Does your face look chubbier than you'd like? Do people comment on your baby face? Do you fear you have "chipmunk cheeks?"

Buccal fat removal can give your face a slimmer, more sculpted appearance. The key is removing the buccal fat pad located in the cheek hollows. The buccal fat pads in the cheeks are not necessarily the same size.

Large buccal fat pads are often inherited. If everyone in your family has chubby cheeks, that’s why yours are also full. However, you can achieve the thinner, more defined cheeks you always wanted with buccal fat removal. Learn more about our Oakland buccal fat removal at Tri Valley Plastic Surgery.

What is Buccal Fat Removal?

No matter how much you diet or exercise, you can't get rid of buccal fat. "Buccal" refers to the lower part of the face. As you age, the pads may thin, but not considerably. So undergoing a buccal fat removal procedure is the only way to rid yourself of chubby cheeks.

Buccal fat pads are fat masses in the middle of the cheeks. They are situated between the cheek hollows, the buccinator muscle, and other facial muscles, and they do serve a purpose. Buccal fat pads do more than fill the deep tissue spaces. They act as gliding pads when you use your masticatory muscles while chewing.

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What are the benefits of Buccal Fat Removal?

Buccal fat removal can give your face the slimmer, more contoured look you've always wanted.

Self-esteem increases because you know those chipmunk cheeks are gone for good. Buccal fat removal can make you look and feel more glamorous. Did you ever suck in your cheeks and think, "This is the way I'd like to look"? Buccal fat removal can help you attain that goal. Because the surgery is performed within the mouth, there are no scars on the cheeks, and only one treatment is necessary.

Am I a Good Candidate for Buccal Fat Removal?

If your face is round with little definition, you may prove a good candidate for buccal fat removal.

Self-esteem increases because you know those chipmunk cheeks are gone for good. Buccal fat removal can make you look and feel more glamorous. Did you ever suck in your cheeks and think, "This is the way I'd like to look"? Buccal fat removal can help you attain that goal. Because the surgery is performed within the mouth, there are no scars on the cheeks, and only one treatment is necessary.

However, if your face is thin and narrow, you are not a good candidate. That's because removing the buccal fat pad from the cheeks of a thin-faced person can give them a skeletal appearance. The same holds true for older people. Buccal fat pad volume tends to thin with age. As a result, older people undergoing the procedure may end up looking gaunt. Good candidates are healthy nonsmokers at a stable weight. Obese people are not candidates for buccal fat removal.

It is also crucial that your expectations of the results are realistic. For example, some patients may think their cheeks are too chubby, but that's not the general consensus. In such cases, buccal fat removal would make the person's face look far too thin. No one wants to appear aged and gaunt. Aesthetic issues that buccal fat removal can improve or accomplish include:

  • Providing high cheekbones – High cheekbones have always been the sign of classic beauty. Although round-faced people are often attractive, high cheekbones with sunken cheeks are still the standard.
  • Young people can achieve a somewhat older appearance. This can help professionally if chubby cheeks make employers and colleagues tend to see you as a kid due to the way you look.
  • Softening the appearance of smile lines running from the ether side of the nose to the mouth’s corners.
  • For those who have lost significant weight but are concerned that their face is still too full.
  • For slender people, reducing the illusion of being overweight.
  • Wanting to change their status from cute to “pretty” or “handsome.”
  • A more enhanced jawline
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Your Buccal Fat Removal Procedure

You'll need to submit to lab tests before the procedure and possibly begin taking certain medications. The doctor may adjust certain medications you are already taking.

Let the doctor know about all your medications and supplements during your evaluation. You must cease taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding, such as aspirin and particular herbal supplements. Alcohol consumption is prohibited for two weeks before surgery. Many patients combine buccal fat pad removal with other cosmetic procedures. If that is the case, you may need general anesthesia. If buccal fat removal is the only surgery, it is often performed under local anesthesia. That means you are awake while the procedure is performed.

Buccal fat removal is relatively straightforward. First, the surgeon makes a tiny incision inside the cheek, near the rear of the mouth above the second premolar. Pressure is placed on the outer part of the cheek to reveal the buccal fat pad. The buccal fat pad is then excised via forceps and removed. Dissolvable stitches are used for wound closing. The entire procedure takes about one hour from start to finish, including preparation. The surgery itself takes about 15 minutes.

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Buccal Fat Removal Recovery

A liquid diet is necessary for the first several days post-buccal fat removal surgery. Your surgeon provides you with mouth rinses to reduce infection risk. You will also receive oral antibiotics for infection reduction and medications to speed healing. Your doctor will tell you when you can resume a normal diet. Avoid “sharp” foods, such as chips, until recovery.

Expect significant cheek swelling for the next few weeks. Ice packs on the cheeks can reduce swelling amounts. Tissues within the mouth heal faster than the tissues within the cheeks.

Some patients may experience bruising. If you’ve ever had a wisdom tooth extracted, the recovery process for buccal fat removal is similar. Complete recovery takes about three weeks. You may have to take several days off work. Avoid strenuous exercise or activity for at least two weeks post-procedure.

Stay out of the sun for a minimum of three months after the operation. You cannot undergo dental surgery three months before buccal fat pad removal or three months afterward. Follow your doctor's advice carefully to maximize healing and avoid potential issues.

Buccal Fat Removal Results

Results may take some time to appear as the face is swollen after the procedure. The full effect of cheek contouring may take a few months to manifest.

The result is that your cheeks are less chubby and better defined. Buccal fat removal does not necessarily result in a dramatic difference in your looks. Instead, the results are subtle. You look different and better, but others aren't sure why. The idea behind cheek fat removal is to provide a balance between your facial features.

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Why Choose Tri Valley Plastic Surgery

At Tri Valley Plastic Surgery, Dr. Steven Williams offers world-class aesthetic medical refinement to patients in Oakland, the San Francisco Bay Area, and around the globe.

Tri Valley Plastic Surgery is home to some of the nation's most skilled and respected plastic surgeons in Oakland. Dr. Williams is board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons and diplomates of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Place your face in the hands of our experts.

Schedule an Oakland Buccal Fat Removal Consultation With Tri Valley Plastic Surgery Today

If you want to know more and find out whether you are a candidate for buccal fat removal Oakland facial aesthetic specialists at Tri Valley can answer your questions or address any concerns you may have during a consultation. Schedule one today.

After an evaluation, the surgeon will answer any questions so you can make an informed decision. You may also want to discuss procedures done in conjunction with buccal fat removal. We can help you look your best!

Steven Williams, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Does buccal fat surgery hurt?

Is buccal fat removal permanent?

Can you reverse buccal fat removal?

Can buccal fat grow back?

Will buccal fat removal make my face slimmer?

What are the risks of buccal fat removal?

How much does buccal fat removal cost?

Does my insurance cover buccal fat removal?

Is cheek liposuction the same as buccal fat removal?

What's the difference between cheek liposuction and buccal fat removal?

Are there similar procedures to buccal fat removal?

Do I need to have someone drive me home because of anesthesia?

Does buccal fat surgery hurt?

Patients may experience some mild discomfort after buccal fat pad removal surgery. Any pain is manageable with over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Most people find the procedure painless.

Is buccal fat removal permanent?

Yes, buccal fat removal is permanent. If you gain weight after buccal fat removal, other areas of fat in the face may enlarge. That could reduce the effect of buccal fat removal, but the buccal fat itself does not regenerate.

Can you reverse buccal fat removal?

Patients who decide to reverse buccal fat removal may opt for fat injections in their cheeks. This fat is taken from their own bodies, so it's safe to use.

Can buccal fat grow back?

Buccal fat does not grow back once the pad is removed from your cheeks.

Will buccal fat removal make my face slimmer?

Yes. Buccal fat removal aims to provide the face with a more sculpted, slimmer look.

What are the risks of buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat removal is generally considered a safe procedure. However, as with any surgery, there are always risks involved. These include: -

  • Infection
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Excess fat removal
  • Facial asymmetry
  • Salivary gland injury
  • Seroma, or fluid accumulation

Some issues may require another surgery for correction. There is a risk of injury to the facial nerves during the surgery. In a worst-case scenario, that could result in partial facial paralysis.

How much does buccal fat removal cost?

Buccal fat pad removal costs depend on the extent of the procedure. Financing options are available.

Does my insurance cover buccal fat removal?

Because buccal fat pad removal is a cosmetic procedure, insurance will not cover it.

Is cheek liposuction the same as buccal fat removal?

Cheek liposuction is not the same as buccal fat pad removal. Cheek reduction surgery is another term for buccal fat removal.

What's the difference between cheek liposuction and buccal fat removal?

With cheek liposuction, facial fat cells are permanently removed via vacuuming. The fat cells removed in cheek liposuction are not deeply embedded into the cheeks, unlike the buccal fat pads that are deep in the cheek tissue. Therefore, a liposuction cannula cannot access the buccal fat pad. Buccal fat removal takes out the buccal fat pad. Discuss which procedure is better for your cheek fat removal goals with your plastic surgeon.

Are there similar procedures to buccal fat removal?

There are no other procedures that provide the same results as buccal fat pad removal. Depending on the individual, jowl liposuction may produce satisfactory results as an alternative to removing buccal fat pads.

Do I need to have someone drive me home because of anesthesia?

If you received anesthesia as part of the procedure, you must arrange for someone to drive you home afterward. However, if you only had a local anesthetic, you should be able to drive home.

We are leaders in breast enhancement, body sculpting, and facial cosmetic surgery, serving the entire San Francisco Bay area. Whether you live in the Bay Area or are coming in from out of town, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have on your path to your new self. Schedule an intro call with us today to take the first step towards realizing the look you’ve always wanted for yourself.

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