What is Buccal Fat Removal
Buccal fat removal is a procedure used to remove unwanted body fat from the cheeks. The buccal area of the face has large deposits of facial tissue that give it a soft, full, and round appearance. As this facial tissue begins to accumulate with age, it creates a visage of excess bulk which can be less than flattering on many people. Fortunately, buccal fat can be reduced or eliminated through liposuction techniques.
Buccal Fat Removal is a method of surgically removing the fat pads under the cheeks. It is also known as buccal fat pad excision, cheek reduction surgery, or submalar fat excision. There are several techniques for this procedure but all are designed to improve facial aesthetics by reducing the volume of tissues under the eyes and along the lower portion of the cheek.
One of the biggest changes in facial aesthetics over the last decade has been an increased demand for buccal fat removal. It is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures that can be performed on its own or in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures. Patients often inquire about cheek augmentation, midface lift, upper facelift, and brow lifts when they are dissatisfied with their full cheeks. Other patients request these procedures to improve their facial appearance before undergoing blepharoplasty (eye lift), facelift, neck lift, or rhytidectomy (facelift) surgeries. Buccal Fat Removal may also be combined with volume replacement to restore lost fat volume by transferring it from a source area to the face.
Buccal Fat Removal is suitable for most patients with sagging cheeks or full, baggy lower faces. Health and lifestyle are key factors when considering cheek procedures. For example, smokers who have excess buccal fat pads will not achieve the same results as non-smokers because smoking impairs normal tissue healing.
Patients should be of good health without active diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Patients must be mentally stable to avoid depression after surgery since some degree of facial aging cannot be corrected by any known treatment. Surgery should only be performed on healthy patients at an appropriate age that has been decided upon by a doctor or surgeon that specializes in this procedure. The patient must understand that no surgical procedure can completely restore their appearance. The best results are achieved by combining the procedures with a long-term commitment to proper health and nutrition, exercise, sunscreen use, skincare regimens, and avoiding tobacco products.
Multiple techniques are available for buccal fat removal. Techniques may differ based on the personal preferences of surgeons or the facial anatomy of patients. The two main surgical techniques are endoscopic (through small incisions) methods that remove the excess tissue within the cheek area which appears swollen, chubby, or full especially in certain angles visible from the front view or lateral view. Excision is performed to create a slimmer contour along the cheekbone while leaving normal anatomical structures intact during surgery so that it can be reversed later if required. Some procedures involve using a high-speed drill to remove tissue as well as a scalpel.
Buccal Fat Removal is usually performed with patients under local anesthesia so that the surgeon can test for adequate numbness. Usually, two or more small incisions are created at the corners of the mouth, inside the lower lip, and in between the upper lip and nose. A thin tube called an endoscope is inserted through one of these incisions into the cheek area allowing visual inspection of areas during surgery with magnifying lenses or cameras that send images to a monitor or glasses worn by surgeons who then proceed to remove excess tissues with surgical instruments. The endoscope is attached to light sources for illumination which enables surgeons to see details clearly during surgery instead of using magnifying lenses, which causes more radiation exposure. Anesthesia is typically administered through a small needle attached to a small flexible tube after the instruments have been inserted into the cheek area and excess tissues are removed with surgical scissors or other devices that cut and lift tissues through suction action or by scraping. If implants (such as fat grafts) are added, local anesthesia may not be required during surgery since patients remain conscious but they usually feel some discomfort.
