Buccal (Cheek) Fat Removal
Starting Price: $3,500*
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*Pricing Varies by Surgeon
What Is Buccal Fat Removal?
Buccal fat removal is a plastic surgery procedure for reducing prominent cheeks. The goal of buccal fat removal surgery is to thin the cheeks, specifically in the area of the cheek hollows. The result is a thinner looking face.
About The Buccal Fat Removal Procedure
During buccal fat removal, the patient is sedated through intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Then, an incision is made on the inside of the mouth, on the inner portion of the patient’s cheek(s). Afterward, the surgeon applies manual pressure to the exterior of the cheek, which pushes the buccal fat pad to protrude to the interior of the mouth. The surgeon then extracts the patient’s buccal fat pads. Once extracted from their place, the surgeon then cuts and removes the required amount of tissue from the buccal fat pad to achieve the desired cheek reduction. The remainder of the buccal fat pad then is replaced, and the two incisions are sutured.
Buccal/Cheek Fat Removal Recovery
Following buccal fat removal surgery, you may be instructed to stay on a liquid diet for several days or longer. Your surgeon may instruct you on special mouth rinses to reduce the risk of infection. You will be given specific instructions that may include:
- How to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery
- Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection
- Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
- When to follow up with your plastic surgeon
Healing will continue for several weeks as swelling decreases. Continue to follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions and attend follow-up visits as scheduled.
Schedule A Consultation
A consultation with a top Mia Aesthetics surgeon is the first step in determining whether or not buccal fat removal is right for you. During your consultation, you can discuss your concerns and problem areas with your surgeon, who will provide you with a detailed recommendation.
Patient Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Although buccal fat removal is generally well tolerated, there are always risks to major surgery. Choosing the right surgeon and following all pre-and post-operative instructions will greatly reduce the risk of complications.
Some potential risks may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Poor healing of incisions
- Hematoma
- Anesthesia risks
- Fluid accumulation (seroma)
- Numbness or other changes in sensation
- Prolonged swelling
- Injury to branches of the facial nerve, resulting in temporary or permanent facial muscle weakness
- Injury to a salivary duct
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Asymmetry
- Suboptimal aesthetic result and/or minimal changes
- Persistent pain
Because the incisions made for buccal fat removal are inside the mouth, there will not be visible scars from the procedure.
Good candidates for buccal fat removal have big or “chubby” cheeks that they feel self-conscious about. The patient’s cheeks likely do not become slimmer even with diet and exercise. The patient should also be in general good health and should have a positive attitude and realistic expectations for the procedure.