Does buccal fat removal really cause premature aging? (photos)

Question

I have been to plastic surgeons about buccal fat removal and they never say that it's important to have because of aging of the face. I've actually had one tell me that it's a myth and there's no use for the buccal fat. But yet I go on Realself and see some doctors advise against it because it can give a gaunt look as you get older and prematsure aging. I'm confused as to what is correct about this procedure?

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Buccal fat removal doesn't cause premature aging if the patient has good cheek bone structure.A lot of doctors that don't perform routinely this procedure ten to thing that this surgery can make the patients look old after. If that is true, patients that are already done would look older after buccal fat removal. If you see in the in my main website buccal fat removal before and afters for women, my last patient who is age 55 ("old") underwent buccal fat removal and actually she looks younger! ( so, how come she is not even more "older").The issue is the structure of the cheek bones. Cheep bones is what makes the face to look youthful since it keeps the face "lifted". With aging the cheek bone and cheek soft tissue prominence decreases, thus making the face look aged. Since the buccal fat "puffs" the face, it makes this aging less a parent. So, when a surgeon removes the buccal fat pat in a patient with poor cheek bones, of course it could potentially cause the face to look "older". Because of that, in my practice If a patient interested and candidate for buccal fat removal has poor cheek bones, he or she must enhance the cheek bones with soft tissue fillers like voluma or Radiesse (most of the time) or cheek implants.  The link bellow has one of my blog post that describes with pictures what I just said.Patients interested in buccal fat removal  should make a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon specialized in plastic surgery procedures of the face that routinely do buccal fat removal

Amit Gupta, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Thank you for asking the question.
Buccal fat tends to be a very controversial question to answer. Most of the Plastic surgeons will accept that over the years round the age of may be 50 to 55 years of age, there is definitely some amount of sagging which stays visible due to the loss of buccal fat. However, we are living in today’s age where you would like to improve your cosmetic appearance as of today. So, doing a buccal fat procedure today will improve your looks for the next 15 to 20 years and later if you find that there is some sagging then there is always treatment available for that. Therefore, the treatment option depends on your requirement. 
  
Regards, Dr. Amit Gupta

Does buccal fat removal really cause premature aging? (photos)

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