Doctor Mesa Plastic Surgery - New York

A: Patients who are young and have a very puffy round face that makes them look underage or childish usually benefit from buccal fat removal. Buccal fat removal is a plastic surgery procedure that excises the buccal fat pads, which are deep pockets of fat on the lower anterior cheeks that cause the face to look round or chubby and, in certain people, childish. Patients who undergo buccal fat removal achieve a thinner, more sculpted face. In patients whose chubbyness causes the face to look childish, the procedure helps to achieve a more mature, attractive look without making them look aged or old, especially if they have high cheekbones. For example, if someone is 21 years old and looks 16 because of the chubbiness of the face, buccal fat removal will help them to achieve a look that is in synch with the chronological age, with a very attractive model or celebrity look. John Mesa, MD Buccal Fat Removal Specialist Plastic Surgeon New York, New Jersey, Miami

A: Young patients with fullness of the lower anterior face ( round face or with chubby cheeks) who also have high cheekbones are usually excellent candidates for buccal fat removal. This procedure helps the patients to achieve a thinner face that looks more sculpted and chiseled. Depending on the amount of buccal fat pad removal, they may achieve a model or celebrity look like either Bella Hadid or Margot Robbie. The video below helps patients determine whether they are candidates for buccal fat removal.

A: Patients who are slender but desire slimmer facial contours can benefit from buccal fat removal. To assess a patient's suitability for this procedure, the video below offers valuable guidance. However, achieving optimal results with buccal fat removal, resulting in an attractive, chiseled appearance rather than an aged one, is contingent upon having well-defined cheekbones. If a prospective buccal fat removal candidate lacks high cheekbones, this can be effectively addressed with cheekbone fillers administered just before the buccal fat removal procedure. In my practice, more than 70% of patients opting for buccal fat removal undergo cheekbone augmentation with fillers to achieve their desired aesthetic outcomes. I highly recommend Voluma, a hyaluronic acid-based cheekbone filler. It boasts 100% compatibility, complete reversibility (though in my experience, patients are consistently pleased and return for more), and, notably, a duration of up to 2 years. The combination of buccal fat removal and cheekbone augmentation with Voluma can yield a balanced and striking transformation in facial appearance. This approach offers patients an opportunity to achieve their desired slim and sculpted look with remarkable longevity.

A: Buccal fat removal is a procedure that has no impact on the nasolabial folds or smile lines. Nasolabial folds are influenced by various factors, including the prominence of cheekbones, the bone structure around the nose, and the elasticity of facial skin. It's a common misconception among individuals undergoing facial surgery to attribute any new facial observations to their recent procedure. However, these observations often existed before surgery, only becoming more noticeable as patients pay closer attention to their appearance post-surgery. It's essential to note that buccal fat removal doesn't exacerbate nasolabial folds. In fact, if that were the case, individuals with naturally fuller cheeks would have no nasolabial folds at all. For patients seeking improvement in their nasolabial folds, dermal fillers like Voluma and Versa offer effective solutions worth considering. These fillers can help enhance facial contours and reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds.

A: Fullness of the lower anterior cheeks or chubby cheeks is usually secondary to enlarged buccal fat pads. Early marionette lines (saggy-looking skin that is evident from the corner of the mouth towards the jaw line) are usually secondary to saginess of the face skin and weak cheekbones. Buccal fat removal is the procedure that permanently corrects the fullness of the lower anterior cheeks or chubby cheeks. It allows the patients to go from a round face or chubby face to a more chiseled look. However, this procedure will not correct marionette lines. For that, it is necessary to undergo other procedures like lateral cheekbone enhancement. The video below helps to determine if someone could be candidate for buccal fat removal.