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POSTED UNDER Buccal Fat Removal REVIEWS

28 Year Old with Chubby Cheeks! - Houston, TX

ORIGINAL POST

So I finally DID it, yesterday was the BIG DAY!!!...

luckymomma
$2,500
So I finally DID it, yesterday was the BIG DAY!!! Buccal fat pads are out!
I've had chubby cheeks my entire life, and I've always wanted to get rid of them. Im 5'3" and 120lbs at my heaviest, so weight was not the issue, is more of a family gene on my dad's side.
So, this was my experience so far...
I decided to have local anesthesia (save my self some $$$), I arrived at the surgical center at 5:45am and was on the operating room by 6:15. They cleanup my face and mouth, and cover me with warm towels. At around 6:30 Dr. Vitenas walked in asked me to open my mouth and the "fun" part started... He injected the anesthesia on both sides (it stings a little), then he began working on my left side (I could feel the pulling and twisting but not pain), the fat pad came out fairly quickly (5 min maybe!). Then he moved to my right side, not so lucky with this one! Again I could feel pulling, twisting, pushing but he couldn't get it out, this time I felt pain on a couple of times, so I moaned to let him know, he struggled for a while before he decided to make another incision, I started getting really scared my mouth was literally shaking, then it finally came out, that side took around 20min but it felt like forever.
I drove myself home and after 2 hours from surgery I could feel pain on my right side, it felt like a bad tooth pain, took a couple pain killers and went to sleep.
Then around 3pm I made the mistake of taking pain killers without nothing on my stomach (BIG MISTAKE), I started feeling nauseous, and then everything came out (important detail because), as I was throwing up I felt a lot of pressure on my right cheek, it swelled like crazy, i looked like I have a baseball in my mouth. We called the doctor and send him a picture, and he asked us to go back to the hospital (He was also out of the office and drove back to meet me). Then depression hit in, not knowing was was wrong and what would happen next, I cried on my way there and when I arrived and Stephanie (the nurse) told me that everything ready to take me back into the operation room to drain me, I started crying again (yes, I'm a crying baby). Then Dr. Vitenas walked into the room, looked at my face, touch it, and said "You're fine, is nothing, just swelling, not need to drain", he explained how throwing up caused my face to swell, and send me back home. They were great, so compassionate and understanding!
So I'm still swelling as much and been using ice packs to help. As far as pain, I haven't take anything today, and it only hurts if I touch my right cheek. I still can't eat solids as is very hard to chew and brushing my teeth is just as hard, specially my top molars and forget about the tongue, I can't open my mouth wide enough for the toothbrush to reach the back of it.

luckymomma's provider

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

4.6 | 196 Reviews
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Replies (8)

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August 14, 2015

Wow, thank you for sharing your experience! Cry baby? No way! Sounds to me like you came through the worst of it like a trooper!

 I'm so glad you are on the mend - how long does the doctor expect you're swelling to last?

August 16, 2015
Thank you RealSelfChris!
He said that the "awful" swelling on my right cheek should start dissolving in a couple of days. And it can take weeks, maybe months to completely dissolve :/
August 15, 2015
Oh my goodness, Im so glad I logged on to read about your experience! Please keep me posted, I am following you/with you 100%! I have my consult booked for next week! Happy for you! The recovery is the worst part, because all you have are doubts! That's with any plastic surgery experience.
August 16, 2015
Thank you lanalang83!
Good luck to you, let us know how it goes ;)
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August 15, 2015
Thanks for all the details.....it is super helpfull for those of us who are looking into getting this procedure done. I hope you have a GREAT recovery! Keep us posted ;)
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August 17, 2015
Thank you, this is extremely helpful.
August 19, 2015
Thank you for the posting. I am curious to see the "after" picture when all the swelling is gone. How much did you have to pay for the whole procedure? Will follow your posts :)
UPDATED FROM luckymomma
3 days post

3 Days Post Op... And some bruises.

luckymomma
It's only been 3 days but I'm very anxious for my face to look (at least) back to "normal".
The swelling is going down slowly but surely, but today I woke up with bruises on both sides, it's not very noticeable (probably some make up will cover them up), but you can see it if you get close. I'm not surprised because I bruise very easily, I just didn't expect it 3 days later (probably it was there before and it's just getting darker now). I'm a stay home mom so I haven't gone out AT ALL, since my husband has been joking around, calling me "Popeye"! I would however recommend to all of you who work, to take a few days off maybe the weekend at least.
As far as pain... I haven't take ANY painkillers and/or tylenol, and I'm pain free! I started solid foods yesterday (tender meats only), I have to chew really slowly, since it's still hard to do so. Brushing my back/top molars and tongue is still really hard (still can't open wide). Oh! And it hurts to laugh too :)
And btw, the doctor's office has called every day to check on me, they've been great!

Replies (2)

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August 16, 2015
Don't worry, swelling is normal.. it's still too early. You'll be swollen for a while but it will go down and you'll be happy. I had a lower eyelid surgery where they took out tiny fat pads from under my eyes and I was very swollen and bruised, but in a couple of weeks it was all gone and it's all good now. Just remember those fat pads that came out, there has to be a huge difference. I wish you all the best and thank you for posting.
August 17, 2015
please keep up the posts! I am like a squirrel myself and want to get this op:(
UPDATED FROM luckymomma
6 days post

Day 6 :(

luckymomma
Yesterday (as the swelling is subsiding) I noticed a hard lump in my right cheek, it's about the size of a pecan and located exactly where the bruises are. Today (the lump) is a little bit painful, once again it feels like a toothache, and the pain increases if I do too much.
Also, while I was brushing my teeth (maybe to rough), I noticed my right cheek swelling up, then I stopped and it went back down.
I have my first follow up appmt tomorrow, and I will update.

Replies (4)

August 20, 2015
What happened with the lump? Hope it was just swelling. keep us updated lucky momma
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August 20, 2015
so exited for you
i did buccal fat removal to (i will right review soon) i also have swollen in right cheek more than other one
waiting for your result
August 27, 2015
I had a lump inside my right cheek too, if you squish it all that's inside will come out, it might fill up again but it will just be getting smaller and smaller. I need to update my review too since I did get it with the same surgeon.
August 28, 2015
I just tried squishing it, but it doesn't have any give, it feels more like hard tissue, but it's gotten smaller. Thanks for the tip anyways!
How are you liking your results? I've been following you... Hope you can update us soon!