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Buccal Fat Removal | My Beauty Protocol

Buccal Fat Removal

Buccal Fat Pad Excision

Plain-English name: Submalar Fat Pad Excision

Also known asCheek SculptingCheek ReductionBichectomy

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

This surgical procedure precisely excises a portion of the buccal fat pads, which are often resistant to diet, to diminish cheek volume and enhance facial definition.

Downtime: 2 weeks
Sessions: 1
Pain: Medium
Cost per procedure: Price level 3 of 5
Results last: Permanent

Surgery that removes some cheek fat for a slimmer lower face; it's permanent.

Check first: Individuals with naturally thin or gaunt faces.

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–VI.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Some people try this firstCheaper, same-day options. They cover or style. They don't treat.

To try a shape before you commit
- Contour a little darker than your skin, under the cheekbone
- Highlight on the top of the cheekbone
What it won't do: Light changes how it looks, and it washes off.
Styling tip

The technique changes the scar and the recovery.

In no special order. Ask your surgeon which one fits you, and why.

2 techniques

Ask your provider

Which technique would you use for me, and why?
Where will the scars be, and how long is recovery?
What is the total price, and what does it include?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 30–60 minutes

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

1–2 weeks of swelling

Avoid sun

1 week

No makeup

3 days

No sweat or heat

4 weeks

Other aftercare

Eat soft foods only for a few days
Keep your head raised day and night
Don't touch, rub or press the area
Follow your surgeon's wound care

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
- Arrange a ride home
- Consult with a qualified and experienced surgeon to assess suitability and discuss expectations.
- Tell your provider about your medicines, allergies and health
1–2 weeks before
Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E for 1–2 weeks before, if your doctor agrees
After your visit
- Follow your surgeon's wound care
- Eat soft foods only for 1 week
- No hard exercise or heavy lifting for 2–4 weeks
- Keep your head raised day and night
- Use a cold pack for swelling
- Go to all follow-up visits
- Immediately after, expect swelling and bruising, which will gradually subside over several weeks. A soft diet is recommended initially, and strenuous activities should be avoided. Full aesthetic results become apparent as all swelling resolves, typically within a few months.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Individuals with naturally thin or gaunt faces
Poor general health
Unrealistic expectations
Individuals who are underweight or have significant facial fat loss due to aging
Pregnancy (planned cosmetic surgery waits until after the baby is born)

Possible side effects

Common

Temporary swelling
Bruising
Mild discomfort
Temporary numbness in the cheek area
Jaw stiffness; it can be hard to open your mouth wide

Less common

Infection
Asymmetry
Nerve damage (e.g., buccal branch of facial nerve, leading to temporary or permanent weakness/numbness)
Salivary gland duct injury
Excessive fat removal leading to a hollowed-out or gaunt appearance
Persistent dissatisfaction with aesthetic outcome

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

A small intraoral incision allows for the precise surgical excision of a portion of the buccal fat pad.

A little more technical

A surgeon makes a small incision inside your mouth to access and remove a portion of the buccal fat pads, which are specific fat deposits in your cheeks, to reduce their size and create a more sculpted facial appearance.

The procedure involves making an intraoral incision, typically near the upper second molar, to expose the buccal fat pad. A controlled portion of the fat pad is then carefully excised, and the incision is closed with dissolvable sutures.

Technique: Intraoral Fat Extraction; The dense, encapsulate pad of fat located in the lower cheek is physically pulled out through a small incision inside the mouth, leaving no visible scars.
Result: Permanent Contouring; Because these specific fat pads do not regenerate, the sharp, contoured effect is entirely permanent.
Common device / product names: Conservative Buccal Fat Pad Excision · Standard Buccal Fat Pad Excision
Clinical descriptor: Buccal Fat Pad Excision
Permanence / longevity: Permanent