I just had a buccal fat removal, and one side of my face seems fine, but the other one is completely numb, is it normal?

Question

One side of my face I can feel everything, and the other one is all numb and swollen. It hurts and I can't move that side of my mouth/cheeks. Is that normal ? Or do you think the surgeon touched a nerve

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Swelling, bruising and numbness of the face could happen right after buccal fat removal. The duration of the symptoms depends on the extend one the surgery and the type of local anesthesia used.
When lidocaine is used as local anesthesia, the numbness of the face could last up to 5 days. When marcaine, a long acting local anesthetic is used, the numbness could last for up to 24 hours.

Malik Kutty, MD · Answer

The buccal fat pad is near an area in the face that has many nerves and muscles. Depending on how recently you had the procedure, the problem you're describing could be from swelling or trauma to the adjacent structures.However, if the nerves were cut or cauterized, it's unlikely that the function will return. It's very important to continue close follow-up with your surgeon to see how things are coming along, so a decision can be made as to whether a surgical exploration and/or repair should be attempted.

I just had a buccal fat removal, and one side of my face seems fine, but the other one is completely numb, is it normal?

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Everything you need to know about Buccal Fat Removal

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I just had a buccal fat removal, and one side of my face seems fine, but the other one is completely numb, is it normal?

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Buccal Fat Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.