Buccal Fat Pad Excision

What and where is buccal fat?

Buccal fat is a fat pad located in the cheek under the buccinator muscle and is there to provide a gliding surface for the muscle. It can cause chubby cheeks which blunt the cheek and jawline when enlarged.

Can it be removed?

Yes. Buccal fat removal surgery is a short procedure done under local anesthesia thru an in-mouth incision. It is relatively painless and patients can go to work the next day.

Before & After

Buccal Fat Pad Excision Prodedure

Buccal Fat Pad Excision Gallery

Steps In surgery:

The surgery begins intraorally with numbing with a small needle right above the lower second molar. Then a quarter-inch incision is made through which the fat is expressed and removed. The incision is sutured with a resorbable suture.

Why remove the buccal fat pad?

Patients seeking buccal fat pad removal are looking for an accentuation in their facial features and a more prominent cheek area, more defined jawline area, and a slimmer face line.

Combined procedures:

Buccal fat pad excision is often done as a stand alone procedure. In other instances it is combined with chin and neck liposuction to further accentuate the jawline and slim the neck area. In other instances it is combined with a face lifting procedure to again achieve a more pleasing facial contour.

What are the risks of buccal fat pad excision?

Like all facial plastic surgery, a detailed knowledge of facial anatomy is required to minimise any risks. There are a lot of nerves in salivary ducts around the buccal fat pad and careful extraction is possible in experienced hands while minimising risks of damage to those structures

What is the cost of buccal fat pad excision?

The cost of isolated buccal fat pad excision is 3500 to $4500. The cost when combined with other procedures depends on the combination being performed.

Why choose Dr. Khalifeh?

Dr. Khalifeh is one of the few double board certified plastic surgeons with Boards in both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, achieving the highest training possible for detailed knowledge of the anatomy and keen, cosmetic sense.