What Is Buccal Fat?
Buccal fat is the fat in your lower cheeks. It is part of a group of fat pads that stretches from your temples down to your jawline.
These fat pads help make up your face shape. Everyone has a different amount and distribution of facial fat. Some of this is influenced by genes.
Buccal fat pads tend to be bigger in young children, which is why kids have those cute chubby cheeks. After childhood, the fat pads don’t change much. They usually stay the same size until you reach older adulthood, when they start to get smaller. So even if you lose weight, you might not notice major changes in your buccal fat.
Buccal fat is normal and healthy. But if you want to get rid of some of this fat, you can have it surgically removed. This is called buccal fat removal surgery or cheek reduction.
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 enhancing your facial shape and contour.
This procedure may be done alongside other similar facial procedures, such as liposuction or facelift.
Before Buccal Fat Extraction
Before the surgery, you’ll meet with a doctor called a plastic surgeon. You’ll explain why you want the surgery and what you hope to get out of it. The doctor will look at your face and take some pictures. They’ll ask about your health history, medicines you take, and other basic health information. Then, they’ll explain what the surgery and recovery will be like.
If you smoke, your doctor may ask you to stop before the surgery. This will help you avoid complications and get the best results.
Buccal Fat Removal Procedure
When prepping you for this surgery, your surgeon will apply a local anesthetic — the kind you get at the dentist's office. The surgeon will make a small cut from the inside of your cheek, near your upper molars, and delicately remove your buccal fat pads.
The incision will then be sewn shut with stitches, and you'll be sent home with medicines and mouthwash to prevent oral infection. The doctor will also give you instructions on how to care for your face during recovery.
Buccal Fat Removal Recovery
After surgery, you may experience swelling and discoloration on the face. These are normal and will fade in a couple of weeks or so.
The actual results of the surgery may take a few months to show, but with time, you’ll notice that you have developed more slender, well-defined cheeks.
During recovery, it is important to follow the surgeon's instructions with care. These may include:
- Tending to the incision site
- Applying or taking medicine or mouthwash to facilitate healing and prevent infection
- Going for follow-up
Potential Risks of Buccal Fat Removal
The most important thing to consider is not having too much of your buccal fat taken out — especially if you are very young. This is because as you grow older, your buccal fat pad naturally decreases and the shape of your face begins to change.
If too much buccal fat is removed, you could end up with “saggy” or “deflated” cheeks decades from now. For this reason, it is best to approach your surgery conservatively.
Remember that you can always remove more buccal fat later on if you desire, but you cannot replace what you've removed.
A study reported on the more serious potential complications, including:
- Abnormal degree of bleeding
- Facial asymmetry
- Trismus (lockjaw)
- Facial nerve damage
That said, this study also found the chance of these complications to be low, without any severe damage.
Is Buccal Fat Removal Right for You?
Making the decision to undergo buccal fat removal is highly personal. If you struggle with insecurities about the shape of your face and cheeks, this surgery will give you a slimmer, more angular face shape.
The decision to undergo this surgery should be made only after serious deliberation — by you for you and not for somebody else or some abstract standard of beauty.
Before deciding to get this procedure done, make sure of the following:
- You’re in healthy shape, physically and mentally.
- You don’t smoke.
- Your expectations from the surgery are realistic.
A practical way to decide whether to undergo buccal fat removal or not is to spend some time looking at before and after photos of patients who have had the procedure done. These can be found via a simple search on the internet.
All in all, buccal fat removal can be regarded as an easy and efficient procedure that can be done alone or alongside other facial procedures with little additional risk.
Even if you decide to get the surgery done after all the considerations, you must first consult with your family doctor or a licensed plastic surgeon in your area. These professionals can address any questions and concerns you may have about buccal fat removal.
Can Buccal Fat Removal Be Reversed?
Not really. This surgery removes fat cells, which are expandable cells that store fat. The fat cells don’t grow back after surgery, so this procedure is generally considered permanent. But the remaining fat cells can still get bigger if you gain weight.
Buccal Fat Removal Costs
On average, this surgery costs about $3,142. That doesn’t include anesthesia, hospital costs, pain medications, or other expenses.
When planning for buccal fat removal, consider the costs of:
- Surgeon’s fees
- Hospital or clinic fees
- Anesthesia
- Medications
- Medical testing
These costs vary by geographic location and the surgeon’s level of experience.
Because this is a cosmetic (nonmedical) surgery, it isn’t covered by health insurance. But some plastic surgeons offer payment plans.
Alternatives to Buccal Fat Removal
If you want to slim down your cheeks, you have a couple of options besides buccal fat removal. One is cheek liposuction. This is when a plastic surgeon uses a thin tube to suck fat from your cheeks. Another option is a facelift, which can remove and reposition extra fat or sagging skin in your cheeks. Your doctor can help you decide which procedure is best for you.
By itself, buccal fat removal surgery might not have very noticeable results. Depending on your goals, your surgeon might suggest more procedures, such as cheek augmentation or chin liposuction, that will highlight your new face shape.
If you don’t want any procedures and are overweight, it may help to lose some weight. But while weight loss can help get rid of facial fat in general, it won’t target your buccal fat pads. If you want to specifically slim down the buccal area and you’re at a healthy weight, surgery might be a better bet.
Takeaways
Everyone has buccal fat, which are pockets of fat in the lower cheeks. If you want to get rid of some, buccal fat removal surgery (also called a cheek reduction) can help. It will make your bones look more pronounced and your face appear narrower. Before deciding to have surgery, think carefully about why you want it and whether it’s the best option for you.
Buccal Fat Removal FAQs
How can I get rid of buccal fat naturally?
If you’re overweight, losing some pounds may help remove facial fat (but not buccal fat specifically).
How painful is buccal fat removal?
During the surgery, you’ll receive a local anesthetic. This means that you’ll be awake but won’t feel any pain. Afterward, you might have some bruising, swelling, and temporary numbness.
Is buccal fat removal covered by insurance?
Because this surgery isn’t done for medical reasons, it’s not covered by insurance.
What is the right age to get buccal fat removed?
Children and teenagers shouldn’t get this surgery because their faces are still maturing into their adult shape. On the other end of the lifespan, buccal fat tends to go away as you get older, so it might not be worth getting the surgery after a certain age. Plus, older adults may have less stretchy skin, so this surgery could cause their cheeks to sag.
