Buccal Fat Excision Surgery
A sculpted face with smooth and chiseled contours is sought after not only by models, celebrities and those in the media, but by anyone wanting to attain an aesthetically pleasing face. Puffiness or heaviness in the cheek area can mask the contours of a beautiful upper cheekbone and lower jawbone. This fullness or puffiness can often be contributed to what is called Buccal Fat.
Buccal Fat is the fat pad that is found in the cheek area and extends up into the skull. The Buccal Fat Pad is comprised of three areas, and the area which can show cosmetically is the fat pad residing specifically in the cheek area. This plumpness appears just above the jaw line and lip. Many patients complain about fullness in this area which may, or may not be attributed to Buccal Fat. Sometimes fullness in the cheek area is due to other medical conditions and/or disfigurement due to previous surgery, accidents or trauma; however, in those circumstances where Buccal Fat is the culprit for puffiness and fullness in the cheek, a minor surgical procedure can be performed to reveal and enhance the contour of the upper cheekbone and lower jawbone.
What is Buccal Fat Excision Surgery?
Buccal Fat Excision Surgery is a procedure which entails a small incision on the inside of the cheek around the area of the molar teeth. The incision is gently opened using a surgical scissor and the Buccal Fat presents itself between the “Masseter” muscle and the soft tissue of the cheek. The Buccal Fat is then gently teased out, as it flows freely out of the incision as yolk from an egg. Once the Buccal Fat has been extracted, the small 2 cm incision is closed using an absorbable suture. There are no visible scars in this case and oral incisions heal quickly.
Buccal Fat Excision Surgery is performed under local anesthesia. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and lasts approximately one hour. There is typically a small amount of swelling and no bruising post operatively. It takes approximately one month for swelling to resolve completely and up to three months for the final result.