Is Buccal Fat Removal Safe? All Your Questions Answered
Dubai-based plastic surgeon Dr. Dany Kayle, founder of Dr. Kayle Aesthetic Clinic Dubai, shares all the answers to your burning questions about the buzzy procedure taking Hollywood by storm
How much does buccal fat removal cost? Is buccal fat removal permanent? Dr. Dany Kayle weighs in.
Chrissy Teigen admits she’s had it done. Indeed, buccal fat removal is rumoured to be the reason other A-listers such as Lea Michele and Anya Taylor-Joy are looking more angular and sharp-cheeked in recent months.
Dubbed by some medical professionals as a kind of ‘permanent contour’ that helps to enhance your cheekbones and sculpt your face, the plastic surgery procedure is becoming the go-to trend but it does have some downsides.
Derived from the Latin word bucca, which means “puffed cheek”, the buccal fat pad sits between facial muscles, in the cheek hollows just below your cheekbones. The size of these pads varies from person to person, regardless of weight and while these fat pads can thin as you age, they can’t be reduced by diet or exercise, which is why this minor surgery has become increasingly popular.
In fact, the Buccal fat removal procedure removes fat from the buccal pad, to contour the midface and make the cheekbones look more defined, by emphasising the submalar hollow below the cheekbone. It is a better option for the face than liposuction as the latter can damage facial nerves.
The other reason it has become popular is that buccal fat removal can be paired with other procedures to further define and refine the face. For instance, if you want to further slim and sculpt the facial features, you can pair it with liposuction under the chin. It can also be paired with cheek implants or injectable dermal fillers, to create more sharply defined cheekbones, or even with cosmetic surgery procedures such as a mini facelift to contour the jawline.
The procedure is done under anaesthesia – local or general, depending on the patient’s preference. The surgeon creates small incisions on either side of the inside of the patient’s mouth, exposing the buccal fat pad, and then removes some or all of the fat.
Who is an ideal candidate for buccal fat removal? Should patients in their twenties consider it?
Anybody who wants a more defined look to his or her face is a candidate for buccal fat removal. The patients can belong to any age group, provided they are sure about it as this can’t be undone, and consequently, it is a permanent look modification.
Is Buccal fat removal a painful procedure?
It is not painful at all as a simple local anesthesia injection will be enough to block the sensation in that area during the procedure. Patients can feel some discomfort though after the procedure for few days but they never report it as pain, just discomfort.
In terms of downtime, how long is the recovery period?
Because of the discomfort mentioned above and the routine swelling that will appear after such an intervention, I always advise one week for recovery.
How much does Buccal fat removal cost?
The cost is usually around AED10,000 if done under local anaesthesia.
How should one go about finding a qualified and talented surgeon to do the procedure?
This is the most important homework to do. You should always seek a certified plastic surgeon who has both many years of experience and an undisputable reputation.
Is Buccal fat removal permanent?
Indeed it is and that is why patients should be sure about it.
But I do have a word of warning for those considering the procedure…
As you age, you naturally lose volume in the face so having a lack of buccal fat may make you appear gaunt and older. Remember, once the buccal fat is gone, it cannot be restored you can only use fillers and fat injections to replicate the look of buccal fat.
For this reason, it is vital to only have the procedure with a fully qualified and talented surgeon who will be very precise when removing buccal fat as different people will need to have different amounts removed. It is not a case that you remove all the buccal fat for every patient.
For more information, visit drkayleclinic.com
Images courtesy of Jason Lloyd Evans (Saint Laurent SS2023 and Akris SS2023)