About 2.5 months ago I had zygoma and jaw reduction in Korea. Part of the surgery was buccal fat removal. I asked the doctor to do it conservatively. Now my cheeks look puffy and I keep biting inside my cheek.Can the doctor control how much fat is removed? Are revisions normal?.I have a big event in a month, and a local doctor (to which I did not tell the Korea story) just looking at me the first thing he suggested is the buccal fat removal. I have scheduled the procedure 2 weeks b4 my event.
September 18, 2011
Answer: Buccal Fat Removal
Sorry to hear about your experience, but unfortunately you are not alone. The first thing is to make sure you find a board certified specialist in the face who can help you. After you have identified this person, it is important to give him/her full disclosure as to what surgery you have already had done. In buccal fat removal, the amount of fat can removed can be somewhat controlled by the surgeon to ensure equal amounts are being removed. I too am concerned that you are planning to do this only 2 weeks prior to an important event. I would recommend that you perform this well in advance of your event to allow the maximum time for recovery.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 18, 2011
Answer: Buccal Fat Removal
Sorry to hear about your experience, but unfortunately you are not alone. The first thing is to make sure you find a board certified specialist in the face who can help you. After you have identified this person, it is important to give him/her full disclosure as to what surgery you have already had done. In buccal fat removal, the amount of fat can removed can be somewhat controlled by the surgeon to ensure equal amounts are being removed. I too am concerned that you are planning to do this only 2 weeks prior to an important event. I would recommend that you perform this well in advance of your event to allow the maximum time for recovery.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 9, 2011
Answer: Buccal Fat Removal: Reliability and Recovery
When Buccal Fat Removal is performed by an experienced surgeon, the amount of excised fat can be satisfactorily controlled. This means that equal amounts of fat can be removed from each cheek, and the surgeon can limit the quantity of fat to an amount he believes suitable for the patient's wishes.
I'm concerned, however, about your expectations. You stated:
"I have a big event in a month, and a local doctor (to which I did not tell the Korea story) just looking at me the first thing he suggested is the buccal fat removal. I have scheduled the procedure 2 weeks b4 my event"
The amount of recovery time you're anticipating prior to your "event" is very short, in my opinion. At best, your cheeks will be sufficiently healed that you'll not have any discomfort or obvious signs of surgery. At worst, you may have both discomfort as well as excess swelling, discoloration and imbalanced appearance (if healing is unusually delayed since this is your second procedure).
More importantly, you should really inform your doctor of your prior surgery. This is important information, because your current puffiness may have little to do with excess buccal fat. At just 2 1/2 months after your jaw surgery, your puffy cheeks may very well be nothing more than swelling from your first procedure.
I would be much more comfortable if you had not only fully informed your new doctor but if you had also allowed 6 or more weeks for secondary surgical recovery. Proceeding, as scheduled, with your present plan may be a bad idea!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 9, 2011
Answer: Buccal Fat Removal: Reliability and Recovery
When Buccal Fat Removal is performed by an experienced surgeon, the amount of excised fat can be satisfactorily controlled. This means that equal amounts of fat can be removed from each cheek, and the surgeon can limit the quantity of fat to an amount he believes suitable for the patient's wishes.
I'm concerned, however, about your expectations. You stated:
"I have a big event in a month, and a local doctor (to which I did not tell the Korea story) just looking at me the first thing he suggested is the buccal fat removal. I have scheduled the procedure 2 weeks b4 my event"
The amount of recovery time you're anticipating prior to your "event" is very short, in my opinion. At best, your cheeks will be sufficiently healed that you'll not have any discomfort or obvious signs of surgery. At worst, you may have both discomfort as well as excess swelling, discoloration and imbalanced appearance (if healing is unusually delayed since this is your second procedure).
More importantly, you should really inform your doctor of your prior surgery. This is important information, because your current puffiness may have little to do with excess buccal fat. At just 2 1/2 months after your jaw surgery, your puffy cheeks may very well be nothing more than swelling from your first procedure.
I would be much more comfortable if you had not only fully informed your new doctor but if you had also allowed 6 or more weeks for secondary surgical recovery. Proceeding, as scheduled, with your present plan may be a bad idea!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful