Why consider a buccal fat pat removal ?
Patients who feel that they have excess fat on their cheeks, may be good candidates for a surgical buccal fat pad removal. This procedure does not leave any scar on the face, because the fat is accessed through an incision in the mouth. Each of us have a different distribution of facial fat, this varies from patient to patient and can be influenced by genetics and lifestyle.
What is buccal fat pad removal ?
A buccal fat pad removal is simply the removal of a pad of fat through an incision from the inside of your cheek.
How is this procedure performed ?
For this procedure, an incision is made in the inside of the mouth and a small tunnel is created to tease out some of the cheek fat. Not all the cheek fat is removed, because this fat serves both a functional and aesthetic purpose. Functionally, we need some fat in the cheeks to help the muscles of the cheek glide and move smoothly. Aesthetically, we need fat in our cheeks to look healthy. As we age, the fat in our face naturally decreases, so we do not want to remove too much fat from this area, otherwise it may contribute to a volume deficit in years to come.
How long will my results last ?
A buccal fat pad removal is usually permanent, unless you put on significant weight. In this case a second buccal fat pad removal may be considered, but is not likely.
Recovery
It is important to eat soft food and keep the area clean by using repeated antibacterial mouthwashes. The sutures in the mouth are dissolvable and so they do not need to be removed, but they will slowly disintegrate and drop out as your tissues heal.
One week later
No one will be able to see that you have had surgery, because the incisions for this procedure are inside the mouth. Your cheeks might be a little swollen, but the swelling is usually indiscernible, as most likely you had some volume in your cheeks before your procedure. Dr Wetton will see you regularly to monitor your healing in person.
Complications
- Too much fat removal
- Not enough fat removal
- Asymmetry
- Damage to deep structures such as nerve, muscle or parotid duct
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Seroma or Haematoma (collection of blood or fluid)
How much will my buccal fat pad removal be ?
The cost for a buccal fat made removal will be $4,500-$5,500.
This fee does not include the Hospital or the Anaesthetic Fee.
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