While most people lose the baby fat in their face as they get older, some patients are troubled by the appearance of “chubby cheeks” after adulthood. Patients who have excess fat in the cheeks, called buccal fat, have rounder, more childlike cheeks. If you’re not happy with your round cheeks, a buccal fat removal procedure may be for you.
Buccal fat removal sculpts and defines cheekbones by selectively reducing excess fat pads in the lower cheeks, creating a more contoured and angular facial profile. This procedure can enhance cheekbone prominence, resulting in a sleeker and more sculpted appearance to the face.
Buccal fat removal provides a refined and sophisticated look by reducing fullness in the lower cheeks, resulting in a more chiseled and defined facial contour. This procedure can impart a sleek and elegant appearance, enhancing facial symmetry and balance for a polished aesthetic.
Buccal fat removal creates an attractive facial contour by sculpting the cheeks and reducing excess fullness, resulting in a more defined and balanced appearance. This procedure enhances natural features and can accentuate the cheekbones, contributing to an overall more aesthetically pleasing facial structure.
Your surgeon will conduct a thorough consultation with you ahead of your procedure to examine your face, understand your aesthetic goals, and determine the surgical plan that will be best for you.
The procedure is performed with local anesthesia, and takes about an hour. Dr. Reuben or Dr. Moores will make an incision inside your cheek, which ensures no scarring will be visible. Pressure will be applied outside the cheek to expose the buccal fat pad. The surgeon will carefully remove the fat to ensure the cheeks are sculpted without appearing hollow.
Once the fat is removed, the wound will be closed with dissolvable stitches.
After your procedure, expect swelling and bruising for several days. During this time, you will need to follow a liquid diet. By 3-4 days after your surgery, you may begin to eat soft foods. From there, you may begin to slowly progress back to your usual diet.
Your complete recovery will take about three weeks, but your cheeks will need several months to fully settle into the slimmer, contoured shape as any remaining swelling subsides.
Men or women with excess, persistent buccal fat removal are likely candidates for buccal fat reduction. Ideal candidates meet the following requirements: