Do you struggle with unwanted facial fat in your cheeks? While chubby cheeks may look cute on kids, most of us hope to outgrow them; however, genetics and weight gain can cause cheek fat to persist into adulthood. Buccal fat removal is surgery to remove extra cheek fat in order to slim the cheeks, define facial angles, and reduce facial fullness.

Dr. Bob Basu is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in buccal fat removal surgery in Houston, TX. His skill in facial cosmetic surgery combined with his many years of training and experience makes him one of the top plastic surgeons in the Houston area, helping men and women throughout Texas look and feel confident in their own skin.

• What causes buccal fat pads?
• What is buccal fat removal?
• What are the benefits of buccal fat removal?
• How much does buccal fat removal cost?
• Am I a good candidate for buccal fat removal?
• About your buccal fat removal surgery
• What is recovery like after buccal fat removal?
• Can buccal fat removal be combined with other facial procedures?

What causes buccal fat pads?

Buccal fat pads are naturally found between the hollows of the cheeks. They are responsible for cushioning the teeth and jaw, allowing your facial muscles to contract, and storing baby fat in the face. For most people, this baby fat decreases as they age; however, for some people, excess buccal fat can persist into adulthood, causing the appearance of a “baby face.” There are two reasons for this: genetics and weight gain.

Genetics. Most people experience persistent cheek fat due to genetics and are unable to remove it no matter how much they diet or exercise.
Weight gain. For a small number of people, large buccal fat pads are the result of weight gain. While some people with larger BMIs can reduce the size of their fat pads through diet and exercise, most patients are unable to achieve a slimmer face without surgery.

What is buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat removal, also known as buccal lipectomy or cheek reduction surgery, is plastic surgery to permanently reduce the size of your cheeks by removing your buccal fat pads. While all surgery carries some inherent risk, buccal fat removal is a relatively safe and easy procedure with minimal downtime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What are the benefits of buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat removal provides a number of benefits, including:

• Slims and defines the cheeks
• Increases facial symmetry
• Fast and comfortable recovery as only one small incision is required on each side of the inner cheek
• Final results seen in just a few months

How much does buccal fat removal cost?

The cost of buccal fat removal in Houston varies depending on the plastic surgeon and practice. Your total costs will include facility fees, the cost of anesthesia and your pre-op and post-op appointments. At Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery, we offer a variety of plastic surgery financing options to make your procedure as affordable as possible. Dr. Basu will be happy to go over pricing information with you during a personal consultation.

Am I a good candidate for buccal fat removal?

You may be a good candidate for buccal fat removal if you meet the following criteria:

• You are unhappy with the fullness of your cheeks
• You are a healthy, non-smoker at your ideal weight
• You have realistic expectations

You may not be a good candidate for buccal fat removal if you:

• Are older and have jowling and/or other advanced signs of facial aging
• Have a naturally slim face
• Have progressive hemifacial atrophy (Parry-Romberg syndrome)

Will buccal fat removal affect how my face ages?

Before undergoing buccal fat removal, it’s important to understand that the removal of cheek fat may impact the way you age. As we age, we naturally lose volume in our face, and buccal fat removal could cause hollow-looking cheeks. If you have a particularly thin or narrow face, aging could exacerbate the appearance of this volume loss. Dr. Basu can help you determine if you’re a good candidate for buccal fat removal during a personal consultation.

About your buccal fat removal surgery

Dr. Basu typically performs buccal fat removal in 30 minutes to an hour under local or general anesthesia. First, he will make an incision on the inside of each of your cheeks. Next, he will apply pressure to your cheeks to expose the buccal fat, then cut and remove the fat. Finally, he will suture the wounds with dissolvable stitches.

Watch Dr. Basu perform a buccal fat pad removal in this video below:

What is recovery like after buccal fat removal?

Recovery from buccal fat removal typically takes 2-3 weeks, with full results appearing after 1-2 months. After your surgery, you’ll be given a special mouthwash to use to prevent infection. You should avoid touching the sutures with your tongue during this 2-3 week healing period. You may need to eat a liquid diet for several days, after which you can progress to softer foods, and then return to your normal diet. You may experience some bruising and swelling in your cheeks for the first few weeks following your procedure, but this should quickly diminish.

Can buccal fat removal be combined with other facial procedures?

While buccal fat removal is very effective for contouring the cheeks and providing a high-cheekbone appearance, many of our patients use their buccal fat removal surgery as an opportunity to enhance their features with other facial procedures, such as:

• Facelift (buccal fat pads can be removed during this procedure)
• Chin implants
• Lip augmentation
• BOTOX® injections
• Double-chin removal
• Jawline contouring

Dr. Basu discusses buccal fat removal on the Behind the Double Doors podcast

On a recent episode of Behind the Double Doors: The Houston Plastic Surgery Podcast, Dr. Basu answered everyone’s biggest questions about the buccal fat pad removal procedure. Listen to the episode now:

Schedule your Houston, TX buccal fat removal

If you’re ready to say bye to chubby cheeks and hello to elegant facial contours, schedule a buccal fat removal consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bob Basu today. Dr. Basu has over 20 years of experience helping men and women in Houston, TX look and feel great. In addition to buccal fat pad removal, Dr. Basu specializes in a full range of plastic surgery procedure, including facelift, neck lift, breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, and post weight loss body lifts. Contact his practice online or call (713) 799-2278 to scedule your consultation with Dr. Basu today.

Areas served:

• Uptown Houston

• Cypress