It may accelerate facial aging.
One of the most popular facial contouring methods in facial plastic surgery is bichectomy aka buccal fat removal, which aims to reshape the cheeks by removing deep fat pads. It is no surprise that among the numerous questions put to plastic surgeons by patients, one that most patients want to know is, “Will this operation make me look older?”
The medical perspective is not straightforward: the surgical procedure, per se, will not change the natural skin and tissue aging processes. However, if the surgery is carried out on the wrong candidate or if too much fat is taken out, the postoperative volume loss will perfectly simulate the naturally-occurring bone manifestations and hollowing of the face that are typical in old age.”
At Lin Health Europe Clinic, we see facial fat as a valuable, living resource rather than just a source of aesthetic problems. For our overseas clients coming to Turkey, we mainly focus on the structural volume as the most potent weapon in the fight against the signs of aging. Our center is the leading place for tailored facial contouring, where we give great importance to your aesthetic future and not a short-lived trend which is how we prefer doing this operation only when it is anatomically and biologically suitable.”
Anatomy of Buccal Fat and the Implications of Its Removal
First, one must understand the role of the buccal fat pad to comprehend the lasting effects of buccal fat pad removal on one’s face. The buccal fat pad is not like subcutaneous adipose tissue which is located just under the skin and varies with diet and exercise; it is a deep, enclosed entity found between the buccinator and masseter muscles.
The biological function of this fat pad is to offer a frictionless surface for chewing muscles and to afford facial shape to the region between cheeks and chin. At Lin Health Europe Clinic, our surgeons in Turkey very carefully examine the deepest anatomical layer. Having your operation in our esteemed clinic guarantees that your surgeon will have an in-depth knowledge of the role of this particular fat pad in supporting your skin, thereby preventing mid-face skeletal collapse.
Facial Volume Loss Over Time
The main factor that leads to buccal fat removal being linked to an “old” look is human biology itself. The face loses volume with age. Fat atrophies, bone mass of the skull decreases, and skin loses elasticity. If a young person in their 20s removes their buccal fat pad completely to get a sharply contoured jawline that is in vogue these days, they will be left without the very source of fat that their face will cry for when they become 40, 50, etc. When natural aging diminishes the rest of their facial volume, the absence of buccal support will cause the cheeks to collapse, resulting in the face looking very skeletal and prematurely aged.
In Turkey, the Lin Health Europe Clinic team makes use of different techniques to foresee the path of your facial aging and find solutions so that your future youth is preserved instead of being sacrificed for a momentary extreme contour.
Who Are The Real Candidates for Bichectomy?
In order to avoid such undesirable consequences in the future, it is very important to determine whether a person is the right candidate for the operation. Bichectomy is absolutely not suitable for people with thin faces, underdeveloped cheekbones, or those who only have “baby fat” which is temporary. This operation is meant for patients with true buccal pseudoherniation – commonly known as “chipmunk cheeks” – where the fat pad is so large that it gives the impression of a heavy, wide lower face which does not even change with weight loss.
Our specialty at Lin Health Europe Clinic is conducting in-depth volumetric analysis. The only condition upon which you will be allowed to go under the knife is if your facial bone structure (mainly the zygomatic arches and mandible) is capable of supporting your skin after the fat is removed without the need for a buccal fat pad.
Titrated Excision vs. Complete Removal
Once a person is a good candidate for the surgery, the way it is done will determine the quality of the result for a long time. Top facial contouring is based on a principle of preservation rather than removal. Removal of the whole buccal fat pad is essentially a major blunder which will almost certainly lead to hollowing in the future.
At Lin Health Europe Clinic, we offer our international patients in Turkey highly controlled, titrated excisions where our surgeons just remove the bulky portion of the fat pad that is responsible for the fullness of the lower face, while the upper part, which is necessary for supporting the cheekbone, is left intact. We are at the forefront of Turkey’s cosmetic surgery industry in treating bichectomy not as a big intervention but as a tiny work of art, protecting the facial balance that will remain for decades.
Buccal Fat Removal in Turkey
For us at Lin Health Europe Clinic, the best cosmetic surgery is one that is both able to save a patient and at the same time is able to say, “No” to him/her. Our Turkey branch is one that represents the highest standard in medicine, where advanced facial science goes hand in hand with ethical patient care. We work in JCI-accredited hospitals with modern facilities which reflect our status as the global leader in international medical tourism and aesthetic refinement.
Choosing Lin Health Europe Clinic means choosing the most skilled, forward-thinking surgical hands in Istanbul. Our globally recognized specialists prioritize your lifelong facial architecture over short-sighted cosmetic trends. From your initial 3D biometric screening to your elegantly contoured final result, you will experience the professional rigor and elite hospitality that have made us the leading name in aesthetic medicine. With us, your journey to a balanced, sophisticated profile is managed by the best in the world.
FAQ:
Actually, the surgery itself doesn’t age the skin, but if you extract a lot of the deep structural fat, you might prematurely develop the hollow, skeletonized look of old age when you are in your 40s. Our surgeons in Turkey, therefore, thoroughly check your cheekbone structure to make sure that your face is well-supported and stays youthful for a long time.
Generally, candidates are those with very full, heavy lower cheeks which are prominent even when the person is thin. We do not recommend this procedure for thin-faced patients because biological aging will naturally contour the cheeks in the future.
Indeed, the buccal fat pad is a separate, isolated structure, and once it is taken out surgically, those particular fat cells will not come back. Yet, large overall weight increases can still make the superficial fat layer of the face thicker, which could change the results of your newly sculpted face.
On the other hand, if a patient is wrongfully chosen for the procedure, lack of volume beneath the skin can make the skin drape badly and the patient might look deflated or sagging as the collagen naturally decreases.
The original buccal fat pad cannot be regrown, however, if a very thin face develops years after an unnecessarily aggressive surgery, the volume can be structurally replaced. Our experts in Istanbul use highly effective micro-fat grafting to re-inject your own purified fat deep into the midface in a way that is safe and long-lasting, thus re-creating your resulting loss permanently.
Jackson, I. T. (1999). Anatomy of the buccal fat pad and its clinical significance. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Stuzin, J. M., et al. (1990). The anatomy and clinical applications of the buccal fat pad in facial plastic surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
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.
