Facial Plastic Surgery

Beverly Hills

Enhancing Facial Aesthetics With Buccal Fat Removal

Buccal fat removal can sculpt and streamline the cheeks, creating a leaner facial shape and more pleasing to the eye. This procedure has among the highest rates of patient satisfaction, as clients who undergo it experience a surge in self-confidence.

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What is Buccal Fat Removal?

Buccal fat pads in the cheeks may cause self-consciousness if they are too pronounced or they protrude too much. This condition can make the client appear chubby, even when the rest of the body is slim and toned. It can also cause a “babyface,” which can be embarrassing for those wishing to maintain a more professional appearance. With a bichectomy, the cheeks can attain a more chiseled, slender look, which in turn draws the gaze towards the eyes and the smile.

What are Some Ways That People Have Tried to Get Rid of Face Fat?

If you have tried to get rid of face fat on your own, you are not alone. There are multiple myths out there about how you can achieve a slimmer, more chiseled facial shape. Some people believe that limiting their diet and prohibiting carbohydrates can help, while others try to do facial exercises that they think will build muscle tone in the mid face.

Sadly, none of these methods produce viable results, and you may end up feeling more disappointed than you were before with your appearance. Only surgical buccal fat pad removal performed by a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Lee can help slim the face and create that slender aesthetic you are seeking.

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How is Buccal Fat Pad Removal Performed?

Your surgeon will first use a surgical pen to mark the areas on your lower cheeks where fat will be extracted. You will be numbed with an injection inside your mouth similar to those employed during dental treatment. A small incision is then made inside the cheek, where it is completely hidden from view. The doctor will gently extract the buccal fat pad and trim it using a surgical device. Incisions are then closed, and your sutures will dissolve over the course of several weeks.

What are the Benefits of Buccal Fat Reduction?

  • A leaner, more chiseled facial appearance
  • Reduction in excessive facial fat
  • Improved definition in the cheeks and mid-face
  • Enhanced confidence and satisfaction with one's image
  • A more mature-looking countenance

Before & After

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Who is a Good Candidate for Bichectomy?

If you are frustrated by a lower face that appears too bloated or full, you might be a good candidate for buccal fat removal in Beverly Hills with Dr. Lee. This procedure can contour your cheeks and create a mid face appearance that is attractive and balanced.

If you were teased as a child for having “chipmunk cheeks,” then buccal fat pad removal might be an excellent solution for your concerns. The best way to determine your candidacy is to meet with Dr. Lee for a private consultation at her office. Good candidates for surgery are healthy, both emotionally and physically, and they have realistic expectations for what the treatment can achieve.

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What can I Expect After my Procedure?

While swelling is normal after your surgery, you can mitigate this side effect with simple over-the-counter pain medications or the application of an ice pack. The doctor will also give you prescriptions for painkillers and antibiotics. Bruising is typically minor, but it fades quickly. You must sleep with your head elevated so that the cheek area is raised above the heart for several nights after your surgery.

You will need to eat soft foods such as soups and smoothies for the first 24 hours after your treatment, and you will want to avoid hard or crunchy foods for at least two to three days. After about one week, most patients find they feel well enough to return to work and their normal duties. You should abstain from heavy lifting and other strenuous exercises for at least 2 weeks.

How Much Does Buccal Fat Pad Removal Cost?

The cost for surgery will vary from patient to patient, depending on various factors, including age, overall health, weight, and the amount of fat in the mid-face. The procedure’s average fee is between $3,000 and $8,000 and will include facility fees, surgeons fees, anesthesia fees, and post-surgical garment fees.

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Why choose Dr. Lee for buccal fat pad removal?

Dr. Lee is a board-certified surgeon on staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, among other prestigious institutions.

After graduating from Stanford University with honors, Dr. Lee received the elite Dinkelspiel Award at Stanford University for her “outstanding intellectual organizational and leadership skills.”

Dr. Lee obtained her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine, after which she completed a demanding residency at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. She also served as Chief Resident in Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Lee then further honed her skills and talent by pursuing a world-class Fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Center for Facial and Nasal Surgery.

Because her career has been exclusively focused on face and neck procedures, Dr. Lee is an ideal choice for performing your buccal fat pad removal treatment. She has an artistic eye for balance and harmony, knowing how to trim just the right amount of fat so that your outcome appears natural and unforced. Call Dr. Lee today to find out if bichectomy is the correct procedure for your needs.

Buccal Fat FAQ

What are buccal fat pads?

Does buccal face fat ever come back?

How much does face fat reduction cost?

Is buccal fat pad removal painful?

Is the surgery safe?

What should I eat after buccal fat pad removal?

Can liposuction be used to contour the cheeks?

Do I need buccal fat pad removal?

Are my results permanent?

What are buccal fat pads?

The pockets of face fat located in the cheeks are called buccal (buh-kle) pads. These areas tend to slim down as a person ages, but in certain cases, genetics have resulted in fat pads that are too large, making the patient look chubby or like a “baby.” Disproportionately large buccal pads can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance, but with bichectomy, the face can take on a more chiseled, slender shape.

Does buccal face fat ever come back?

No, it does not. Buccal fat removal provides long-lasting, sustainable results. Your cheeks will remain slim and tapered, even if you gain weight in your body overall.

How much does face fat reduction cost?

The procedure will incur surgeon’s fees, facility fees, anesthesia fees, and postoperative garment fees, to name a few. Since buccal fat pad reduction is considered a cosmetic procedure with no medical necessity, it is not usually covered by an insurance carrier. The typical cost ranges from $4,500 and up. We will offer you a personalized and detailed quote for services at the time of your consultation with Dr. Lee in Los Angeles.

In general, cost should not be the leading factor in your decision to choose one surgeon over another. If you try to save money by hiring someone unskilled, you may end up paying more overall when you have to undergo a revision procedure down the line.

Is buccal fat pad removal painful?

The surgery is performed with general anesthesia or IV sedation and local anesthesia so that you will be completely comfortable during your treatment. After your surgery, the doctor will provide you with the appropriate painkiller prescriptions to deal with any tenderness, swelling, or bruising. These side effects will diminish within several days, with the majority of swelling disappearing after the first week.

Is the surgery safe?

Dr. Lee does her best to ensure the utmost safety for your procedure. However, there are always risks present any time a cosmetic treatment is performed. Possible risks include bleeding, infection, numbness, anesthesia risks, and others. Buccal fat pad removal is not suggested for those clients who already have a slender facial shape, as the surgery may make you look gaunt. However, if you do have “chipmunk cheeks,” nothing short of buccal fat pad removal will do the trick in terms of streamlining your cheeks.

What should I eat after buccal fat pad removal?

Your incisions will be on the inside of your cheeks, so it’s best to avoid sharp, hard, or chewy foods like chips, candy, or gum. Focus on soft foods such as mashed potatoes, soups, smoothies, and the like. As you heal, you can gradually reintroduce raw veggies and crunchy items.

Can liposuction be used to contour the cheeks?

Buccal fat does not function like regular fat, so it cannot be removed through traditional liposuction. Its location deep within the mid face makes it difficult to reach without surgical excision. Fat can be trimmed from beneath the chin, in the neck, or the jowls using lipo, and when performed in tandem with buccal fat pad removal, it is typically called a V-contour procedure.

Do I need buccal fat pad removal?

The choice to undergo buccal fat pad removal is a personal decision you should make only after considering the pros and cons and meeting in private with Dr. Lee to discuss your unique concerns. It is a purely cosmetic procedure with no medical benefit. You might consider the high cost of your unhappiness with your appearance in terms of quality of life when weighing the advantages and disadvantages of removing face fat. Never undergo cosmetic treatments to please someone else. However, if you truly feel you can benefit, there is no reason not to move forward with your aesthetic goals.

Are my results permanent?

As long as you maintain a healthy weight by eating right and following an exercise regimen, your buccal fat pad removal results will last a lifetime. Gaining over 20 pounds, however, might cause your cheeks to bulge slightly. For this reason, it’s important that you undergo surgery only once you feel you are at a stable, realistic weight for your body.

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