Buccal Fat Removal: What Makes for a Good Candidate?

Facial structure is unique and varies from person to person. Each decade, certain facial features are considered more enviable and desirable. Since about 2020, sharp cheekbones and strong jaws have been in vogue. Therefore, the popularity of cheek fat removal has experienced consistent growth. But what exactly does buccal fat removal entail, and who is a good candidate for this procedure?

Buccal Fat Removal, Explained

Buccal fat removal is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the appearance of prominent cheeks. Buccal fat removal aims to thin the cheeks, especially around the cheek cavities. The result is a slimmer and sharper face.

Who's An Optimal Candidate for Buccal Fat Removal?

Patients with thin, narrow faces are not the best candidates for buccal fat removal because aging naturally tends to make a face slimmer. The best buccal fat removal candidates are people who are self-conscious about their plump cheeks and do not smoke. They may be in their twenties and still dealing with baby fat that has not yet diminished, or closer to their fifties and looking to sharpen their profile. Regardless of their motivations, the best patients also have realistic expectations of the procedure and are physically healthy.

How is Buccal Fat Removal Performed?

Buccal fat removal begins with putting the patient under intravenous or general anesthesia. An incision is then made on the mouth and inside the patient's cheek(s). The surgeon then manually presses on the outside of the cheek, pushing the buccal fat pad and protruding it to the mouth's interior. The surgeon then sucks out the patient's fat to remove the desired volume from the buccal pad.

Buccal Fat Removal Recovery

After cheek fat removal surgery, you may be asked to follow a liquid diet for a few days or longer. The surgeon may instruct you to use special mouth rinses to curb the risk of infection. You will be given specific instructions, which may include the following:

1. How to care for the surgical site(s) after surgery.
2. Medications to be injected or taken orally to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection.
3. Specific issues that need to be addressed at the surgery site or regarding your general health condition.

Can AirSculpt® Remove Buccal Fat?

AirSculpt® currently doesn't provide a buccal fat removal solution. Nonetheless, we recommend that those potential patients in search of sharpening the appearance of their jawline and improving natural proportions opt for Chin AirSculpt®.

Chin AirSculpt® is a 20-minute procedure that permanently removes fat from your upper neck and chin. Unlike traditional chin liposuction, the AirSculpt® method does not use scalpels, stitches, needles, or general anesthesia, which significantly minimizes the downsides associated with conventional surgical techniques. 

Despite its reduced invasiveness, our technique's rapidly spinning fat removal devices and versatile handpieces provide unmatched precision throughout the chin contouring process. Downtime lasts just 24 hours on average, and results appear almost instantly and improve every day after treatment.

Therefore if you want a quick and easy recovery, rapid healing, dramatic results, and a chiseled jawline, AirSculpt® is more than ready to help. For more information on how to experience the next generation of body sculpting, call the AirSculpt® office nearest you for your complimentary consultation.