Would buccal fat removal be a good procedure for me? (Photo)

Question

Hello doctors, based on the provided photos, would buccal fat removal be a good procedure for me? Am I a good candidate, I would like to have that high cheekbones, hollowed cheek look. Would getting braces be a good idea before or after the fat removal? Also, would it cause worse facial asymmetry? Or would cheek implants be a good idea to achieve the look, I feel as though my cheeks are flat. Thank you.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Treatment of ‘chubby cheeks’ cannot be achieved alone with buccal fat pad removal; a fact that I encounter time and time again when seeing patients in consultation for lower facial sculpting. My approach is to use a combined protocol that redefines aesthetic contours of the face. This includes the following: 
  
 
  
Buccal Fat Pad Removal 
  Non-surgical Muscle-Fascia Tightening
  Venus Legacy or Venus Viva
  Ultherapy
  Submental Liposuction or Coolsculpting
   
  
The combined approach is ideal. Buccal fat pad removal is a exceptional procedure that can remove excess fat from the cheek pads. Using an intraoral approach, a small incision is carried through the mucosa to remove a small fat pad within the cheek. Closure of the incisions is minimal with an absorbable suture and patients will experience some swelling post-operatively. We use SwellX tablets post treatment. Once healed, the contour of the cheek is improved and we begin Non-invasive tissue tightening to further enhance results. 
  
 
  
Best, 
  
Dr. Karamanoukian
  
Realself100 Surgeon

Benjamin Caughlin, MD, FACS - Account Suspended · Answer

You have many options. It is all about fat (or volume) in the right places. In addition to facial cosmetic surgery I do feminization procedures in the transgender population and it applies to all sexes and orientations really. The key is Hot is HOT! Buccal fat removal and/or manipulation can be a great and transformational procedure in the right patient.  Oftentimes fat transfer or filler injection in conjunction with this procedure is able to give a more “ideal” high cheekbone look. This can make a significant difference in patients as a combo. We are able to create shadows and sharpness where you want it. It may seem counterintuitive to add fat when you say your problem is chubby cheeks but what we do is add volume to the highest and most projected point of the cheek bone and taper it to the lower face. This helps to create a shadow just under the malar area.  This is especially helpful in thin patients and in combination with buccal fat pad removal is a powerful maneuver. Liposuction of the jawline and sculpting is also helpful in some patients. It really depends on your specific anatomy. All of this can be done in clinic with some calming medications and local anesthesia.
I recommend getting a consult with a surgeon who does this procedure frequently to get a full facial analysis to make sure your specific goals are addressed.
Hope this helps.
Best of luck.
DrC

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Patients that have hight cheek bones and would like a hollowed cheek look ( like the fashion / magazine male models) are excellent candidates for buccal fat removal. In this cases, in order to achieve the hollowed look all the buccal fat removal should be removed during the procedure. If traditional braces (either metallic or ceramic ones) are going o be placed on the patient, ideally buccal fat removal should be done before the braces are placed. This makes the surgery easier and makes recovery faster. However if invisiline braces are going to be placed, this type of braces are not a problem.There are many causes of facial asymmetry. Sometimes they are caused by small differences in the position of the chin the size of one side of the chin compared with the other side. Sometimes is secondary to small differences to the size of the cheek bones. Very often, these type of small bony tissue asymmetries could be easily improved with soft tissue filler like Voluma. The video below helps to understand who could be a candidate for buccal fat removal.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Buccal fat excision is an appropriate surgical procedure for patients that of overly full and wide cheek areas. In common terms, it is good for patients who have chipmunk cheeks. In reviewing your pictures, is difficult to tell if you're a good candidate because your cheek area is slightly full but not overly full.  You are a patient that would need an in person consultation for a complete evaluation and explanation of the positives and negatives of this procedure in your situation. I hope this helps.

Joseph M. Pober, MD, FACS - Account Suspended · Answer

Buccal fat pad removal is a good procedure for permanent contour of the face. Some  patients maybe able to achieve this look without surgery by using Radiesse to build up their cheek bones . This is a non-invasive option with little to no downtime  It is completely normal and natural to have asymmetry of the face and or body. Please see you Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

Would buccal fat removal be a good procedure for me? (Photo)

Answers (5)

More Buccal Fat Removal Questions

Approximately how long does it take for sutures to dissolve after buccal fat removal?

Slimming face/buccal fat removal. What injections are the best to fix the issue? (photos)

Masseter reduction and buccal fat pad removal to help make my face more heart shape?

Going on a vacation 2 weeks after bichectomy?

Hardened lump in left cheek after Buccal fat removal, will massaging help?

I fear losing my dimples. Is it possible to undergo this procedure while retaining my dimples with a more slender face?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS