All about buccal fat removal in Korea

Buccal (pronounced as “buckle”) fats are the rounded mass of fats in the middle of your cheeks, located beneath your cheekbones. Everyone has buccal fats and it plays an essential role in your face structure. Depending on how large your buccal fat pads are, it could make your face look round, chubby and wide.

That said, buccal fats are not necessary a bad thing. For some, having buccal fats actually make them look youthful – think baby face. While for others, excess buccal fats make their face look too chubby, cause cheek sagging, and make them look older.

What is buccal fat removal surgery?

Buccal fat removal surgery, or cheek reduction surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that reduces cheek fats by reducing pads of fats (buccal fat pad) in your mid-cheek area. This procedure helps contours full and rounded cheeks, resulting in a slimmer and more defined facial contour. 

Why or when do you need buccal fat removal?

If you have a wide, chubby face and desire a more chiseled facial contour, you may want to consider getting buccal fat removal surgery. It’s also worth to note that although defined cheek hollows and less fats look great on you now when you are young, you should also consider how it will look as you age.

Over-resection of the buccal fat pads may cause a deflated midface, which could contribute to premature aging. So sometimes, it might be better for you to go for a partial removal or repositioning instead of entirely removing all your buccal fat pads.

When you are of a certain age, aging can cause the fat pads in your cheeks to sag, giving you a grumpier and older image. In such cases, buccal fat removal is also an excellent anti-aging procedure as it helps get rid of excess sagging fat tissues, resulting in a more youthful look.

Who is a good candidate for buccal fat removal?

The ideal candidate for buccal fat removal surgery is someone who has natural excessive fullness in their cheeks. Typically a younger patient in their 20s to 40s with:

• Overly full and chubby cheeks due to excess buccal fat pads
• Sagging and droopy cheeks due to aging

Not recommended for patients above 50 years old or patients with thin and angular face shapes as buccal fat removal might lead to sunken cheeks which may leave them looking gaunt and older.

Buccal fat removal procedure

How is buccal fat removal surgery like?

Buccal fat removal surgery is performed with either local or general anesthesia.

Incisions are made inside your cheeks from inside your mouth to gain access to the buccal fat pads. Through these incisions, the fat pads are either reduced, repositioned or removed. 

How long does the surgery take?

This entire procedure take about 30 mins or less.

Risks & safety of buccal fat removal surgery

The risks of buccal fat removal surgery include (but are not limited to):

• Facial asymmetry
• Damage to the salivary duct
• Injury to branches of the facial nerve which can result in temporary or permanent facial muscle weakness
• Excess removal of fats

In addition, as buccal fat removal is a permanent procedure, you need to find a plastic surgeon who is meticulous to avoid causing nerve damage and knows what is best for you in order to get the best results.

Buccal fat removal recovery

After surgery

Major swelling, bruising and soreness from buccal fat removal surgery lasts 2~3 weeks. It may look as if you have gotten your wisdom tooth removed. Final results are seen after 3~6 months.

You will need to go on a liquid diet for up to 1 week to allow the incisions to heal properly and will be prescribed with a special mouthwash or oral antibiotics to prevent possible infections. Take note to not play with the sutures with your tongue to avoid complications in the healing process.

Actual recovery time vary among individuals, and is subjected to one’s health condition & healing response.

Stitch removal

Stitches will be removed 7 days after surgery.

How long should you stay in Korea?

Hospitalization is not required as it is not a major surgery but you should stay in Korea under your stitches are removed.

Scarring

As the incisions are inside your mouth, there will be no visible scars. However, you should take note to maintain oral hygiene to avoid infections.

Alternatives for buccal fat removal surgery

Alternatives for buccal fat removal includes facial liposuction and fat dissolving injections.

What other surgery complements buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat removal surgery in Korea is often performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures to enhance facial contouring results.

1. Cheek liposuction

If you have very chubby cheeks, you may need cheek liposuction as well to achieve the desired results.

2. Genioplasty

If you have chubby cheeks and weak chin, buccal fat removal will help with cheek contouring while genioplasty (chin augmentation) can help further define your overall jawline.

3. Facial contouring surgery

For those who desire the perfect v-shaped face, facial contouring surgery may be necessary to achieve the desired jawline contours.

4. SMAS facelift

Buccal fat removal complements a facelift by reducing fats in the lower cheeks for better mid-face contours and to enhance the results of your facelift.

Conclusion

While most patients are happy with the results from their buccal fat removal, one of the largest risks remains that you just don’t know how it will look on your aged face until you have actually aged.

And considering loss of facial volume as one of the biggest issues of aging, there might be a chance that by removing your buccal fats, your cheeks might look more hollow and make you look older after you have aged.

So if you looking to get buccal fat removal, consult your plastic surgeon to make sure that you really need it and don’t overdo it.