Buccal fat removal: Procedure & Cost

The buccal fat pad refers to a round mass of fat at the center of your cheek. It is located in the hollow under your cheekbones, between your facial muscles. Your face shape is affected by the size of your buccal fat pad.

Everybody has a buccal fat pad. The size of the buccal fat pad can vary widely.

You might feel your face is rounder or fuller if you have a larger buccal fat pad. It is possible to feel as though you have a baby face.

It’s okay to have bigger cheeks. A plastic surgeon may recommend buccal fat reduction if you want to reduce your cheeks. This procedure is used to reduce the size of round faces.

Buccal fat removal is a procedure that can be complicated. Read on for more information.

What’s buccal fat removal?

A type of cosmetic surgery is buccal fat removal. It is also known as cheek reduction or buccal lipectomy.

The buccal fat pads that are located in the cheeks will be surgically removed. This reduces the size of your cheeks and shapes your facial angles.

You can have the surgery done by yourself or in conjunction with other forms of plastic surgery such as:

  • Facelift
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Implants for the chin
  • lip augmentation
  • Botox injection

Who is a good candidate to remove buccal fat?

If any of these apply to you, then you might be a candidate for buccal fat reduction.

  • You are in good physical condition.
  • You are at a healthy weight.
  • Your face is rounder and fuller.
  • You don’t like the fullness in your cheeks.
  • Pseudoherniation is a small rounded fat mass on the cheeks due to a weak buccal fat pad.
  • You are looking for facial defecation surgery.
  • Realistic expectations are necessary.
  • You shouldn’t smoke.

To determine if you are a good candidate, a plastic surgeon is the best choice.

What is the procedure?

Before the procedure

Your concerns will be discussed with your surgeon before the procedure.

  • Expectations and goals
  • Medical conditions
  • Current medications, vitamins, and supplements
  • Alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse
  • Drug allergies
  • Past surgeries

This information will allow your surgeon to determine the best surgical approach and possible risks.

Before the procedure, you might have to stop taking certain medications or undergo blood tests.

To plan your surgery, your plastic surgeon will take photos of you and analyze your face.

During the procedure

This procedure can be performed in a hospital or in a doctor’s office. This is what it typically involves:

  1. If you are only having buccal fat removed, you will be given local pain relief to your face. The procedure will not cause any pain, but you will be awake.
  2. You might receive general anesthesia if you have more than one procedure. You will need to be taken to the surgery by a driver.
  3. The surgeon will incision your cheek. To expose more buccal fat, the surgeon will press down on your cheek.
  4. The surgeon will remove and cut the fat.
  5. They will close the wound using dissolvable stitches.

Following the procedure

To prevent infection, you will be given a mouthwash before you go home. Your provider will instruct you on how to care for the incision.

For several days, you will need to consume a liquid diet. Then, you can move on to soft foods and then return to your regular diet.

Your face may swell after the surgery. You might also experience swelling and bruising. Both of these symptoms should disappear as you heal.

Usually, full recovery takes around three weeks.

Follow your doctor’s instructions for self-care and food during recovery. Follow-up appointments should be attended.

In a few months, you can expect to start seeing results. It will take time for your cheeks and lips to adjust to their new shapes.

What complications can buccal fat removal pose?

The removal of buccal fat is generally safe. There is a chance of side effects, as with all procedures.

There are possible complications:

  • excessive bleeding
  • Infection
  • Negative reaction to Anesthesia
  • Hematoma
  • lockjaw
  • seroma (fluid accumulation).
  • Damage to salivary glands
  • Facial nerve damage
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Side effects on the lungs or cardiac side effects
  • Extra fat removal
  • Facial asymmetry
  • Poor results

These issues may require additional surgery.

If you have any of these symptoms, consult a doctor.

  • Breathing difficulty
  • Chest Pain
  • abnormal heartbeat
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Severe pain
  • Signs of Infection

What is the cost of the procedure?

The cost of removing buccal fat ranges from $2,000 to $5,000

The cost of the procedure can vary depending on many factors, including:

  • The surgeon’s experience level
  • The type of anesthesia
  • Prescription medications

Cheek fat pad removal surgery is not covered by insurance because it’s a cosmetic procedure. You should pay for it out of your own pocket.

Talk to your surgeon about the cost of the procedure before you go. Ask about payment plans.