Buccal Fat Removal

Introduction:

Buccal fat is the fat that is present in the hollow area beneath the cheeks. When the amount of this buccal fat is more, it gives a rounded appearance to the face and gives a baby a face-like impression. Therefore, most such types of people adopt buccal fat removal. Buccal fat pad removal is done for aesthetic recontouring of the face. This procedure highlights the cheekbones and hollowed-out area between the cheek and jawline as performed beneath the cheeks. It is also known as cheek reduction surgery. The article discusses buccal fat removal, surgical procedure, risks, and complications.

What Is Buccal Fat?

The buccal fat pad (BFP) is a rounded biconvex adipose tissue or (fat tissue) within a thin capsule. It is located in the middle third of the cheek between the facial muscles in the hollow area beneath the cheekbones. The size of the buccal fat pad affects the shape of the face. This fat tissue specializes in providing smooth gliding between muscles to enhance intermuscular motion. The function of this fat tissue is mainly in the infant stage as it helps in the suckling of milk in the infancy stage.

Thus BFP is in more volume in infants and small children, giving a rounded or baby-face appearance. As age increases, the importance of BFP gets smaller giving a narrow appearance to the face. The BFP has a vital role in facial aesthetics. If BFP is extended more buccally (towards the cheek), the patient complains of rounded cheeks, a baby face, or chubby cheeks. Therefore BFP removal is a technique to sculpt facial angles and enhance esthetics.

What Is Buccal Fat Removal?

The buccal fat present in the cheekbones helps to make up the face. Everyone has buccal fat, some may have less, and others may have more. Buccal fat removal is a surgery to remove this fat from the face. This surgery intends to remove the fat and highlights the bone structure initially, particularly cheekbones and the hollowed area between cheeks and jaw bones.

Buccal fat removal is a type of plastic surgery known as cheek reduction or buccal lipectomy. Buccal fat removal is a surgery that thins down the cheek and defines facial angles.

What Is the Surgical Procedure for Buccal Fat Removal?

Buccal fat removal is a single-day procedure, and the patient will be discharged the same day after surgery. The Buccal fat removal procedure is as follows:

• A local anesthetic is given on the face to ease the pain from surgery. The anesthetic functions in the localized area so the patient would be awake throughout the surgery. If any other facial surgery is formed along with buccal fat removal, then general anesthesia is given.

• An incision is made inside the mouth on both sides of the face in the cheek region to expose buccal fat pads.

• Pressure is placed from the outside of the cheek towards the inner side to expose the buccal fat pad.

• Then the surgeon will cut and remove the exposed fat pad.

• Finally, the incision will be closed by dissolvable sutures.

• If the incision is not closed by dissolvable sutures, the patient will be recalled for suture removal.

What to Expect After and Before Surgery?

Before Surgery:

• Before the procedure, the patient must set an appointment with a plastic surgeon.

• The surgeon will discuss the need for the treatment and what results to expect after the treatment, and a detailed case history will be taken.

• Patients must disclose their medical history, any persistent drug allergies, history of any chronic medical illness, and any supplements being taken. These will help in achieving desired results and eliminating possible risks.

• Surgeons can provide recommendations for the specific goal and discuss any risk involved.

• Patients will be advised to cut some personal habits such as drinking and smoking.

• Blood test procedures will be advised to be performed.

• Patients will be advised to stop certain medications if taking them.

• The surgeon will analyze the face and take photographs to plan the surgery.

After Surgery:

• The surgeon will instruct the patient on how to care for the stitches.

• An antiseptic or antibacterial mouth will be given to prevent infection and help in healing.

• Initial three or four days liquid diet is advised, and as the days progress diet can be slowly shifted to soft foods before returning to everyday food.

• After surgery, the face is expected to be swollen, bruised, or numb at the site of the incisions.

• All this will diminish as the body heals. It might take around full recovery.

• Usually, it takes several months to see the final result.

• During this period, it is of utmost importance to attend follow-up appointments, take proper diet and self-care

Who Is Suitable for Buccal Fat Removal Surgery?

People who are suitable for buccal fat removal surgery are as follows:

• People having rounded cheeks or fuller faces can go through this procedure of cheek reduction

• A person in good physical health and stable weight suits this procedure.

• Someone who dislikes the fullness or chubbiness in their cheeks.

• If a person has pseudogenization.

• Suppose a person is undergoing facial feminization surgery. This procedure can give better results.

• It is not recommended for a narrow face with naturally thin or sunken cheeks.

• It is not recommended for older people because natural fat loss occurs with age, and this surgery might increase the chances of wrinkle formation and signs of early aging.

What Are the Risks and Complications of Surgery?

This procedure is considered as safe though it carries some risks and complications :

• Infection at the site of incision or the suture.

• Excessive bleeding.

• Facial nerve injury.

• Salivary gland injury.

• Hematoma.

• Lockjaw.

• Excessive removal of fat.

• Numbness or loss of sensation.

• Facial asymmetry.

• Poor results.

Conclusion:

Buccal fat removal is a type of plastic surgery. The procedure reduces the cheek size by removing the buccal fat pads present in the cheek area between the cheekbone and jawline. If an individual face looks, rounded, fuller, or chubby can opt for cheek reduction surgery. This procedure gives the face a narrow and slimmer appearance by highlighting the cheekbone and jawline. The front gets a prominent and conical shape. It is a simple procedure performed chiefly under local anesthesia, and the patient can be discharged on the same day. However, complete recovery might take up to three weeks, and attending follow-up appointments. Taking good care after surgery is very important.