What are the benefits of Buccal Fat Removal?

Hello.

This is VIBE Plastic Surgery.

A small, slim, and well-proportioned face is a key element of a youthful appearance.

However, even if your facial structure is slim, having excessive cheek or jaw fat can make your face look larger, often leading to a ‘big face’ or ‘older’ image.

When trying to achieve a V-line, many people first think about bone shaving (contouring surgery).

But in many cases where the face appears large, the issue is not just the bone, but the flesh and fat.

That is why buccal fat removal or facial liposuction can often be more effective.

Are you unfamiliar with buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat is technically known as ‘buccal fat pads,’ which literally means ‘fat located deep within the cheeks.’

It also refers to the flesh that bulges out when you smile, regardless of changes in body weight.

The procedure to remove this specific fat is called buccal fat removal surgery.

While buccal fat removal may seem simple in terms of surgery time and incision size, it requires highly skilled and advanced surgical techniques because the area is surrounded by salivary ducts, blood vessels, and nerves.

There is a common concern that buccal fat removal causes the cheeks to look ‘sunken’ or ‘hollow.’

This is a misconception.

Of course, there are cases where this happens after surgery.

If a patient has buccal fat but also has thick jaw muscles (masseter) located behind it, removing the buccal fat alone can make the cheeks appear hollow.

Therefore, we recommend having the procedure performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive clinical experience.

‘What about scarring after buccal fat removal?’

Since buccal fat surgery is performed through an incision inside the mouth, there are no visible scars on the outside.

Furthermore, because the intraoral incision is meticulously closed using dissolvable stitches, there is very little discomfort.

While results may vary by individual, VIBE Plastic Surgery minimizes nerve damage to reduce pain and bruising.

Since there is no major disruption to daily life immediately after surgery, you do not need to worry about taking significant time off.

‘Who do we recommend buccal fat removal for?’

• Cheek fat that does not go away even with dieting
• When the side of the cheeks bulge out as if holding candy in the mouth
• When you frequently bite the inside of your cheeks while eating or chewing
• When the cheeks look saggy or protrude from the front or side, giving a ‘grumpy’ impression

Even if you do not have the symptoms above, if your facial line looks uneven or bumpy after undergoing facial contouring surgery (zygoma or jaw reduction), the remaining buccal fat may be the cause.

Because cases are so diverse, the exact location of the buccal fat must be identified for a safe surgery.

At VIBE Plastic Surgery, our representative director, a board-certified plastic surgeon, conducts pre-operative consultations using a guide developed through his own anatomical research.

A key point to remember is that even if the same amount of buccal fat is removed, the result varies depending on the individual’s face shape and skin thickness. Rather than removing as much as possible, it is best to remove an amount tailored to your specific facial line.

Also, removing buccal fat alone does not always guarantee a slim face.

If you desire a truly small and slender facial line, it may be more effective to combine buccal fat removal with facial liposuction in other areas, such as the double chin or cheekbones.

To minimize cheek hollowing, we establish an accurate surgical plan and proceed by considering the anatomical position and structure of the buccal fat.

We invite you to receive a diagnosis through a 1:1 customized consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon at VIBE Plastic Surgery to determine exactly how much fat should be removed for your face.