What procedure(s) would make my face less round? (Photo)

Question

Hello, I have always had a round face. I am wondering what would help most to make my face more oval. Thanks

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Patients with round faces, secondary to chubby cheeks, that also have great prominent high cheek bones could benefit from buccal fat removal to achieve a thinner more sculpted, chiseled, v-shape facial look. 
Buccal fat removal is routinely performed in my practice under local anesthesia as an office outpatient procedure.  The downtime is usually minimal and the results are long lasting. The video below helps to understand who could be a candidate for buccal fat removal.

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

Miguel Mascaro, MD · Answer

Thank you for your picture! In order to "slim" the face, we need to discuss how contouring works.  In essence, these procedures should look to achieve light in the right places of your face, and shadows in the appropriate places as well - much like what is done with make up.  buccal fat and botox to the masseter muscles is something that will provide that contour in the area where you want it - it will give a slight shadow such that it helps delineate the jawline and brings out the cheeks.  Realistically the best way to determine whether you'd be a good candidate or not would be with a full exam, however looking at the picture it looks as though this may be a reasonable option for you.  I hope this helps!

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

Lawrence Scott Ennis, MD, FACS · Answer

The buccal fat pads are an often-overlooked portion of the facial aging process.  The buccal fat pads naturally sit in the upper portion of the cheek and are designed to help us suckle as an infant.  As we get older, the buccal fat pad descends into the jowl, giving the face a tired look.  I often see patients from outside facilities who have had a facelift and they present stating “their jowls are back.”  Typically, in these patients, the jawline still looks nice, but they have the “chipmunk cheeks” or what appears to be a “walnut” in their jaw, which is this buccal fat pad. 
Removal in a young person can be done in the right person but in the wrong person can cause early hollowing of the cheeks.

This can be identified by pushing up on this small area just above the jawline and then releasing.  The skin will fall rapidly back into place, but you will typically see the fat pad descend back into the jowl slowly over 2- or 3-seconds as it refills this area.  This is indicative of a sliding buccal fat pad.
These are removed through a small incision inside the mouth.  Recovery is typically quick with minimal bruising.
Dr L Scott Ennis, Md FACS
Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Miami, Fl

Michael J. Yaremchuk, MD (license resigned) · Answer

Thank you for your question. While additional views of your face would be helpful to get a better appreciation of your jaw and mid face contour, you may be a candidate for buccal fat removal. This would provide improvement in your cheek definition, creating a slight hollow in your cheeks. The trade off of this procedure is that in some faces, it can make the cheeks too hollow with age, and so it must be done cautiously. In other cases, lengthening the vertical height of the face with jaw implants can make it less round-appearing. However, additional views of your profile would help determine if this would be of benefit to you. To determine the best option for you, a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon would be a good starting point.

Amit Gupta, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

You are an excellent candidate for the type of procedures that you desire. In my opinion the best procedures for you would be to do Botox for your jaws, to reduce the width of the face - buccal fat surgery, Neck liposuction, a bit of cheek liposuction using razor and a slight Chin augmentation with fillers and that will totally transform your face into a chiseled like  the kind that you are looking for.

What procedure(s) would make my face less round? (Photo)

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