Does bichectomy make you look older/age faster? (Photo)

Question

Hi, I did the bichectomy 7 months ago and I'm 23, I'm so happy with the results but I don't want to age bad. I used to have chipmunk face and still having my cheekbones. But what I heard is when I turn 30 I'm gonna age faster because we need that fat. 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

John Mesa, MD · Answer

Bichectomy ( aka buccal fat removal ) could make your look older/faster depending on the cheek bones.People believe the youthfulness of the face depends on the fullness of the lower cheeks ( chubby cheeks). Therefore it is obvious to think that if bichectomy is performed, people would look old or age. The truth is that it all depends on the cheek bones. It is the cheek bones rather than the buccal fat pads the key to a youthful face look with increasing with age. Patients who undergo bichectomy and have good prominent high cheek bones like celebrities and models they all look youthful after their 30s. However, if a patient (in the 20s) gets a bichecomy and has poor cheek bones, as soon as the normal aging process starts in the 30a, that patient will start looking aged. That's why in my practice I highly recommend to enhance the cheek bones in patients seeeking buccal fat removal and have weak or non-prominent cheek bones.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Well-performed buccal fat excision should not make you appear older. 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 you picture, it 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.

Does bichectomy make you look older/age faster? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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