Get more chiseled cheeks with buccal fat removal.
Whether young or old, the naturally occurring fatty deposits in the hollows of your cheeks can create too much fullness in the lower face and drag down facial features. Our Newport Beach Buccal fat removal is one of the best ways to make a small change that dramatically improves the shape of your face without extensive surgery and recovery time. If you are unhappy with the roundness of your face, buccal fat removal expert, Dr. Kevin Sadati, can use his signature techniques to remove unwanted cheek fat to streamline your face and create an elegant look with no visible scars.
Buccal fat pad removal, also called bichectomy, removes the fat pad in the middle of the cheek through small incisions inside the mouth. This outpatient surgical procedure thins the cheeks for a more contoured and defined facial profile.
We're all born with buccal fat, but some of us don't outgrow this fatty deposit in the middle of the cheeks as we mature, resulting in a rounder, less defined face. While a naturally soft and filled-out face is considered youthful, some people feel their face appears too full or even chubby. While buccal fat removal is not recommended for those under 18 since the facial anatomy is still maturing, buccal fat pad removal can benefit those over 18 by providing better contouring and definition of facial features. In younger patients, the procedure is very effective on its own without any additional cosmetic surgery.
As we age, buccal fat can droop and cause a heavier appearance in the jowl area. Buccal fat removal is typically not recommended for older patients without additional surgery to lift and tighten the skin, but it can effectively restore definition for older patients when done along with a facelift.
As Buccal Fat Removal can cause a gaunt appearance as you age if your face is naturally thinner or narrow, during your consultation for Buccal fat removal in Newport Beach, Dr. Sadati can identify your best options for facial thinning and contouring.
During your free, private cosmetic consultation for buccal fat removal in Newport Beach with Dr. Sadati, you'll discuss your options for enhancing your look and boosting your confidence. Fill out a form or call to find out how Dr. Sadati can help you look your best!
Buccal fat removal is permanent. Once the buccal fat pad is removed to reduce excessive fullness of the lower cheeks, fat does not recur or regenerate. This is why careful, conservative planning is so important during your consultation. The buccal fat pad is deep within the cheek and separate from the more superficial fat that provides volume and contour of the youthful face. Removal of only a limited, partial amount rather than excessive resection maintains the degree of structural support and volume necessary to prevent an appearance of excessive contour loss or aging at a later age. Finally, the experienced surgeon will critically evaluate the patterns of aging for your face and determine the extent, if any, of buccal fat reduction required to achieve an aesthetically pleasing result that is appropriate for your face at both the present time and for many years in the future. To look over other contouring techniques, see the general Facelift Procedures overview.
Good candidates generally have a naturally round face, well-developed lower cheek fullness or a tendency to bite the inner cheek. Ideal candidates also are in good health, of stable weight and non-smokers because these factors influence the course of healing. Patients aged 20 to 40 generally obtain the greatest benefit, with sufficient remaining fat to permit safe, moderate reduction of volume. In older patients, the buccal fat pad is usually repositioned to its original location rather than removed to restore lost volume rather than increase the degree of reduction. Our surgeons will evaluate the pattern of facial aging and structure during your consultation to determine the most appropriate treatment for you.
Most patients who benefit from this procedure are between 20 and 40 years of age, a period when the lower face has relatively well-developed fat pads and is unlikely to experience substantial additional loss of volume with aging. The procedure is contraindicated for patients younger than 18 because facial structures are still developing and maturing, and it is difficult to predict long-term aesthetic results. In young adults with naturally full, round cheeks, buccal fat removal is generally highly effective with additional procedures like chin augmentation for facial contouring.
No external scarring is apparent. The entire procedure is accomplished with small incisions within the mouth adjacent to the second molars, and therefore no external facial deformity results. Incisions are repaired with absorbable sutures that eventually disappear.
No, general anesthesia is not required. The operation is performed with local anesthesia and with or without oral sedation to maximize comfort. Patients who refuse oral sedation can actually drive themselves home after the operation, and most patients regard the experience as less demanding than a visit to the dentist.
The procedure itself takes only about 30 minutes. Afterward, you can expect some swelling and minimal discomfort that's easily managed with prescribed medication, and most patients take just a few days off work or school. Final results can take up to two months to fully appear as the swelling resolves.
Candidate selection is critically important because aging naturally reduces facial volume. Removal of buccal fat from a naturally thin or narrow face may predispose to a gaunt appearance with time. Our careful assessment of facial structure provides a basis for recommending appropriate amounts of contouring or alternative procedures to maintain long-term aesthetic results.
No, the buccal fat pad does not grow back once it's removed. The reduction in cheek fullness is permanent. Significant weight changes can still affect your overall facial appearance, but the removed fat pad itself won't return.
Yes, and for some patients this combination is optimal. In older patients, the buccal fat pad progressively descends with time, creating an undesirable amount of fullness and heaviness along the jowls rather than along the cheeks. In these situations, rather than removing the fat, Dr. Sadati repositions the descended buccal fat to its original location during the deep plane facelift and maintain it in this position to achieve a youthful, well lifted appearance instead of eliminating volume and producing an aged, hollow appearance. Check the main surgical settings on the Preservation Facelift profile.
