fat. Buccal fat pads are layers of fatty tissue that lie just under the skin, in the cheek area, and serve to give you a nice, healthy face-full.
What is buccal fat removal?
A buccal fat removal is a form of plastic surgery called “buccal fat reduction procedure.” It involves removing portions of the facial tissue containing fatty cells, making you look younger and enhancing your facial form.
Who performs this procedure?
The buccal fat removal procedure is typically performed by plastic surgeons who use the results of tests done before you receive the treatment, which means you must speak with your physician beforehand.
How is it done?
You may choose to receive local or general anesthesia during the procedure, depending on how you feel about undergoing surgery and having other concurrent methods.
How long does it take?
This procedure usually takes around two hours, and you’ll also need several weeks to recover after you’ve had buccal fat removal.
What can you eat after the buccal fat removal?
You’ll need to avoid certain foods you may have been eating, such as high-fat or high-sugar edibles. Instead, it would be best to focus on things you can eat during the recovery process, including soups and nutritious treats you can consume without feeling too much discomfort.
How long is the recovery time?
After you have completed the procedure, you will have to wait several weeks before you’ll see the final results. This time varies from person to person.
What is the procedure called to remove fat from the cheeks?
Buccal fat removal surgery, also known as a buccal lipectomy, removes fat from your cheeks, sculpting your face and giving your cheekbones more definition. Buccal comes from the Latin word bucca, which means “puffed cheek.".
Is buccal fat hereditary?
The size of these pads varies from person to person, regardless of weight. In fact, large buccal fat pads are often hereditary, and they aren’t affected by diet and exercise .
