Although it has been around for decades, buccal fat removal has been trending on social media in the past several months. So what exactly is buccal fat removal and why is it suddenly so popular?

The buccal fat pad lies just below the cheekbones. Since buccal fat is largely genetic, some individuals have a disproportionate amount that does not reduce with weight loss. Buccal fat removal is a procedure that removes some of this fat for more sculpted, defined cheeks. Lea Michele and Sophie Turner are among celebrities speculated to have had this procedure.

To perform buccal fat removal, a small incision is made on the inside of each cheek. The surgeon removes the appropriate amount of buccal fat then closes the incision with sutures. Recovery consists of a soft food diet for a few days and an oral antibiotic rinse to prevent infection. Swelling subsides after several weeks but it may take months before seeing the final results. Patients wanting dramatic cheekbone definition can pair this procedure with cheek implants or fillers.

This is one procedure Dr. Patel chooses not to perform at Visage Facial Plastic Surgery, as it is not an ideal procedure for most patients. It is always advised to take caution when following plastic surgery trends. Buccal fat removal is permanent and younger patients may not like the results as they age, leading to the need for fillers or midface implants later in life. Here are some of the pros and cons of buccal fat removal:

Pros:

• Results in a slimmer, sculpted looking face.
• Procedure is very quick.
• Downtime is minimal.
• Results are permanent, even with weight gain.

Cons:

• Mid-face fat loss is natural with age, so removing this fat may result in a gaunt look as you age.
• Swelling is natural for weeks after the procedure.
• Risk of asymmetry and complications (such as nerve damage, numbness, or infection) if done by inexperienced surgeon.
• Results are permanent, even with weight gain.

Dr. Anand Patel has over a decade of expertise in customized facial plastic surgery treatments for the face and neck. Visit our Treatments page for more information on all of our surgical and non-surgical treatments we offer here at Visage Facial Plastic Surgery in Brookfield, Wisconsin.