Buccal fat removal is leading the way in today’s plastic surgery trends. This procedure can add more symmetry to your features and highlight your facial bone structure, especially your cheekbones. Though it is not a new procedure, its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years.
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are full of people documenting their buccal fat removal before-and-after experiences. But before you hop on the bandwagon with this popular surgery, you should know what it entails, what qualities make someone a good candidate, and how to get the best results.
Understanding Buccal Fat Removal
Buccal fat removal, also known as cheek reduction, can be an ideal treatment for people with naturally round or wide faces. This procedure involves excising the naturally occurring fat pads near the corners of your mouth above your jawline, which are unlikely to shrink with weight loss.
Many people, regardless of gender, are genetically predisposed to have chubby or “cherub cheeks,” which lends them a more baby-faced appearance. While there is nothing wrong with having a fuller face, if it causes you concern about your appearance, buccal fat removal can help enhance the look of your cheeks.
When performed by a skilled surgeon like Dr. Jeffrey Schmidt, buccal lipectomy offers several benefits, including:
- Improved cheekbone definition
- Better contours in your midface
- Enhanced self-esteem
Buccal fat pad size varies for everyone. If you only have a small amount, getting it removed can make your face appear gaunt or prematurely aged. Additionally, if you have sagging skin in your cheeks, removing your buccal fat pads can cause that laxity to become more pronounced.
How Should You Prepare for Buccal Fat Removal?
If you’re considering this buccal fat removal, start by researching plastic surgeons who routinely perform this procedure. Anyone you choose to partner with on this journey should have the experience necessary to deliver safe, outstanding results. Be sure to look for board certification—a distinction only earned by physicians at the top of their profession.
You should also spend some time reviewing before-and-after photos of buccal fat removal patients whose face shape is similar to yours. Doing this homework will ensure you appreciate how this procedure could enhance your appearance—a crucial component of mentally preparing for plastic surgery.
Leading up to your cheek reduction surgery, Dr. Schmidt may also ask you to stop taking medications and supplements that can thin the blood and increase the chances of complications. He will review these instructions with you during your consultation. You’ll need to sign consent forms to demonstrate you understand the details of your procedural plan and that you accept the potential risks.
What Can You Do to Ensure a Smooth Recovery and Aftercare for Buccal Fat Removal?
Buccal lipectomy requires either local or general anesthesia, depending on Dr. Schmidt’s recommendations. It’s an outpatient procedure, so you will return home to recover the same day. Dr. Schmidt and his team will provide detailed post-procedure instructions to follow, including any medications to take and when you can resume your usual daily activities.
It typically takes a week to 10 days for the tissues inside the mouth to heal. You will have sutures inside each cheek, so it’s important to avoid touching these with your tongue or teeth. Rinsing with a disinfecting mouthwash can speed recovery and prevent infection.
Nutrition and hydration are essential to the recovery process. For approximately the first week after buccal fat removal, you will need to eat a liquid or soft diet. Stick to foods like protein shakes, fruit-based popsicles, and vegetable soups. Keep a full water bottle on hand and sip on it throughout the day. Though you should avoid strenuous exercise, taking light walks can help you heal faster by increasing your circulation.
You might have temporary numbness in your cheeks, mouth, and around your nose. To minimize swelling, you should sleep with your head elevated. Contact our office immediately if you are running a fever or have other unusual symptoms.
What Are the Long-Term Results of Buccal Fat Removal?
After buccal fat removal, the initial swelling may obscure your new face shape, but your cheeks will gradually conform over the next several months. Continue to follow your post-surgical instructions and attend all scheduled follow-up visits.
Many patients who want to address multiple concerns opt to combine their buccal fat removal with complementary procedures like a facelift or rhinoplasty. Adding several surgeries to your customized plan can provide you with more comprehensive long-term results. During your consultation with Dr. Schmidt, be sure to ask if you are a good candidate for combined surgeries.
Is Buccal Fat Removal Right for You?
You may consider a buccal lipectomy if you are healthy, at a stable weight, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations for what this surgery can do for you. Younger people with naturally round “chipmunk cheeks” are the best candidates for cheek reduction surgery. It’s wise to approach this procedure conservatively as removing too much buccal fat could give your face a deflated appearance years down the road.
As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Schmidt may recommend an alternative option if your face is thin, narrow, or if your buccal fat has already begun diminishing with age.
Partner with Denver’s Leading Buccal Fat Removal Surgeon
Undergoing plastic surgery is a profoundly personal decision, and one you should only make after serious deliberation. Remember, the goal of buccal fat removal is not to adhere to someone else’s beauty standards or to make you look like a completely different person.
As a highly trained head and neck surgeon and one of Denver’s leading plastic surgeons, Dr. Schmidt has chosen to focus his entire practice on facial procedures. He works closely with his patients, using his knowledge, talents, and heartfelt compassion to create outstanding results. Contact our office today to learn how we can enhance your appearance with buccal fat removal.
