Can just a small amount of the Buccal Fat Pad be removed?

Yes, buccal fat pads can be reduced instead of complete removal. Depending on the patient's anatomy and goals, the right amount of buccal fat to be removed can be measured and removed accordingly.Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Yes, buccal fat removal can be partially removed. Most of the time the entire buccal fat is removed since the patient usually have big chubby cheeks. However, in patients with less prominent cheeks that would like to have amore sculpted, V shape, chiseled face, partial buccal fat removal could be performed. Patients interested in buccal fat removal  should make a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon specialized in plastic surgery procedures of the face

Great question, and one that I often bring up to my patients who are interested in the procedure.  What you are getting at is the crux of the issue - meaning not every patient is the same, and therefore, not every patient needs to have the same amount of tissue removed in order to attain results that will give them the best outcome.  So in essence, yes, buccal fat pad reduction is personalized.  Now, during examination, it can be determined just how aggressive one should and should not be, and whether or not that will yield what you are looking for.  Sometimes its surprising to patients how little they need removed to make the impact they want.  Other times they want such a dramatic sculpting change that it simply can't be done by removing all of the fat pads themselves.  Anyways, I hope this helps answer your question and guides you as you go on your consultations.  Best of luck!