Contents
Does this sound familiar? You're not overweight, yet your face is full, and no amount of exercise slims it down. That may be down to "baby fat"! A large or square face isn't only for people who are overweight; many slim people have it too. For some it is inborn, and for others it comes from everyday habits. If you want a slim V-shaped face, buccal fat removal can get you there.
What Is Baby Fat?
Baby fat refers to the buccal fat pad inside the cheeks, known medically as the Bichat's fat pad; it describes a facial appearance that looks full, with a more prominent jaw area. It usually gives an impression of cuteness and tends to make a person look younger. Baby fat has no absolute relationship with body weight, but for some people this face shape can lower self-confidence.
Overview of Buccal Fat Removal
Buccal fat removal is a minimally invasive procedure that refines the facial contour by removing the excess deep fat pad while avoiding the facial nerves, blood vessels, salivary glands, and other structures. Although it is a minor procedure with relatively low risk, doing it well is actually fairly difficult. The amount of fat removed must be calculated precisely to achieve the best result; removing too much can lead to a slack, hollow face afterward.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Buccal Fat Removal?
There are many reasons for a large face, including well-developed muscles, localized fat accumulation, and a person's bone structure, so not everyone with a large face can use the same cosmetic surgery approach. Below are three causes of a large face. Not every one of them suits buccal fat removal, and choosing the right treatment is how you address the real cause.
Muscular type
A muscular type of large face is usually due to overdeveloped facial muscles, which make the face look more square or angular. This is usually acquired, the result of eating habits that build up the chewing muscles.
Suitable treatment: Botulinum toxin injections can relax the overdeveloped chewing muscles.
Fatty type
This is mainly due to localized fat accumulation in the face, which may come from obesity, from fat buildup as aging tissue sags, or from naturally having baby fat, leaving the facial contours less defined.
Suitable treatment: This type has an overly thick buccal fat pad, so it is a very good candidate for buccal fat removal surgery.
Skeletal type
This type of large face is usually related to a person's bone structure; some people are born with an overly wide mandible, giving what is called a "square face", and buccal fat removal may still not improve it.
Suitable treatment: Because this is a bone problem rather than a fat problem, we recommend using facial contouring surgery to address it.
Is Botox Face Slimming Not Enough? Buccal Fat Removal Looks Natural and Not Tight
Can Facial Contouring Surgery Fail? A Complete Guide
Buccal Fat Removal Procedure
Many people feel afraid at the mere mention of surgery, but it isn't as scary as you might imagine! Anesthesia is given before the procedure, and then, inside the oral mucosa, an incision of about 0.7 to 1 cm is made. Using a headlight and an endoscope, the tissue deep in the cheek is separated through the incision and the excess fat pad is removed, and finally the wound is closed with absorbable sutures. The procedure takes about 1 to 2 hours.
Advantages of Buccal Fat Removal
1. Short recovery: Buccal fat removal needs no external incision, because everything is done inside the mouth. The incision is under 1 cm, with little bleeding and a small scar after healing. This minimally invasive approach greatly reduces the surgical risk for patients while shortening recovery time.
2. Short procedure time: Buccal fat removal can show results immediately after surgery. Patients can notice a change in their facial contour in a short time, giving the overall look a more defined and natural appearance.
3. Less pain: Because the procedure uses sedation anesthesia, patients feel nothing during surgery, and pain afterward is relatively mild. The tiny incisions also reduce the discomfort caused by the procedure.
4. Use of autologous fat: Buccal fat removal mainly works by suctioning out excess fat, and this fat can then be injected into areas that need volume, giving a fuller look locally. Because the patient's own fat is used, the likelihood of rejection is reduced.
5. Concealed scars: Because the procedure requires no external incision, the scars from buccal fat removal are relatively well hidden and leave no visible marks on the face, for a more attractive result.
How to Get Rid of a Double Chin: 5 Exercises and 5 Treatments at a Glance
Aftercare for Buccal Fat Removal
1. If you notice obvious swelling in the first few days after surgery, you can hold ice chips in your mouth to help bring it down.
2. Pay close attention to oral hygiene after surgery, and rinse your mouth often with plain water or salt water to keep the inside of your mouth clean.
3. In the early period after surgery, avoid opening your mouth too wide, such as laughing out loud or singing, so the fresh sutures do not come apart.
4. No smoking or secondhand smoke after surgery, because nicotine affects blood circulation and hinders recovery.
5. For 1 to 2 weeks after surgery, when washing your face or removing makeup, do not rub or press the surgical area too hard.
6. You can eat normally after surgery, but avoid irritating foods, such as very hot, spicy, sour, or numbing dishes and other strongly flavored foods.
7. After surgery, take pain medication as your doctor instructs. If you have unusual swelling or pain, return to the clinic right away.
Sagging Face? How a Facelift Can Easily Restore Youthful-Looking Skin
FAQ
Does buccal fat removal hurt?
The incision is small, so the pain is mild too, and local anesthesia or sedation anesthesia is used, so there is no need to worry too much. Pain varies from person to person, and everyone's experience is different, but it usually doesn't interfere with daily life.
Will my skin become loose after surgery?
Before surgery, the doctor can assess how much fat should be removed to avoid skin laxity, and we also suggest combining it with other treatments, such as radiofrequency and ultrasound, to make the face firmer and more defined.
How long is recovery after surgery?
Some swelling after buccal fat removal is normal, and it usually goes down within about a week, while the wound takes roughly 7 to 14 days to heal, depending on the individual. During the 1 to 3 days of swelling after surgery, apply ice packs as your doctor advises.
Do the sutures need to be removed?
Buccal fat removal uses sutures that the body can absorb, so no suture removal is needed after surgery.
Will the scar be obvious?
The incision for buccal fat removal is inside the mouth, so no wound is visible from the outside. Still, take care of the wound to avoid accidental infection.
Will the buccal fat grow back after it is removed?
In fact, fat comes in deep and superficial layers. The deep fat pad does not easily change with weight gain or loss, but without a proper diet, or with frequent overeating, the superficial subcutaneous fat will still build up.
This article is for general information only. Results vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person before deciding on any treatment.
