Am I a good candidate for buccal fat removal/reduction? How about cheek/jaw fillers or neck lipo?

Question

I have always had a very large head and cheeks, and since I'm balding extremely quickly, my overall facial appearance has been said to look "like an old man". I was hoping that getting a more chiseled/defined facial features would resolve that. I'm curious about doing a buccal fat removal and/or cheek/jaw fillers. I'm also curious about lipo (or Kybella) I'm concerned about how the buccal fat removal will affect me in 10-20+ years, and some weight loss hasn't done much for me.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Buccal fat excision is an appropriate surgical procedure for patients that of overly full and wide cheek areas. In common terms, it is good for patients who have chipmunk cheeks. In reviewing your pictures, it is difficult to tell if you're a good candidate because your cheek area is slightly full but not overly full. A chin implant would give more definition. You are a patient that would need an in person consultation for a complete evaluation and explanation of the positives and negatives of these procedures in your situation. I hope this helps.

Omar Lazos, MD · Answer

You are a good candidate for BFPR (Buccal Fat Pad Removal)
When a patient has a full and round face and despite weight loss the 
fullness persist or if the patient is in his normal weight and the 
chipmunk faces has stayed all the time, a bichectomy or buccal fat pad 
removal is useful. It´s true that with aging the buccal fat pad tends to
 diminish in volume do to atrophy, but if the volume is excessive a 
bichectomy will not hollow the cheek overtime. Many patients are happy 
with the results, a proper selection is a very important manner. Usually
 the procedure takes less than 30 min and you can go homethe same day. 
You'll be able to go back to work on the 3rd day post-op but 1 week off 
would be more comfortable. Best regards

P. Daniel Ward, MD · Answer

Yes, I think that you are a candidate for buccal fat removal. I think that you would also likely need to have lower cheek and chin liposuction to obtain a good result. I think you would likely be disappointed with buccal fat removal only.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Treatment of ‘chubby cheeks’ cannot be achieved alone with buccal fat pad removal; a fact that I encounter time and time again when seeing patients in consultation for lower facial sculpting. My approach is to use a combined protocol that redefines aesthetic contours of the face. This includes the following: 
  
 
  
Buccal Fat Pad Removal 
  Non-surgical Muscle-Fascia Tightening
  Venus Legacy or Venus Viva
  Ultherapy
  Submental Liposuction or Coolsculpting
   
  
The combined approach is ideal. Buccal fat pad removal is a exceptional procedure that can remove excess fat from the cheek pads. Using an intraoral approach, a small incision is carried through the mucosa to remove a small fat pad within the cheek. Closure of the incisions is minimal with an absorbable suture and patients will experience some swelling post-operatively. We use SwellX tablets post treatment. Once healed, the contour of the cheek is improved and we begin Non-invasive tissue tightening to further enhance results. 
  
 
  
Best, 
  
Dr. Karamanoukian
  
Realself100 Surgeon

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Male patients in their 20s who have chubby cheeks and would like to achieve a more chiseled facial look are usually great candidates for buccal fat removal.Buccal fat removal is a plastic surgery procedure, that helps  male patients to achieve a more chiseled V shape facial look. In patients with great cheek bones look younger, more attractive and more masculine after buccal fat removal. The video below helps to understand who could be a candidate for buccal fat removal.Buccal fat removal won't make male patients to look aged if they have good cheek bones. It is the cheek bones and not the fullness of the lower cheeks the key to have a long lasting youthful face with aging. Kybella and chin lipo are two options for correcting the double chin. I personally recommend more chin lipo because compared with Kybella injections, the downtime is way less, the results are more impressive, and chin lipo can make the jaw line more define, a facial feature that makes the male face more attractive and chiseled.

Ali Gurlek, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question and Pictures
The buccal fat pad is a rounded mass of fat in the middle of your cheek. It’s located between facial muscles, in the hollow area beneath your cheekbone. The size of your buccal fat pads affects your face shape.
Everyone has buccal fat pads. However, the size of buccal fat pads can vary greatly.
If you have larger buccal fat pads, you might feel like your face is too round or full.
You can be a candidate for a Buccal Pad removal surgery.
Best of Luck

Michael T. Somenek, MD · Answer

I think a combination of dermal fillers to define the jawline and buccal fat reduction can help to define your face and create a more chiseled appearance. I frequently find that this combination works particularly well in my male population.

Am I a good candidate for buccal fat removal/reduction? How about cheek/jaw fillers or neck lipo?

Answers (7)

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