buccal

Buccal fat pad extraction, (also called cheek reduction) is for those with extra round cheeks who wish to have a slightly more chiseled look. Often candidates for buccal (pronounced buckle) fat pad extraction refer to themselves as having “chipmunk cheeks” or chubby or fat cheeks. It is typically a genetic predisposition and not a result of being fat or overweight. Dr. Sikorski of Natural Image OC provides buccal fat removal.

Causes of Excess Fat Pads on The Cheeks

Most OC patients lose cheek roundness in their late 20s. Due to heredity, some people may never lose the chubby look in their cheeks. Research your hereditary facial structure by taking a good look at some of your older relatives and pictures of them when they were young. Did they look like you when they were younger and are they thinner-faced now? If so, you run the risk of looking too thin in an unhealthy way in later years if you have buccal fat pad removal. If your mother and father are still as chubby cheeked as they always were, then your face will probably not get thinner with time.

Benefits of Fat Pad Removal 

The Appearance Aspects of Buccal Fat Pad Removal produces a slenderizing, subtle thinning of the cheeks that draws more attention to the cheekbones and creates a more definitive contour — it is not a drastic change.

The procedure itself is fairly simple and not overly invasive. A small incision is made inside the mouth, and the fat lump is gently removed. There is usually some swelling for most patients afterwards — typically 2-4 days, but every patient is different.

Dr. Sikorski will discuss the benefits of buccal fat removal and whether the procedure is right for you during your consultation.

How A Buccal Fat Pad Extraction Procedure Is Performed

A buccal fat extraction normally takes about an hour to perform. Dr. Sikorski will make an incision about 1- 2 cm long between your cheek and gums (maxillary vestibule), starting above the second upper molar towards the back of your mouth. Incisions are made inside the mouth and thus leave no scars on the face. Dr. Sikorski will then use the pressure of her thumb against the outside your cheek right under your cheek bone causing the buccal fat to protrude through the intra oral incision. She will then gently and little by little extract the fat with forceps or surgical tweezers. Sometimes a collective amount the size of a golf ball is removed, sometimes more.

The incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures. You will potentially have some mild bruising and mild to moderate swelling. Post op discomfort and pain are managed easily with medication. You will be advised to keep your head elevated on two pillows for several days when lying down or sleeping. You should be able to return to work within a few days.
You should not exercise or participate in sports for about 1 week. Final results are apparent in about 3 months when all internal swelling has gone away.

Are you ready to improve your appearance?

Request a consultation

Can The Fat Removed be Transferred To Other Areas of The Face?

Buccal fat can be transferred to other areas of the face if desired. The upper cheeks and lips can easily be augmented with the transferred buccal fat.

Other Related Procedures

  • Facial Liposuction
  • Active Lift Facial Lift
  • Cheek and Chin Implants
  • Neck Lift
  • Injection Lip Augmentation with JUVÉDERM® Injectable Gel
  • Injection Chin Augmentation with Radiesse

Costs of Cosmetic Surgery

At Natural Image OC, we maintain a top-level integrated, AAAHC accredited outpatient surgery center. This helps reduce the costs of cosmetic surgery because we are not tied to the additional costs of a satellite surgical center, nor do any “overtime” costs that can accrue from extra surgery time or anesthesiologist fees. In the end, this can save up to 25% over what many surgeries might cost elsewhere.

Dr. SikorskiYour consultation visit

You’ll enjoy a relaxing visit to our office where you can ask questions, meet our staff, take a tour of our office and surgical suite and view additional photo results of our patients.

Your consultation assessment is with Dr. Sikorski, not an impersonal or commissioned sales person. Fees and procedure preparations are discussed with our patient coordinator, who will detail the surgical experience with you.

We look forward to meeting with you and helping you find the simplest solution to achieve the goals you desire. Contact us for a fat pad removal consultation with Dr. Sikorski.