For patients with a baby face, especially patients over 30, it may be possible to reduce the buccal fat pads. This can establish a nice cheekbone-cheek contour. Of course, the overall facial symmetry should be evaluated. Chubby cheeks may arise from a deficient cheekbone area, so removal of the buccal fat pads might not be right for that patient.
The buccal fat pad can be easily accessed from inside the mouth.
For years, there has been resistance to removing the buccal fat pads, because of the fear of hollowness during old age. However, the buccal fat pads atrophy anyway over time. Also, you see photographs of many of the parents of patients requesting buccal fat pad removal, and the parents still have "chipmunk cheek" look, even in their 50's, 60's and 70's!
We have found removal or reduction of the buccal fat pad to be valuable in the right patient.
