Buccal Fat Excision Procedure

The buccal fat pad is a deep fat pad located in the lower part of the cheeks on either side of the face. Buccal fat excision is a procedure which removes the fat pads for a more chiseled or slender appearance to the bottom third of the face. This procedure may be sought by individuals with very round or full cheeks or what is commonly referred to as “chipmunk cheeks”.

Candidates for buccal fat excision are in good general health, do not smoke and have realistic expectations for improvement. If you suck in your cheeks and find this to be the look you are after, then this procedure may be for you.

Dr. Miller and Dr. Steinbrech perform buccal fat excision on an outpatient basis at their JCAHO Accredited office-based surgery facility at Gotham Plastic Surgery of New York City. Local anesthesia or general anesthesia may be used. During the procedure, a small incision is made on the inside of the mouth. The fat pad is then removed and the incision is closed.

 Recovery following buccal fat excision takes just a few days. There is usually minimal swelling and no bruising. Some dietary restrictions may be necessary due to the intraoral incisions. Work and most other activities can usually be resumed after a few days.