Natural results

Buccal Fat Pad Removal

Improve the ballance of your facial features!

Buccal (cheek) fat pad removal is a procedure that takes out some of the fatty tissue in your cheeks called buccal fat pads. This can make your jawline and cheekbones look more defined. This procedure is sometime referred to as “Bichectomy” after surgeon Xavier Bichat who first described these fat deposits.

Buccal fat pads are small, round clumps of fat that are located inside your cheeks. They help to cushion the muscles in your face and support your cheeks but are not crucial for jaw function. Everyone has buccal fat pads, but the amount of fat in each pad can vary depending on your genes and body type.

Who is the best candidate?

Good candidates for buccal fat removal are people who want to:

How is buccal fat pad removal performed?

Cheek fat pad removal is usually done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. Of course, general anesthesia can be utilized. The surgery takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Dr. Turowski makes a tiny incision inside the cheek near the corner of your mouth. Then he gently removes the buccal fat pads through the cut. The cut is then closed with stitches. These stitches dissolve by themselves within a few days. There is absolutely no external scar or sign of surgery.

Typically, there is some mild swelling for a few days which covers the results. Full results become apparent within a couple weeks.

Risks of buccal fat removal

The risks of buccal fat pad removal are generally minor and extremely rare. However, like any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection, bleeding, and injury to the nerves or salivary glands. Dr. Turowski has never observed these issues during 25 years of performing this procedure.

Results

The final results of buccal fat removal are usually permanent since the fat deposits are actually removed.