It can be effective for select face types.
With social media filters and celebrity trends taking over, a sharp, hollow-cheeked look has become extremely popular. You must have come across the stunning “before and after” photos of Buccal Fat Removal (Bichectomy) and probably thought this simple operation could give you the facial definition you have always dreamt of. Yet, there is a genuine concern that people will worry about their faces aging and becoming “gaunt” after a while. Here, at Lin Europe Clinic, we encourage the separation of trend and medical reality so that you make the right decision for your face not only today but for years to come.
Whether “Is buccal fat removal a good idea?” depends on your individual anatomy. For those with round, “chipmunk” cheeks due to heredity, which covers their bone structure even when they lose weight, this treatment is a transformation and very helpful. On the other hand, if a person has naturally narrow or thin features, taking away this fat layer can end up being a mistake visually showing signs of aging faster. We are extremely careful with this operation, making sure it adds to your beauty rather than taking away your future facial volume.
The Anatomy of the “Baby Face”
You should know that the buccal fat pad is a separate bit of fat, found deep inside the cheek, underneath the muscle. Whereas subcutaneous fat that you lose or gain depending on your eating habits, buccal fat is a tough, structural layer that is there even if you are very fit. It was originally designed to help babies with breastfeeding; in adults, it is mostly a smooth surface for the chewing muscles.
So, if you have a forever young face with round cheeks that can make you look chubby even when you are in shape, then you are probably the perfect candidate. When this happens, simply decreasing the volume of this fat returns the cheekbones and jawline contours, which were previously hidden under the layers of fat, thus revealing the beautiful structure of the face. It changes the round, soft face into a more mature, stylish, and heart-shaped or V-shaped silhouette.
The Risk of Premature Aging
The main reason against buccal fat removal is the fear of losing facial fat in the future. As a matter of fact, with normal aging, one tends to lose fat from the face, especially at the temples and the cheeks. This loss results in skin hanging and forming wrinkles. Critics suggest that by extracting the buccal fat pad at a young age, one is taking away the volume that will become most needed two decades later in order to maintain a youthful appearance.
This danger is not imaginary but can be avoided by choosing patients wisely and by using gentle techniques. The operation is a “mistake” merely when it is done on a patient who is slender already or has very prominent cheekbones. Besides that, an experienced plastic surgeon will not necessarily remove the whole fat pad. Hence, partial resection allows the face to be less puffy but at the same time, the remaining fat gives enough support so the person won’t look sunken or skeletal later in life.
No Visible Scars and Quick Recovery
The procedure has gained enormous popularity for quite a few reasons, one of them being that it is minimally invasive. Besides, the operation is completed only by going through the mouth. The doctor makes a minimal cut usually less than one centimeter long on the inner cheek lining. By means of this small hole, the fat is carefully isolated and removed.
Since the incisions are made through the mouth, you won’t have any scars visible on your face at all. Moreover, the healing is less of a challenge than you would expect. Significant swelling will last for about one week, and you will look as if you have had toner work or chipmunk cheeks, but the pain will be very slight in most cases. Most patients resume their work in two to three days; thus, it is a feasible option for even those who lead a hectic lifestyle.
Reversibility and Regret
Buccal fat removal is a decision you make for life. The fat you cut out will never grow back. Even though in the era of weight gain, the size of the remaining fat cells can increase, the specific layer you have removed is no longer there. The only option to fix the problem if the hollow look becomes too much is fat grafting (from the belly to the face) or dermal fillers to replace the lost volume.
Because of the irreversibility, we recommend that everyone be careful. If you are hesitant or your facial fullness changes drastically with the fluctuations of your weight, then delaying is definitely the better option. During the consultation, we try to predict the outcomes with the patient and also have a discussion around whether the bone structure is firm enough so that the skin does not have to rely on the underlying fat for support.
Buccal Fat Removal in Turkey
One of the reasons to go for Lin Europe Clinic for your buccal fat removal in Turkey is that we put facial harmony first rather than over-aggressive sculpting. Our doctors in Istanbul specialize in facial aesthetics and fully appreciate the fine line between revealing and exhaust. They scrutinize your midface anatomy deeply to decide whether you can benefit from the procedure. In fact, we have to, on some occasions, turn away patients as we see that they would be better off losing weight or using other contouring methods.
We want your stay in Istanbul to be totally stress-free and convenient. We organize VIP transfers and five-star accommodation so that you have a private area for rest during the time when swelling is at its peak. Our medical personnel even give you precise dietary (soft foods) and mouth-rinse instructions to avoid infection and guarantee smooth healing. At Lin Europe Clinic, we reveal the best version of you safely and your results are that of natural, elegant beauty.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buccal Fat Removal
The removal of buccal fat can indeed work well for those who have a “baby face” due to inheritance and want a jawline that is more chiseled and defined. On the other hand, it is usually not recommended for individuals with very thin faces on a natural basis because they could look hollow or skeleton-like as they get older.
The buccal fat pad is a part of the facial anatomy in the cheek area that is sturdy against changes brought by dieting and exercising. Losing body weight generally makes the face look less plump but the buccal fat pad is so specific that it is hardly ever totally gone without a surgical procedure.
Buccal fat is nothing other than a common component that naturally occurs in every human being and acts as a lubricating surface for the operation of the chewing muscles. In fact, genetics mostly determine the size and prominence of these fat pads, which do not have hardly anything to do with your weight or lifestyle.
Generally speaking, the ideal patient is themself or themselves already matured about 20 to 30 years old, after a development cycle of the face but still in possession of a high skin elasticity. Medical specialists quite often recommend their patients to hold back till they are grown-ups, since the facial contour naturally gets slimmer during the late teens and early twenties.
Facial fat cannot be targeted by any particular food so cutting down on alcohol and sodium can go a long way in eliminating water retention and facial puffiness. Losing weight altogether depends on eating a balanced diet that consists of potassium-rich, unprocessed foods, which consequently will make your face look more slender.
Matarasso, A. (2006). Buccal fat pad excision: Aesthetic improvement of the midface. Annals of Plastic Surgery.
Rohrich, R. J., & Pessa, J. E. (2007). The fat compartments of the face: anatomy and clinical implications for cosmetic surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Jackson, I. T. (1999). Anatomy of the buccal fat pad and its clinical significance. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
