Buccal Pad Fat Removal – What does it mean?
Buccal fat pad is the pad of fat in your cheeks which gives them volume and sometimes can make them look round and chubby. Also, as we age, this fat sags and adds to the jowls.
Hence, their removal makes the cheeks sink in a bit giving you a more proportionate, chiselled face and enhance the jawline as well. This surgery is also known as Bichectomy since this fat pad is also known as “Fat pad of Bichat”.
Why should it be done?
- You have excess fat in your cheeks which makes your face look rounder
- Your cheeks become very prominent while smiling
- Your face has not slimmed enough after facial liposuction
- You want a slimmer chiselled face with better jawline
Bichectomy is performed under general or local anaesthesia. A key hole incision is then given at the buccal mucosa, inside the oral cavity. Hence there is no scar on the face. Pressure is applied to the outer side of the cheeks, pushing the buccal fat pad inside to protrude into the mouth. The requisite amount of fat is excised from this protruded pad, leaving the cheek size reduced and proportionate to face.
The incision is then closed with the help of absorbable sutures and it heals in a few days.
The entire procedure takes only about 30 minutes. You can have bland soft or liquid diet for a week, after which, you can resume normal solid food.
