Buccal fat or masseter Botox? (Photo)

I would definitely try several treatments of Masseter Botox before considering buccal fat removal in this case.

When considering whether buccal fat removal or masseter Botox is more suitable for addressing facial concerns like a chubby appearance, several factors need to be considered:

Buccal Fat Removal:

Purpose: This procedure involves surgically removing fat pads from the cheeks to create a more contoured and sculpted facial appearance.
Best For: Individuals with fuller cheeks due to excess buccal fat, not related to muscle size.
Considerations: This is a permanent procedure, so it’s crucial to ensure it aligns with your long-term aesthetic goals.
Masseter Botox:

Purpose: Botox injections in the masseter muscles can slim the jawline by relaxing these muscles, which may be hypertrophied (enlarged) due to activities like teeth grinding or clenching.
Best For: Individuals whose facial fullness is due to prominent masseter muscles rather than fat.
Considerations: This is a temporary solution, requiring maintenance treatments every 4-6 months for sustained results.
Consultation with a Specialist:

A thorough consultation with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon is essential. They can assess your facial structure, discuss your aesthetic goals, and recommend the most appropriate treatment based on your individual anatomy and preferences.

Finding the right specialist is crucial. Look for professionals with extensive experience in facial aesthetics, and consider seeking recommendations or reviews from previous patients to ensure you choose a qualified and skilled practitioner.

You should try Botox first as it is a temporary treatment and may be sufficient to treat your concerns. If after treatment, you feel unsatisfied then you may then explore more permanent options like buccal fat removal. Just be aware, with buccal fat removal it may look good initially but as you age it may make you look older, sooner in life. Fat in our face keeps us looking youthful and healthy. Another treatment you may want to consider that is less invasive would be Morpheus8. Not only can this be used to contour the lower face and target areas where there is undesirable fat, but you will also get the benefit of skin resurfacing, collagen production and lifting and tightening of the skin.

When looking at your photos, you look like a great candidate for a Buccal fat pad removal. This will help slim out the face more. It looks like you already have great cheek bones, removing some of the excess fat pad underneath them will give you great contour definition. Doing only Masseter Botox alone will widen your face and make it look less feminine.

Based on your photos, I do not believe that you have enlarged masseter muscles. We are not fans of having fat removed from the buccal space since this can lead to an aged effect as you get older. Thank you for this question. Since the only Dr Joseph

Hello! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Aesthetic Skin in Winnetka and Chicago. This is a great question. For your concerns about a chubby face, trying masseter Botox first might be a suitable approach. This treatment can help slim the jawline by relaxing the masseter muscles, which can create a more contoured appearance without the permanence and risks associated with surgical options like buccal fat removal. Botox offers a less invasive solution, allowing you to assess how you feel about the change in your facial shape before committing to a more significant procedure. Additionally, since you've already lost weight, masseter Botox could enhance your facial definition while maintaining your overall look. If you find that the results aren’t as impactful as you hoped, you can then consider other options like buccal fat removal, which is a more permanent solution. I hope this helps and best of luck!

Including a photo is great to determine which is best for you. Chubby cheeks are truly best addressed with buccal fat removal. There's just no way around it. Masseter Botox is great for slimming the area behind the cheeks and could be a great option if you want something reversible to give you an idea of what slimming the area would look like. Keep in mind that Masseter Botox is best for clenching and grinding. So each procedure is great as long as you know what to expect and it meets your desired outcome. All the best from Boston!

Based on these photos you may have some benefit of buccal fat removal; your facial fat is distributed in many areas of the face and removal of the buccal fat may not create such an effect as you desire. I am not sure that masseter muscle (temporary) volume reduction with Botox would have such a significant effect but it may be considered. In person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon familiar with these procedures is recommended. Good luck.

When considering these two options it makes sense to begin with Botox. The treatment is nonsurgical and temporary. If you like the results, they are easily repeated. If they do not give you the look you want you can then consider other treatments such as buccal fat removal.

Dear niki1106,
Your facial fullness appears to be buccal fat pad excess. So, you might benefit from a buccal fat pad removal. However, since Botox effects are temporary, a trial of masseter reduction might be worth doing, to see if the effect is good enough to provide the look that you desire without having to do a surgery. Good luck!