Can Buccal fat pad removal go wrong?

The bichectomy or buccal fat pad removal is a minimal invasive procedure that usually takes place in a doctor’s office (doesn´t take longer than 20 minutes). Removing this fat pad strategically gives a sharper, chiseled and more symmetric appearance. Good candidates are patients that despite losing weight or are in their normal weigh, the volume in their cheeks area is still prominent. Combining this with chin lipo has a very powerful result. This will improve your jawline making it look more chiseled. The procedure is highly bearable with local anesthesia which is injected inside the mouth at the level of the second upper molar. At this site a small puncture incision is made and it’s carefully dissected so that no neighboring structures (nerves or vessels) are damaged until the pad is found. Once the pad is found it is pulled to the oral cavity to remove it under direct vision, thus not harming any other structures. The incision heals by itself and closes by the 4-5 day, and no sutures are needed. Factors that influence results are: amount of buccal fat pad removed (average amount is 3 cc, the size of a chestnut), healing process, wound retraction, overall tissue (amount of facial muscle and skin). The results start to show after the swelling begins to fade away, usually at 1-month post op and the end results at 3 months postop. Search for a certified plastic surgeon to do this procedure that may seem not difficult but carries risks for complications. The most common complication although rare is hematoma that is related to efforts in the immediate 3 days postop. Hematoma is a self-limiting complication that besides the size of the swelling it always resolves (takes 1 week to get better). Other complications are: infection, facial nerve damage and salivary gland duct or Stenon duct.

Any elective cosmetic plastic surgery procedure including buccal fat removal can go wrong. All cosmetic procedures have risks and no surgeon can guarantee they won't happen. When choosing your buccal fat removal surgeon, it is prudent to reach for a surgeon specialized in the procedure. 

Thank you for your question. Any time you have surgery there are associated risks. Buccal fat reduction is a relatively safe procedure with a low incidence of complications. The possible complications include asymmetry, swelling, nerve injury, parotid duct injury and infection. I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns. Best of luck. 

Specifically regarding buccal fat pad removal, the things that can go wrong include asymmetry, imbalance, parotid duct injury, and nerve injury.   Overall, the procedure is quite safe (can be done under local anesthesia)  and normally results are very good.  You will need to discuss these issues in more detail with your surgeon.  Good luck!