Why it may be considered
- Reduce the roundness of the cheek.
- To refine the hollow of the cheek, between the cheekbone and the jaw.
- A change intended to be permanent: the removed fat does not return.
Dr. Gustavo Suárez · Facial surgery
Buccal fat removalor Bichat's fat pads.
Buccal fat removal removes the pad of fat between the cheekbone and the jaw, known as Bichat's fat pad. The assessment beforehand determines whether it is appropriate for that face.
Request a consultation What is buccal fat removal?The intended change
Bichat's fat pad
and the shape of the cheek.
The buccal fat pad is a collection of fat between the cheekbone and the jaw, in what is known as the buccal space. Buccal fat removal involves removing it through incisions inside the mouth. It is considered to reduce cheek fullness and give greater definition to the cheekbone and the hollow between the cheek and the jaw.
It is not indicated for narrow or thin faces: removing this fat can make the face look more gaunt with age. The fat pad naturally decreases over the years, so the procedure is not recommended for older people. A stable weight is also required.
Suitability
It is not a procedure
for every face.
The buccal fat pad is a pad of fat between the cheekbone and the jaw. Removing it slims the cheek and the removed fat does not return, so it is not suitable for every face.
When it is not recommended
- Narrow or thin faces: removing this fat can make the face look more gaunt with age.
- Older people: the buccal fat pad naturally becomes smaller with age.
The assessment
What is measured
during the consultation.
During the consultation, the face and its proportions are examined, photographs are taken, and the medical history and current medication are reviewed. Stopping smoking before surgery is recommended.
The size of the fat pad varies between people and between the two sides of the same face. The assessment must take these differences and the permanent nature of removal into account. It may conclude that the procedure is not appropriate.
Preparing for the initial consultationHow it is performed
How it is
performed.
The incisions are made inside the mouth, providing access to the fat pad. How much fat should be removed, and whether any should be removed, is determined by examining the individual face.
Where the incisions are made
Inside the mouth, on the inner surface of the cheek.
What is removed
The fat pad located between the cheekbone and the jaw, with the aim of reducing the roundness of the cheek.
Narrow or slim faces
This is the main contraindication: removing this fat can make the face look more gaunt with age.
Age
The pad naturally becomes smaller with age. This is why the procedure is not recommended for older people.
Both sides of the face
The size of the fat pad varies between individuals and between the two sides of the same face. Asymmetry is among the risks.
Anaesthesia
When performed on its own, without being combined with other procedures, buccal fat removal can be carried out under local anaesthesia, with or without sedation.
What you should know
The fat that is removed does not return. This is the part of the decision that cannot be reversed.
In narrow or thin faces, removing it can make the face look more gaunt over the years, and Bichat's fat pad also naturally decreases with age. The size of this fat pad varies between individuals and even between the two sides of the same face.
After surgery
Care and
follow-up.
Recovery
Healing takes place inside the mouth and progresses gradually. The result takes time to settle: what you see at first is not the final result. The team carrying out the procedure will advise on returning to your usual activities and caring for your mouth.
Risks and limitations
Changes in sensation are also assessed. Possible complications include infection, injury to a facial nerve, asymmetry between the cheeks and possible damage to the salivary gland.
In a slim face, removing this fat can make the face appear more gaunt over the years. This limitation of the procedure must be assessed before deciding.
These complications are very rare. During the consultation, following the medical assessment, the risks and this limitation are explained individually according to each patient's characteristics.
Before deciding
Frequently asked
questions.
Questions about the effects, risks and choice of this surgery.
What is buccal fat removal?
It is the removal of the fat pad located between the cheekbone and the jaw, known as Bichat's fat pad, through incisions inside the mouth. It may be considered to reduce cheek roundness and give greater definition to the cheekbone and the hollow between the cheek and the jaw.
What are the consequences of buccal fat removal?
Changes in sensation are also considered. Possible complications include infection, injury to a facial nerve, asymmetry between the cheeks and possible damage to the salivary gland. These complications are very rare. In the long term, the main caution is that a narrow or thin face may look more gaunt with age. During the consultation, after the medical assessment, the risks and this limitation are explained individually according to each patient's characteristics.
What happens if the buccal fat pads are removed?
The cheek becomes less rounded in that area, and the cheekbone and the hollow between the cheek and jaw become more defined. How much it changes depends on the size of the pad, which varies between people and between the two sides of the same face. A specific outcome cannot be promised for this change.
Is buccal fat removal recommended at age 40?
The fat pad naturally decreases over the years. In older people, removing it can leave the face looking more gaunt, so the procedure is not recommended. Age alone does not determine whether it is indicated: the face needs to be examined.
What do buccal fat pads look like before and after buccal fat removal?
Photographs of other people cannot predict your own result. The size of the pad and the shape of the face differ in each case, and the same procedure does not produce the same change. A reference image can help explain the intended change, so that the examination can assess it.
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