chubby cheeks.
That Sucked-In Look.
Are you blessed with full cheeks but wished you had more bony definition of your jawline and cheekbones with that sucked-in look? You may be a candidate for buccal fat removal! The buccal fat pad resides in the cheek, weighing up to 4 ounces. Even though everyone has a buccal fat pad, only some people may benefit from this procedure. Dr. Lisa Hwang will perform a full evaluation to help you determine if this is a good option for you. This simple aesthetic plastic surgery procedure takes less than 30 minutes and removes the egg yolk-sized fat pads (buccal fat pads) from both cheeks, subtly sculpting your cheeks.
buccal fat removal.
surgery.
Buccal fat removal is a minor procedure that takes about 30 minutes and can be performed under local anesthesia. Two small incisions are made inside your mouth near your upper molars. Buccal fat is easily identified and removed. Incisions are closed with absorbable sutures that dissolve over a couple weeks.
Recovery.
You may expect mild discomfort, swelling, and bruising, which should resolve within 2 weeks. The swelling may take up to 4 weeks to completely resolve. Patients should sleep with their heads elevated on several pillows to minimize swelling. Arnica tablets may further expedite healing. Immediately postop, your cheeks may seem bigger with swelling, but after a few weeks, you will notice the subtle change and hollowing of the cheeks.
Risks & Complications.
Risks are minimal, but may include bleeding, hematoma, infection, prolonged swelling, and damage to surrounding structures i.e. Stensen’s duct.