Worse Nasolabial Folds Because of Buccal Fat Removal?

thank you for posting your question and fotos. Although a buccal fat removal should not have a direct impact onto the nasolabial fold, the reduction of the volume may contribute to an accentuation you noted. The mid volume of the cheek is less, and the natural, youthful padding is less. This happens naturally when we age. Restoring the volume of your buccal fat can be achieved with lipofilling from the inside of your mouth using a small cannula. Buccal fat removal was so hyped by social media. It can be a great solution for some, but not for all. I hope you will be able to achieve your goals together with your plastic surgeon. I put some facts & myths about this procedure in the link below. I hope this helps.

Buccal fat removal is a procedure that has no impact on the nasolabial folds or smile lines. Nasolabial folds are influenced by various factors, including the prominence of cheekbones, the bone structure around the nose, and the elasticity of facial skin. It's a common misconception among individuals undergoing facial surgery to attribute any new facial observations to their recent procedure. However, these observations often existed before surgery, only becoming more noticeable as patients pay closer attention to their appearance post-surgery.

It's essential to note that buccal fat removal doesn't exacerbate nasolabial folds. In fact, if that were the case, individuals with naturally fuller cheeks would have no nasolabial folds at all. For patients seeking improvement in their nasolabial folds, dermal fillers like Voluma and Versa offer effective solutions worth considering. These fillers can help enhance facial contours and reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds.

Hello, hope you are well. It is very unlikely that removing buccal fat would have a meaningful impact on the depth or severity of the nasolabial folds. Having said that, your concern about your appearance remains. One alternative to filler is lipotransfer (microfat grafting). It is something that should be assessed in person in consultation with a facial plastic surgeon or a provider with similar credentials. Weight loss and loss of cheek projection can also change the appearance of the cheeks and NL fold; there are very nuanced factors to consider.
Best,Dr. Tower

Hello julsleo! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Shah Facial Plastics. This is a great question. Based on the images and your concerns, injecting the areas of concern with dermal filler is definitely an option. I highly recommend scheduling an in-person consultation in order to better assess your areas of concern and discuss an appropriate treatment plan to help achieve your aesthetic goals. Our office phone number is: (312) 944-0117. I hope this helps and best of luck!