Buccal fat is a discreet dumbbell shaped mass of fat that is found between two muscles in the cheeks. Removal of buccal fat creates a more narrow and chiseled appearance to the face. Although a face that is naturally soft and filled out is considered youthful, some people find their face too full, even chubby, and they cannot affect it with diet or exercise. This surgery gives the appearance of higher cheek and a more chiseled appearance.
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THE PROCEDURE
Incisions are made inside the mouth so there is no scarring. Dr. Frankel targets specific fat pads which are dissected out of their compartment within the cheek then carefully removed. This operation is not typically painful and can be done under local anesthesia or under anesthesia if the patient prefers.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The operation usually takes less than one hour and can be done with the patient awake under local anesthesia. The recovery from buccal fat removal is quick and well tolerated. The full results won’t become apparent for approximately four months.
DR. FRANKEL’S NOTES
“I have been performing buccal fat removal for 23 years. I have always considered it helpful for a select group of patients only, and not for everyone that has a round face.
Because it’s easy to perform and video for social media, buccal fat removal has become popular and many people who are not good candidates are having it done. There are potential down sides to removing the fat and each patient should be counseled by their surgeon before deciding to have this done.”
– Andrew Frankel, M.D.
Before and after
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
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Preparation & Expectations
Preparation
If you are having buccal fat removal as a stand alone procedure under local anesthesia, there is very little preoperative preparation required. If you are having anesthesia for your procedure then the office will provide specific instructions. Other than a list of medications and supplements to avoid there is little preparation necessary.
Length of surgery
This procedure takes between 20 and 45 minutes to complete.
Recovery time
Recovery is usually very quick with little bruising or pain. Swelling might be noticeable for two weeks. There are no sutures to remove or visible incisions.
After care
Patients swish ice water in their mouth frequently for the first 48 hours following surgery and the cheeks are iced. A soft diet is best for the first two days.