What is buccal fat removal?

Bichectomy or buccal fat removal is a surgical procedure that removes part of the fat pad located between the masseter and buccinator muscles . This fat pad is designed to lubricate the movement of the muscles which are involved in chewing and mobilization of the jaw.

When doing that?

In some patients, both men and women, this fat pad may have a greater volume than the ideal which causes a more rounded face.When removing this excess fat, we automatically get an improvement in the definition of the lower third of the face and obtain a slimmer appearance.

selected patients, otherwise it could have a premature aging effect.It is important to know that this procedure should only be performed in

How is it performed?

Inside the mouth, a small incision of 5 mm in the oral mucosa is performed. Dr. Escobar performs this incision in a safe area to avoid any possible risk of damage over this facial zone.

Through this small incision a small amount of fat is extracted. The amount of fat removed will be determined during the preoperative study of the case. When performed by the expert hands of a facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Escobar, the buccal fat removal procedure usually lasts less than 1 hour. If necessary it is possible to correct asymmetries between the 2 cheeks.

This procedure can also be combined with other procedures like chin augmentation to achieve a better result.

How is postoperative?

After the procedure is not necessary to put any bandage over the area. It is however recommended to avoid strenuous physical activity for the first 48 hours. It is a painless procedure and from the first day the patient can eat, chew and speak without any difficulty.

Results

In the next days after the procedure, the patient will see an improvement in the definition of the cheeks. However, due to the healing process, the patient may have to wait between 2 to 4 months to see the full result.