Buccal Fat Removal NYC
Buccal fat surgery involves removing the fat pad to create more definition and contour in your face. You may have heard of it as a buccal lipectomy or cheek reduction surgery. Buccal fat pads in the cheeks are surgically removed to thin the cheeks and define facial angles.
Dr. Darren Smith, MD, FACS
Browse Topics
Buccal Fat Removal NYC
Buccal fat removal helps reduce full, puffy, or rounded cheeks to give you a thinner, chiseled look. Buccal fat excision is a simple, in-office cosmetic procedure that takes under an hour to complete with minimal recovery time.
Buccal fat excision with Dr. Smith creates a more chiseled and slender appearance to the middle and lower third of the face.
What is Buccal Fat?
This fat pad contributes to the appearance of chubby cheeks or a rounded face. Everyone has buccal fat pads in their cheeks, but the fat pad can appear more full than some would like, causing unwanted fullness in the lower face. If you have larger fat pads, you might feel like your face looks too full or have a ‘baby face’ or ‘chipmunk cheeks.’
Buccal fat may persist even when you lose weight. So while you may achieve a slimmer look, you may not notice a significant difference if you have naturally large buccal fat pads.
The facial fat anatomy is shown here:
Malar fat is in yellow, buccal fat is in purple, lower face fat is in green, and the submental or double chin fat is shown in blue. The malar fat should not be reduced, as this can lead to the appearance of premature aging. To achieve a more contoured cheek bone, the buccal fat can be removed with a buccal fat pad excision procedure. This requires only a small incision inside the mouth. There is no visible scarring on the face. The lower facial fat and chin fat can be treated with face and chin liposuction to narrow the lower facial third, contour the jawline, and reduce or eliminate the appearance of a double chin.
What is Buccal Fat Removal?
Buccal fat surgery involves removing the fat pad to create more definition and contour in your face. You may have heard of it as a buccal lipectomy or cheek reduction surgery. Buccal fat pads in the cheeks are surgically removed to thin the cheeks and define facial angles.
Buccal fat removal surgery can be combined with other cosmetic procedures, including a facelift, chin implant, rhinoplasty, or dermal fillers. If you’re considering another procedure simultaneously, please let Dr. Smith know during your initial consultation so we can craft the best care plan for you.
Buccal Fat Removal in New York City
Dr. Smith performs buccal fat removal as an outpatient procedure in our office-based surgery facility in NYC. Local anesthesia is used to ensure you don’t feel pain or discomfort during the operation. However, general anesthesia may be needed if you opt to have another plastic surgery in conjunction with buccal fat removal, or if you decide you’d rather be asleep for the procedure.
During the procedure, Dr. Smith makes a small incision on the inside of the mouth to remove the buccal fat pad. Once removed, incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches. You will not have any scars or marks on the outside of your cheeks.
This isn’t an overly complicated surgery and only takes 30 to 60 minutes for most patients.
What’s Recovery Like?
Recovering from buccal fat removal takes a few days. You may have some swelling but generally, you will not have visible bruising. Dr. Smith usually recommends patients adhere to a clear liquid diet for 48 hours after the procedure and gradually advance the diet back to normal over the week after the procedure because of the intraoral incisions. For example, sharp or granular foods like chips and rice are not permitted for several days after buccal fat removal. You will return home the same day of your surgery. You’ll also receive after-care instructions and a mouth rinse to reduce your risk of infection. The mouth rise helps prevent food from lodging into your incisions and causing an infection.
You will also need to sleep on your back with your head elevated with a couple of pillows after having buccal fat pad removal. Doing so helps speed up your recovery time.
Patients can resume work and most physical activities after a few days. Most patients will feel like they can return to work the day after the procedure, but you may be a bit too swollen for public appearances for 2-3 days. Always wait to continue with heavy exercise until you have the green light from Dr. Smith.
Is Buccal Fat Removal Painful?
After your buccal fat surgery, your cheeks will be sore and slightly swollen. One of the best ways to reduce swelling is to use ice packs or cold compresses for the first two days.
Buccal lipectomy isn’t a painful recovery, and your incisions will heal quickly. You can use light pain medication to soothe any discomfort. Most patients feel tenderness for around 2-5 days following the surgery.
What’s the Difference Between Buccal Fat Removal and Cheek Liposuction?
A buccal lipectomy physically removes the fat pad in the cheeks. Liposuction extracts excess fat cells to slim the face while keeping the fat pads intact. The fat removed with liposuction is more shallow (closer to the surface of the skin) than the buccal fat pads. Additionally, the fat typically targeted with facial liposuction is lower on the face (closer to the jawline). Both procedures eliminate unwanted fat in the cheek area and middle to lower facial thirds to recontour the face. If you have a larger buccal fat pad than you would like, a buccal lipectomy may be a beneficial way to enhance the harmony and proportions of your face.
Related Content: Liposuction Cost NYC | NYC Chin Liposuction |
Who is a Good Candidate for Buccal Fat Excision?
If you think your lower face is too full or rounded, you may be a good candidate for buccal fat reduction. Some patients feel that prominent childlike cheeks distract from other facial features, like the eyes and lips. Ideal patients for this procedure should be in good general health and be nonsmokers. You should also be at or close to your ideal body weight.
Buccal fat removal is performed on patients who have naturally large buccal fat pads. Unfortunately, these fat pads may often resist diet and exercise. If you are at your goal weight and still have prominent buccal fat pads, this may be a good procedure for you.
Cost Guide:
How much does it cost to get rid of buccal fat in New York?
In New York, the cost of buccal fat removal ranges from $4,000 to $7,500. Surgeons of different levels of experience charge different amounts for the procedure. Anesthesia type and the surgeon’s reputation may also affect the price.
Factors to consider in the total cost of a buccal fat removal procedure in New York
| Cost Factors | Description |
|---|---|
| Surgeon Cost | Buccal fat removal cost varies depending on the surgeon’s experience and reputation. Reputable board-certified plastic surgeons will be more expensive. It is essential that the buccal fat removal procedure is performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who will know how to avoid complications and achieve the best result. |
| Anesthesia Fee |
The cost varies based on the kind of anesthesia used, the anesthesia provider, and that provider’s level of experience. For cases requiring IV sedation or general anesthesia, Dr. Smith only works with one of a few board-certified anesthesiologists. |
| Location | Operation room and facility fees vary by region. Modern facilities with the most advanced equipment may be more expensive as well. |
| Other |
Fees for any medications or supplies should be considered with any surgical procedure. These tend to be minimal with buccal fat pad excision. |
| The complexity of your procedure | Some cases are more complex than others, and more involved cases will likely be more expensive. Additionally, buccal fat pad removal is often performed in combination with other face-shaping procedures, like chin liposuction. These cases will involve additional cost as well. |
What Kind of Results Can I Expect?
For the first week after the procedure, you will appear swollen. After a week or so, your swelling will subside and you will be back at your baseline appearance. As the swelling subsides over the next few weeks, your cheek area becomes thinner and more contoured. Your cheekbones will also appear higher.
After around three weeks, most patients will start to see the final results once the swelling has completely subsided.
Book a Buccal Lipectomy Consultation Today
Buccal fat removal is a safe, effective procedure that reduces the size of your cheeks. If you’re unhappy with the size or shape of your face, creating a slimmer face with buccal fat removal can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
