WHAT IS A BUCCAL FAT PAD EXCISION?
Buccal Fat Pad Excision is a procedure undertaken to slim the lower third of the face. The cheeks sometimes make the face appear wider than many patients want. They can be made to appear slimmer and more tapered with excision of the buccal fat pad. This is a well-defined sac of fat that exists in the deep layers of the lower cheek, which may be accessed through the cheek and into a compartment within the cheeks. To put it simply, this procedure can turn “chubby”-appearing cheeks into more defined and well-contoured cheeks that allow the face to assume a more tailored, heart shape with greater definition around the mouth and jawline. Some patients that seek facial liposuction will actually have better results with buccal fat excision, which is sometimes combined with Botox injection to the masseter muscles, neck liposuction, Kybella to the neck, facial fat grafting, or orthognathic lower jaw bone contouring procedures.
The best candidates for a buccal fat excision are patients that desire a more contoured lower facial profile. It is important that patients are in good health, do not smoke, lack a condition called pseudoherniation of the buccal fat, which can obscure best results, and have realistic expectations about the power of the procedure. For good candidates, a buccal fat pad excision can deliver:
- Decreased fullness of the cheeks
- Slimmer lower third of the face
- Tapering of the lower face and cheeks
- Decreased prominence of the tissue next to the lips with smiling
- Enhanced definition of attractive curvatures of the lower face
- A more heart-shaped and less rounded facial profile
- Enhance cheekbones relative to the chin and jawline
If you are interested in a buccal fat pad excision, remember that this is a surgical procedure and you should expect some recovery time. It is usually performed by plastic and reconstructive surgeons and can be accomplished in either a general anesthesia, moderate anesthesia, or local anesthesia level of sedation, depending on patients’ preferences. Cost is often more reasonable than most patients expect, as the procedure is fairly straightforward and does not take a lot of surgical time. Some patients ask whether a CT scan is necessary, and it is not. The procedure involves an approximately 2 cm incision on the inside of the mouth, so there are no external marks of any kind. It is usually performed as an outpatient in an ambulatory surgical center and involves relatively minimal recovery time. Patients may seek to receive other facial or even body enhancement procedures at the same time as buccal fat excision without a problem in good candidates. often experience an uplifted outlook and renewed motivation for further physical fitness and toning.
If you would like to learn whether you are a candidate for a buccal fat pad excision, don’t hesitate to ask Kristopher M. Day, MD, FACS by emailing Info@PacificSoundPlasticSurgery.com to schedule a complementary consultation. Dr. Day has extensive experience in facial plastic surgery and always looks forward to discussing your personal goals to design a customized, safe, and individualized treatment plan tailored to your needs!
