On Instagram
Serving Virginia Beach & Chesapeake patients
Learn more about Buccal Fat Pad Removal at North Beach Plastic Surgery in Virginia Beach, VA.
Slim down your facial profile with Buccal Fat Pad Removal or cheek reduction surgery at North Beach Plastic Surgery. Our surgeons are board-certified and focus on providing our patients with scientific expertise and a keen artistic eye for providing incredible, natural-looking results. Learn more about how our Virginia Beach Buccal Fat Pad Removal can slim and enhance your appearance by scheduling your consultation today.
Some men and women have rounder, fuller faces that appear bloated or chubby even with diet and exercise. For some people, genetics is a factor, but as you age, fat can be deposited in your cheeks. A cheek reduction surgery or buccal lipectomy is a surgical procedure that reduces fat deposits in your cheeks by surgically removing the buccal fat pads for more slender cheeks and contoured facial features.
What is a buccal fat pad?
In the middle of your cheek, there is a rounded mass of fat called the “buccal fat pad”. It sits below your cheekbone and is located between your facial muscles. The size of the buccal fat pads differs with each person and can give the appearance of a “baby face” or look heavier than you actually look.
The Buccal Fat Pad Removal surgery reduces the width of round faces and is often performed during simultaneous procedures such as a facelift, rhinoplasty, or chin implant. Ideal surgical candidates must be in overall good health and have realistic expectations of their results. However, buccal fat removal is not a perfect solution for everyone. For example, this surgery is not an option if you have a narrow face, Parry-Romberg Syndrome (a rare skin disorder), or already losing volume due to aging. However, your surgeon will assess your facial concerns and discuss your options during your consultation.
Your buccal fat removal surgery is an outpatient procedure performed with a local anesthetic and often takes less than one hour. You will be awake during your surgery but are quite comfortable throughout the duration of your treatment. The surgeon makes a small incision on the inside of your cheek to access the fat tissue. Depending on your anatomy, a precise amount of buccal fat is removed from inside your mouth. This approach avoids any visible scars. Dissolvable sutures are then placed to close the incision.
Buccal fat removal does not require drainage tubes because the incisions are on the inside of your mouth, so no one can tell you had any work done—making your downtime minimal. After Buccal Fat Removal Virginia Beach patients are given a special mouthwash to prevent infection and post-op care instructions for your incisions. In addition, you need to be on a liquid diet for a few days, then move to soft foods for the remaining three weeks. You can expect some swelling and possibly bruising, but these side effects will subside. Your complete recovery or ‘heal time” is about three weeks, but it may take a few months for cheeks to form their new shape.
North Beach Plastic Surgery offers safe and effective procedures in a discreet but welcoming facility. Learn more about Buccal Fat Pad Removal in Virginia Beach by scheduling a consultation today and discover if it is a suitable solution to meet your aesthetic goals.
Buccal fat removal is a safe and effective surgery. However, unwanted side effects include bleeding, infection, changes in sensation, and facial asymmetry.
Every patient has differing sizes and shapes of buccal pads, making each surgical approach a little different. During your consultation, the doctor and staff will discuss your surgical options along with the price of your procedure.
Buccal Fat Pad Removal is a cosmetic procedure that medical insurance does not cover. However, North Beach Plastic Surgery offers payment and financing options for your convenience.
While liposuction is a standard fat removal procedure, it is not recommended to use on the cheeks because there is a high degree of possible nerve damage. The technique our surgeons use extracts a precise amount of fat without endangering the muscle or losing nerve function.
North Beach Plastic Surgery in Virginia Beach & Chesapeake
At North Beach Plastic Surgery, we believe in treating each patient as though they are family. Our years of training and experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery are at your service. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about Virginia Beach Plastic Surgery at North Beach Plastic Surgery Clinic.
