Liposuction of Jowl and Buccal Fat Removal for More Facial Definition?

I have been doing liposuction for 30 years and do not do it on patients in your age group for several reasons. It is very easy to get irregularities and there are minimal changes. I have seen many complications of this. As to buccal fat removal, I feel the changes are too minimal to justify the procedure. Remember also that some day you will want that extra fat in your face for volume.

Young patients in their 20s do NOT have jowls. Jowls are sign of facial aging that start occurring in the late 30s and more likely in the 40s.Young male patients with chubby cheeks who would like to achieve more facial definition and a triangular look could benefit from buccal fat removal. This procedure removes permanently the chubby cheeks thus giving a chiseled face in patients candidates (with high cheek bones).The video below helps to understand who could be a candidate for buccal fat removal.

You have many options. It is all about fat (or volume) in the right places. In addition to cosmetic facial plastic surgery I do feminization procedures in the transgender population and it applies to all sexes and orientations really. The key is Hot is HOT! Buccal fat removal and/or manipulation can be a great and transformational procedure in the right patient.  Oftentimes fat transfer or filler injection in conjunction with this procedure is able to give a more “ideal” heart shaped face. This can make a significant difference in patients as a combo. We are able to create shadows and sharpness where you want it. It may seem counterintuitive to add fat when you say your problem is chubby cheeks but what we do is add volume to the highest and most projected point of the cheek bone and taper it to the lower face. This helps to create a shadow just under the malar area.  This is especially helpful in thin patients and in combination with buccal fat pad removal is a powerful maneuver. Liposuction of the jawline and sculpting is also helpful in some patients. It really depends on your specific anatomy. All of this can be done in clinic with some calming medications and local anesthesia.
I recommend getting a consult with a surgeon who does this procedure frequently to get a full facial analysis to make sure your specific goals are addressed.
Hope this helps.
Best of luck.
DrC

Buccal fat pad reduction can be an option to consider in carefully selected patients with prominent lower cheek fullness, or what some refer to as "chipmunk cheeks." It is difficult to be certain from your photo, but it does not look like you would be the ideal candidate for this procedure. In a young patient such as yourself, removing buccal fat can cause you to look prematurely aged as you get older and the remaining facial fat that you have shrinks and descends, as it does for everyone as the natural aging process progresses. Liposuction can be a great procedure to remove fat from the jowls and under the chin, but again this is likely not the procedure that would give you the facial definition and inverted triangle appearance that many find desirable. Instead, I would consider augmentation of the upper cheeks with fillers or implants, and possibly Botox to the masseter muscles that overlie the jaw in order to slim the lower portion of the face without permanently removing fat from an area that is essentially impossible to replace. 
Best wishes, 

Thanks for your question. I find buccal fat pad reduction to be a great procedure in the properly selected patient. Fullness in the lower cheeks or "chipmunk cheeks" can be treated this way to give a more defined lower face. Liposuction or skin tightening technologies will not be the right choice when buccal fullness is apparent. The buccal fat pad sits deeper in the lower cheek area under muscle. This is different from skin fat that can be liposuctioned or laser lipo'd. Proper diagnosis is important to understand how to treat. Also, this fat pad may get smaller when we are elderly possibly giving a hollow look in this area. Performed properly in the right patient buccal fat reduction is easily performed and gives a slimmer lower face that is difficult to achieve otherwise. I have many happy patients with this procedure. Careful selection and counseling are key. Results evolve nicely over a period of weeks to months. This is a safe procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia. Recovery is minimal. Please talk to a board certified surgeon experienced in buccal fat reduction to see if you are a candidate.

Hello Ukswiss,

 

Jowl Liposuction and Buccal Fat Pad Removal could run in parallel to provide the candidate with the "triangular" look you are seeking.

 

As we age, the buccal fat pads tend to atrophy with different degrees among people.

The key remains within a conservative approach when performing this delicate yet simple surgery.

 

Therefore, it is crucial that you seek consultation with an extensively experienced surgeon who will physically examine you and provide you with the best possible solution to enhance your facial features.

 

Many supplemental and/or alternative procedures could help your case to establish the Ogee curve hence the ideal midface contour.

 

Thank you for your inquiry and for posting your photograph.

 

Best of Luck to you.

Dr. Sajjadian

Based on your photo I would not recommend either procedure.  As indicated Buccal fat extraction should onlybe performed on patients  with  signficant facial fullness.  Neck and jowel lipsuction can enhance definition along the jawline but im not sure you require this.  photos showing side view and three quarter views would give me a better idea of your current appearance.

Liposuction is good for the jawline/jowls and under the chin to give improved definition but buccal fad pad removal isn't done much anymore since it usually doesn't do anything and has more risks to it.

I would encourage you to avoid procedures that will require a later fix. Buccal fat pad removal was performed with regularity in the past, but is applied very selectively these days for reasons other posters have mentioned. The procedure does not tend to age well, giving a patient a hollowed out, gaunt, "Freddy Mercury" look in the early to late 40's. Unlike Liposuction in the neck, standard Liposuction of the face can lead to streak marks, bumps,and contour irregularities that are very hard to fix.

Although liposuction of the face and buccal fat pad removal might give you the triangular look you're trying to accomplish, keep in mind that you may regret your decision, while still young in your late forties when the sunken in cheeks worsen and you begin to look guant, ill and tired. People who have had such surgery twenty years ago are coming in now for fat injections, Sculptra, Radiesse or other fillers for volume augmentation.