Buccal Fat Removal Los Angeles

The pockets of face fat located in the cheeks are called buccal (buh-kle) pads. These areas tend to slim down as a person ages, but in certain cases, genetics have resulted in fat pads that are too large, making the patient look chubby or like a “baby.” Disproportionately large buccal pads can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance, but with bichectomy, the face can take on a more chiseled, slender shape.

No, it does not. Buccal fat removal provides long-lasting, sustainable results. Your cheeks will remain slim and tapered, even if you gain weight in your body overall.

The procedure will incur surgeon’s fees, facility fees, anesthesia fees, and postoperative garment fees, to name a few. Since buccal fat pad reduction is considered a cosmetic procedure with no medical necessity, it is not usually covered by an insurance carrier. The typical cost ranges from $4,500 and up. We will offer you a personalized and detailed quote for services at the time of your consultation with Dr. Lee in Los Angeles.

In general, cost should not be the leading factor in your decision to choose one surgeon over another. If you try to save money by hiring someone unskilled, you may end up paying more overall when you have to undergo a revision procedure down the line.

The surgery is performed with general anesthesia or IV sedation and local anesthesia so that you will be completely comfortable during your treatment. After your surgery, the doctor will provide you with the appropriate painkiller prescriptions to deal with any tenderness, swelling, or bruising. These side effects will diminish within several days, with the majority of swelling disappearing after the first week.

Dr. Lee does her best to ensure the utmost safety for your procedure. However, there are always risks present any time a cosmetic treatment is performed. Possible risks include bleeding, infection, numbness, anesthesia risks, and others. Buccal fat pad removal is not suggested for those clients who already have a slender facial shape, as the surgery may make you look gaunt. However, if you do have “chipmunk cheeks,” nothing short of buccal fat pad removal will do the trick in terms of streamlining your cheeks.

Your incisions will be on the inside of your cheeks, so it’s best to avoid sharp, hard, or chewy foods like chips, candy, or gum. Focus on soft foods such as mashed potatoes, soups, smoothies, and the like. As you heal, you can gradually reintroduce raw veggies and crunchy items.

Buccal fat does not function like regular fat, so it cannot be removed through traditional liposuction. Its location deep within the mid face makes it difficult to reach without surgical excision. Fat can be trimmed from beneath the chin, in the neck, or the jowls using lipo, and when performed in tandem with buccal fat pad removal, it is typically called a V-contour procedure.

The choice to undergo buccal fat pad removal is a personal decision you should make only after considering the pros and cons and meeting in private with Dr. Lee to discuss your unique concerns. It is a purely cosmetic procedure with no medical benefit. You might consider the high cost of your unhappiness with your appearance in terms of quality of life when weighing the advantages and disadvantages of removing face fat. Never undergo cosmetic treatments to please someone else. However, if you truly feel you can benefit, there is no reason not to move forward with your aesthetic goals.

As long as you maintain a healthy weight by eating right and following an exercise regimen, your buccal fat pad removal results will last a lifetime. Gaining over 20 pounds, however, might cause your cheeks to bulge slightly. For this reason, it’s important that you undergo surgery only once you feel you are at a stable, realistic weight for your body.