Buccal Fat Removal

Dr Pankaj Kumar the Director of the Hospital and the Chief Operating Surgeon is a renowned and reputed cosmetic surgeon of International class with practical, authentic and extensive experience and proficiency in this thrilling field.

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Buccal Fat Removal

This procedure is also known as buccal fat removal face fat removal, cheek fat removal, cheek reduction surgery, face fat reduction surgery, jaw fat removal, fat pad removal, chubby cheeks surgery, cheek surgery reduction, lower cheek fat removal, cheek slimming surgery, cheek reduction plastic surgery, surgery for chubby cheeks.

It is a surgical method to make your cheeks look slimmer. It is typically performed in combination with other facial procedures to help achieve a more contoured face shape.

Buccal fat removal procedure, (also called cheek reduction) is for those with extra round cheeks who wish to have a slightly more chiseled look. Often times the candidates refer themselves as having chubby cheeks or chipmunk cheeks. The reason most of the times is heredity and not being overweight.

Anatomy of Buccal fat pad

Buccal fat pad is divided into anterior, intermediate and posterior lobes. There are four extensions called buccal, pterygoid, pterygopalatine, and temporal, derived from posterior lobe. There are six ligaments which keep the buccal fat pad in place. It is connected to maxilla, posterior zygoma, and inner and outer rim of the infraorbital fissure, temporalis tendon, or buccinator membrane. Nutrition is derived from several blood vessels in each lobe and in sub-capsular vascular plexus forms. The buccal fat pad performs the function to fill the deep tissue spaces and as a gliding pad.

Buccal fat pad removal procedure can be combined with other cosmetic facial procedures like facial implants, liposuction of chin or facelift surgery.

The Heredity Factor

Most people lose cheek roundness in their late 20s. But in some people the chubbiness may never go from their cheeks. Research your hereditary facial structure by taking a good look at some of your older relatives and pictures of them when they were young. Did they look like you when they were younger and are they thinner-faced now? If so, you run the risk of looking too thin in an unhealthy way in later years if you have buccal fat pad removal. If your mother and father are still as chubby cheeked as they always were, then your face will probably not get thinner with time.

The Appearance Aspects Of Fat Pad Removal

Buccal fat pad removal procedure creates subtle change in face by thinning the cheeks slightly. It’s not intended to create dramatic results. After this surgery, the undue attention from chubby cheeks is taken off and is drawn to more attractive features of the face.

The procedure itself is fairly simple and not overly-invasive. A small incision is made inside the mouth and the lump of fat is gently removed. There is usually some swelling for most patients afterwards — typically 2-4 days, but every patient is different.

Patient Characteristics

Ideal candidates for a buccal fat removal procedure need to be over the age of 18 and in good health. They also should have realistic goals of the outcome of surgery and be psychologically stable. Smoking, drinking and certain medications should be avoided before and after surgery.

How A Buccal Fat Pad Extraction Procedure Is Performed

A buccal fat extraction normally takes about an hour to perform. First local anesthesia is given with very fine needles to make the area numb. An incision about 1- 2 cm long is made between your cheek and gums (maxillary vestibule), starting above the second upper molar towards the back of your mouth. Incisions are made inside the mouth and thus leave no scars on the face. Gentle thumb pressure is applied from outside under the cheekbone and as a result the buccal fat pad comes out through the incision. Then it will be gently and little by little extracted with forceps or surgical tweezers. Sometimes a collective amount the size of a golf ball is removed; sometimes more. Remainder of the buccal fat pad then is replaced to its anatomic site.

The incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures. Final results are apparent in about 3 months when all internal swelling has gone away.

During your recovery period there are several things you should expect

→ You will have some discomfort, but this should be controlled by pain medication prescribed for you.
→ Bruising and swelling are normal after surgery and should subside within 2 weeks.
→ Due to the incision being inside your mouth you will probably have to eat a restricted diet for a while. You should also be advised to rinse your mouth several times a day with an antibacterial mouth wash.
→ Normally dissolvable sutures are used; therefore it should not be necessary to have them removed. Please resist the temptation to chew on the stitches you feel inside your cheek.
→ Your swelling will continue to subside over several weeks.
→ During this time you may notice a change in your smile or odd sensations like tingling, pulling, burning, hollowness, cold or sudden sharp pain. These feelings are related to the healing of the nerve branches and should subside within the first few weeks.
→ Numbness is also possible and, whilst it normally settles within the first few weeks.