Buccal Fat Removal
Buccal fat removal is a procedure Dr. Taylor uses to eliminate a “chipmunk cheek” look and to create a more defined, angular look to the face. It can be done alone or in conjunction with facial and/or neck liposuction. The procedure is usually done under local anesthetic in Dr. Taylor’s office operating room with a total operating time of under an hour. The incisions are made inside the mouth, about an inch in length and are placed inside the cheek, opposite the upper molar teeth. The entire fat pad is removed, which is the size of a golf ball in 90% of patients. A few patients will have fat pads that are slightly smaller or larger than usual. The entire pad is removed to ensure, as best as possible, a maximum result. The recovery process is relatively quick and painless. For a few days the patient will look like they have had oral surgery with swollen cheeks, but no bruising. By one week, the patients generally look like they did pre-operatively and the final results become apparent after 4-6 weeks as residual swelling disappears.
This procedure is quick and easy to perform, but requires precise surgical technique to avoid complications such as bleeding and nerve damage. It should only be done by surgeons thoroughly comfortable with the anatomy of the deep cheek region. Dr. Taylor performs one or more buccal fat procedures weekly.