If not Buccal Fat Removal, then what else? (photos)

Question

Hi! I'm in my mid 20s and ever since I was young, I was bothered by how much volume is in my cheeks. I would often life up my face to reveal the slim jawline that I wish was there. On top of that, I am asian and so my weak Chin is not helping the cause. I would probably not be a good candidate for facelift, but I'm also worried that Buccal Fat Removal would hollow out my cheeks, leaving the skin around my cheeks droopy. What should I do? Thank you so much in advance.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

there are many options for this area.  Including the use of botox to slim the jaw and vaser lipo/thermiRF to tighten.  I find this works well.  In the future you will want the buccal fat and its best not to remove it or be careful doing so at a young age.  kybella can be used and has been used in my practice successfully for this with great results.  expect a lot of swelling and results take 3 months to see!  Best, Dr. Emer.

Luis A. Cenedese, MD, FACS · Answer

Options available for reduction of the cheeks other than Buccal fat removal are liposuction, injection of fat disolvers similar to Deoxycholic Acid and Botox injections to shrink the muscles over the jawbone.Please use this information when consulting in person with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The  side profile photograph demonstrates a weak and recessive profile, for which a chin implant can improve.Chin implants are composed of Silastic, and are inserted through submental approach under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. For many examples, please see the link and video below

Alex Kim, MD · Answer

I believe you are a good candidate for buccal fat pad removal, which will make the central portion of the cheek flatter.  This procedure will not make your skin to droop.  In addition, to give you more definition of the face, I would recommend chin implant placement as well.  Often, Botox is injected to the jaw area muscle to thin the muscle in the area to make the face look slimmer, however, if the Botox injection is not sufficient, you will need to have jaw bone reduction to thin and trim the jaw bones to slim the lower face.Best,

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, I have performed many facial shaping and contouring procedures for over 30 years.  From the photo, you have excess fat below and in front of the cheeks aas well as a weak chin.  These combine to create a round face.  Following the beauty principles
outlined in my book on face and body beauty, women look the most feminine,
youthful and attractive with heart shaped faces.  Heart shaped faces have cheeks
that are full and round in the front.  Cheek augmentation using a dermal filler
(I prefer Restylane Lyft) or with cheek implants for a permanent enhancement
will create full, round cheeks anteriorly that will feminize the entire face.  Liposuction, not buccal fat removal (this tends to create hollows below the cheeks that are not aesthetically pleasing), to the face will reduce the excess fat and shape the cheeks making them more round anteriorly.  A dermal filler or cheek implants can be added as needed once the excess fat has been removed.  When the chin is weak, this creates an imbalance making the nose appear
larger, the mid face top heavy and the lower face appear shorter which
de-emphasizes the shape and fullness of the lips.  Chin augmentation,
using a chin implant, will add projection to the chin creating harmony and
balance to the lower face. I have found placing a silastic chin implant through
a small, curved, incisions under the chin to be very safe, quick, highly
effective and far less invasive than a sliding genioplasty that requires bone
cuts with placement of screws and metal plates.  I have performed many facelifts, on patients in their mid to late twenties but they had evidence of jowls which are not evident in your photos.  I have included information on my minimally, invasive facelift for reference but unless you have jowls a facelift would not be recommended at this time.  If you have "jowls" this is sagging
facial tissues and an indication for some form of a facelift.  The
underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and
re-sutured.  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions
closed.

My most popular facelift is the minimally
invasive, short incision facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive
facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane and subperiosteal facelifts) but
with these added benefits:

•very small incisions

•minimal tissue dissection = less bruising and
swelling = rapid recovery

•can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or
without anesthesia

•no incisions within the hair = no hair loss

•excess fat can be removed

•excess skin removed

•cheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with
dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implants

•most patients fly back home to parts all over
the world in as little as 3 days post-op

Hope this helps.

If not Buccal Fat Removal, then what else? (photos)

Answers (5)