Procedures - Buccal Fat Excision

Buccal Fat Excision

IN WETHERSFIELD, CT

Buccal fat excision is a simple but powerful technique to bring balance to the face and help enhance both the cheeks and the jawline. It can be done in isolation or used to enhance other procedures.

Why a buccal fat excision?

Buccal fat excision addresses a unique issue. It is used to reduce the fullness in the lower cheeks, sometimes referred to as chipmunk cheeks. There is not a good non-surgical option to treat this area.
Buccal fat excision can be done as a quick, in-office procedure when done alone. It can also be done in conjunction with the deep plane facelift, deep neck lift, and chin implant to enhance those results.
While most of the fat in our body fluctuates with age, diet, and activity level, the buccal fat pad remains relatively stable. Results are typically maintained over time.

What is the buccal fat pad?

The buccal fat pad is an internal fat pad in the lower part of the cheek. It exists below the cheek bone itself and in front of the masseter muscle. In some people the buccal fat pad is enlarged, leading to fullness in the lower central cheek, often referred to as chipmunk cheeks. This fat pad is there to help the muscles of chewing glide with movement, but excess fat in this area does not serve any functional purpose. By performing a buccal fat excision, we are able to remove the excess fat that contributes to the lower cheek fullness. This enhances the upper cheek and cheek bone while creating a beautiful transition into the jawline area. You can think of this procedure as a surgical way of creating the same effect as cheek bronzer.

What is the buccal fat pad?

The buccal fat pad is an internal fat pad in the lower part of the cheek. It exists below the cheek bone itself and in front of the masseter muscle. In some people the buccal fat pad is enlarged, leading to fullness in the lower central cheek, often referred to as chipmunk cheeks. This fat pad is there to help the muscles of chewing glide with movement, but excess fat in this area does not serve any functional purpose. By performing a buccal fat excision, we are able to remove the excess fat that contributes to the lower cheek fullness. This enhances the upper cheek and cheek bone while creating a beautiful transition into the jawline area. You can think of this procedure as a surgical way of creating the same effect as cheek bronzer.

A minimally invasive, in-office procedure

Buccal fat excision is a quick, in-office procedure. After placing numbing medicine, a small incision is made within the mouth on the inside of each cheek. This leads directly into the buccal fat space and the excess fat is gently teased free and removed. A small absorbable stitch will be used to close the incisions. There is some swelling after the procedure, similar to what would be seen after having wisdom teeth removed, and this usually resolves in one week. You will typically begin seeing the definition in the area 6-8 weeks after the procedure.

A minimally invasive, in-office procedure

Buccal fat excision is a quick, in-office procedure. After placing numbing medicine, a small incision is made within the mouth on the inside of each cheek. This leads directly into the buccal fat space and the excess fat is gently teased free and removed. A small absorbable stitch will be used to close the incisions. There is some swelling after the procedure, similar to what would be seen after having wisdom teeth removed, and this usually resolves in one week. You will typically begin seeing the definition in the area 6-8 weeks after the procedure.

Know before you go

While buccal fat excision is an easy, in-office procedure, we always want to ensure that our patients are fully prepared for their treatment. After inquiring you should expect:

A phone consultation with Erin, our patient care coordinator specialist. During this consultation she will learn more about you and your areas of concern. She will review your options in detail, including technique, downtime, and costs. Together you will decide if we feel like a good fit, and assuming we do, she will schedule you for an in person consultation.
Your in person consultation will include a comprehensive exam of your areas of concerns and an in depth discussion about the buccal fat excision procedure and post-procedure course. We will review your unique needs and together create the perfect plan for you.
We try to make scheduling a breeze and we'll go over all the logistics of getting you your perfect date. We encourage you to bring your calendar and potential dates that work well for you. A 20% fully refundable deposit is all that is needed to secure your procedure.
We always meet one additional time before surgery for a pre-operative visit. We go over the post-operative course again in detail. You will be given a post-operative care kit containing everything you will need for your post-surgical care. We will take pre-operative photographs and go through all the surgical consents. We utilize this time to make sure you are 100% prepared for your surgical journey.

Post Surgical Course

The post-procedure course for buccal fat excision is very straight forward. You can expect:

The downtime is typically 1 week for most patients. After this time the average person should have no idea that you had anything done. Any obvious swelling has typically resolved by that point.
Buccal fat excision is not a particularly uncomfortable procedure. Patients only require Tylenol or ibuprofen for any mild discomfort.
We recommend avoiding nuts and seeds in the diet for the first week after the procedure while the incisions are healing.
We closely follow all of our patients through their post-surgical course. We typically see buccal fat excision patients at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. During each of these visits we are carefully inspecting all aspects of the surgery and ensure the best possible results.

Does a buccal fat excision cause long term aging issues?

This isaquestion that is often debated by the experts. Our belief is that removing an appropriate amount ofbuccalfatshould have nolongtermimpact on theagingprocess.Buccalfatdoesnot fade over time like other facial fat. If an appropriate volume is established during the procedure, it should remain that way throughout life.

Is a buccal fat excision painful?

Buccal fat excision is a comfortable procedure overall. Typically the most uncomfortable part. is the application of the numbing medicine. Afterward most patients only have a mild soreness for a few days.

Where are the incisions for a buccal fat excision?

The incisions for a buccal fat excision are hidden within the mouth. They are placed along the inner aspect of the cheek at the back of the mouth. There are no external scars with buccal fat excision.

What is the downtime with a buccal fat excision?

For most patients your cheeks are swollen for around one week, similar to if you had your wisdom teeth removed. After one week you should look normal to the average person. The area where the fat was removed takes about 6-8 weeks to start showing the new definition in that area. Final results are present 6 months after the procedure.

Karter Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery

249 Main St
Wethersfield, CT 06109

Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm
Friday 8:00am to 3:00pm

Contact Us
karterplasticsurgery@gmail.com
(860) 775-5595

Start your surgical journey

A free consultation with Erin, our Patient Care Coordinator, is the first step along your surgical journey. Appointments are available either online or in person; please note your preference when requesting an appointment. Appointment days and times will be confirmed via a phone call. If you cannot find a day or time that works for you, please reach out to our office directly at 860-775-5595. Consultations with Dr. Karter will be scheduled during this initial meeting.