Beauty trends are constantly changing. In the age of social media, some of the most popular trends are the “selfie pout” and the sculpted-cheek look. To surgically achieve the chiseled cheeks look, the main procedure used is buccal fat removal.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about buccal fat removal and how it works, its uses, benefits, costs, and more.
What Is Buccal Fat Removal and Who Is It For?
Buccal fat removal, or cheek-thinning surgery, is a procedure through which the naturally occurring fat pad in your cheeks is removed to give your jaw a sharper or angular/hollowed-out look.1
This procedure is suitable for anyone who wants to reduce the plumpness of their cheeks. However, it’s not recommended if you have a narrow face or you’re older, as the buccal fat naturally decreases with age.2
How Does It Work?
The first step in getting this surgery is the initial consultation. At this stage, the surgeon will evaluate your medical history, health status, and the medication (if any) you’re on. Next, you can discuss your expectations from this surgery and clarify all your concerns. The surgeon may even take photos of your face for better clarity before the procedure.3
On the day of surgery, you’ll be injected with local anesthesia to numb the sides of your face. Then, the surgeon will make small cuts inside your mouth and slowly remove the cheek fat. After that, the cuts will be stitched up using dissolvable sutures.4
Buccal fat removal usually takes around 30 minutes. After the procedure, you may need to take medications like painkillers and antibiotics to prevent infections. You’ll probably also need an antiseptic mouth rinse and ice packs for some days. The recovery time for this procedure is usually around 3 weeks, but the complete effects may take several months to appear.5
How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost?
Buccal fat removal usually costs around $2,000 to $5,000. However, these costs can even rise to $20,000 in certain cases. The price of this procedure is influenced by various factors, such as:6
- Where you live
- Your choice of anesthesia and the provider’s charges
- Your surgeon’s charges
- The charges of your surgical facility or hospital of choice
- The cost of medications in your area
- The cost of medical tests, imaging, supplies, and miscellaneous expenses
- The cost of follow-up visits
- Travel expenses
You may also need to factor in other issues like the loss of income incurred due to downtime, the cost of hiring help for your regular activities like childcare, and the cost of revision surgery if the original procedure doesn’t achieve your desired results.7
Buccal fat removal is usually considered a cosmetic surgery. So most health insurance plans don’t cover it unless you can prove that the procedure was medically necessary. However, many surgical facilities offer payment plans these days. So make sure to do your research and discuss financing options before deciding on your surgeon and hospital for the procedure.8
The good news is that the effects of this surgery are usually permanent because the buccal fat cannot regrow. Therefore, unless you experience extreme weight gain, it’s unlikely that you’ll need a touch-up or revision surgery.9
Check out My Body Treatment today for more useful information on body development techniques and fat reduction methods, including the latest updates on plastic surgery procedures.
SOURCES:
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: “Buccal Fat Removal.”
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: “Buccal Fat Removal.”
- Healthline: “All About Buccal Fat Removal for Thinner Cheeks.”
- Healthline: “All About Buccal Fat Removal for Thinner Cheeks.”
- Cleveland Clinic: “Buccal Fat Removal.”
- Care Credit: “Buccal Fat Removal: Your Guide to Chiseled Cheeks.”
- Care Credit: “Buccal Fat Removal: Your Guide to Chiseled Cheeks.”
- Good Rx Health: “How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost?”
- Good Rx Health: “How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost?”