Buccal Fat Pad Excision

The more patients study their facial features the more often very subtle features become very noticeable. The look of a very round middle face, puffy cheeks and loss of cheek bone contour are very good reasons that patients don’t like this look, and come to me and seek this surgery. I understand this concern of yours, and can cure it for you.

The anatomy of the middle face, often called the midface, is composed of its bony foundations (cheekbones and below), the surface fat, and the deep fat pocket called the buccal fat pad or Bichat’s fat pad or fat pad of Bichat. This is what I address very carefully when evaluating fullness in this area. It is not the fat more commonly seen below and along the jawline, called the jowl fat. This is different. It is intimately related to the lower cheekbone contour above, and the jawline and jowl below, so that, there are many different anatomic features of each of these areas that must be addressed prior to your surgery. I will coordinate the features of your anatomy with your expectations, formulate a plan with you, and guide you through this. There is a very specific technique to removal of this fat pad through a ½” incision in the mouth, or combined with a facelift. Surgery involves a relatively short procedure under a light general anesthetic, performed where I do surgery, which is in a hospital setting. The surgery is safe and predictable. There is very little swelling. All the stitches are dissolvable, with return to work in as little as 1-2 days, and to some physical exercise within the first week.

This is an extremely technical procedure and takes very special expertise to first accurately identify IF the fat pad is involved, and secondly, to carefully and artistically remove it. I have this expertise in buccal fat pad removal in patients and spend a great deal of time discussing your anatomy, listening to your expectations, and interpreting for you what your anatomy and tissues will allow me to do in a safe and predictable way. In addition, I consider your body as a whole when I build a system into every facial surgery that, initially, allows you to recover much quicker and, secondly, it serves to preserve your surgical results. This system includes a special diet, special attention to blood clotting, vitamins, supplements, special garments, skin products, physical training and knowing what to avoid. Together, all of this allows me to create results that are consistently very beautiful, quick to heal, exceptionally natural, and with minimal incisions, especially in the face; an area of such major importance. I am delighted to surgically provide you with such profound yet natural facial image changes, and ones that have consistently so pleased my patients and changed their lives.
 

For before and after images of this procedure click here

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