Buccal Fat Removal Pros and Cons: 10 Powerful Facts 2025

Understanding Buccal Fat Removal: A Modern Facial Contouring Trend

Buccal fat removal pros and cons have become hot topics as this surgical procedure gains popularity on social media and among celebrities seeking defined cheekbones. The procedure involves removing fat pads from the lower cheeks to create a more sculpted facial appearance.

Quick Overview: Buccal Fat Removal Pros and Cons

Pros:
– Creates slimmer, more defined cheekbones
– Permanent results that don’t require maintenance
– Hidden scars inside the mouth
– Quick recovery (3-5 days downtime)
– Minimal pain during and after procedure

Cons:
– Risk of premature facial aging and hollow appearance
– Permanent and irreversible changes
– Potential complications like nerve damage or asymmetry
– May accelerate natural volume loss as you age
– Not suitable for everyone’s facial structure

The buccal fat pads sit deep in your cheeks between your cheekbones and jawline. The procedure takes about 45 minutes under local anesthesia, with incisions made inside the mouth to avoid visible scarring.

However, removing these fat pads is permanent. As we naturally lose facial volume with age, some patients may develop a gaunt appearance years later, requiring fillers or fat grafting to restore youthful fullness.

As Dr. Sarah Yovino, MD, a double board-certified master injector at Ideal Face & Body, I’ve helped countless patients steer the buccal fat removal pros and cons to make informed decisions about their facial aesthetics.

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How the Procedure Works & Who Qualifies

Understanding buccal fat removal pros and cons starts with knowing exactly what happens during this precise surgical procedure. At Ideal Face & Body, we’ve perfected this technique to ensure both safety and beautiful results for our Beverly Hills patients.

The entire procedure takes about 45 minutes and happens right in our office under local anesthesia. We make tiny incisions inside your mouth, near your back molars, which means absolutely no visible scars on your face.

Through these small openings, we carefully locate the buccal fat pads deep in your cheeks. We must steer around important facial nerves and salivary ducts. The key is removing just the right amount to achieve your desired contour without creating future problems.

Once we’ve removed the appropriate amount of fat, we close everything up with dissolvable sutures. More info about surgical steps

Who makes the best candidate? Your weight needs to be stable for at least six months. Good skin elasticity is crucial, since your skin needs to contract nicely after we remove the fat underneath.

Age guidelines matter more than you might think. We typically recommend waiting until at least 20 years old when your facial structure has fully developed. The sweet spot is usually between 20-40 years old.

Candidate Checklist

Before we consider you for buccal fat removal, you’ll need to pass our comprehensive health screening. Good overall health is non-negotiable – no active infections, uncontrolled medical conditions, or healing disorders.

Smoking is an absolute dealbreaker. You must quit at least two weeks before surgery and stay smoke-free during healing.

We need to confirm that buccal fat is actually your problem. Some patients think they have fat cheeks when they actually have enlarged masseter muscles from teeth grinding. That requires Botox treatment, not surgery.

Realistic expectations are essential. This procedure creates subtle refinement, not dramatic change. More info about ideal age

Special Considerations for Different Patients

Round faces typically benefit most from this procedure. If you have a circular face shape with full cheeks that don’t respond to weight loss, buccal fat removal can create beautiful definition.

However, if you already have an angular face, removing more volume might make you look too hollow. We carefully analyze your facial structure to predict how you’ll look both now and in 10-20 years.

Men often want more dramatic changes than women, but we balance those goals with long-term facial harmony. More info for men

At Ideal Face & Body, Dr. Sarah Yovino and Dr. Justin Yovino take time to understand your unique facial anatomy and aesthetic goals.

Buccal Fat Removal Pros and Cons

The buccal fat removal pros and cons conversation isn’t as simple as scrolling through Instagram before-and-after photos. This procedure has genuinely transformed many patients’ confidence, but it’s also created some regrets that we need to discuss openly.

The biggest draw? Permanent facial contouring that creates those coveted defined cheekbones without ongoing maintenance. Unlike fillers that need refreshing every year or two, buccal fat removal gives you lasting results. The surgery itself is surprisingly straightforward – we make tiny incisions inside your mouth, so there’s no visible scarring.

But here’s where things get complicated. That same permanence also creates its biggest risk. Your buccal fat pads are actually some of the most stable fat compartments in your face – they’re the last to go as you age naturally. Remove them in your twenties, and you might love the results now but feel too hollow in your forties.

Your face naturally loses about 10% of its volume each decade starting around age 25. If you remove buccal fat early, you’re essentially fast-forwarding that process. Scientific research on long-term facial aging shows that these fat pads serve as crucial support structures for maintaining youthful facial contours.

Key Pros of the Procedure

The change can be genuinely life-changing for the right candidate. Patients often tell us they finally see their true facial structure emerge after years of feeling self-conscious about full cheeks.

The technical advantages are impressive too. We perform the entire procedure under local anesthesia in about 45 minutes. Most patients are surprised by how comfortable the experience is.

Recovery is remarkably quick compared to other facial surgeries. You’ll likely be back to work within 3-5 days. The permanent results eliminate the ongoing commitment and expense of non-surgical alternatives. More info on benefits

Key Cons of the Procedure

Over-resection is our biggest concern, and unfortunately, it’s not always immediately apparent. Removing too much buccal fat can create an unnatural hollow appearance that becomes more pronounced as you age.

The accelerated aging effect is real and concerning, especially for younger patients. While you might love your chiseled look at 25, you could find yourself needing fillers by 35 to restore facial balance.

Revision difficulty makes this decision particularly weighty. Unlike other cosmetic procedures that can be adjusted, buccal fat removal changes are permanent. More info about downtime

“Buccal Fat Removal Pros and Cons” in Real Life Results

The satisfaction statistics look great on paper – around 90% of patients report being happy with their results. But most satisfaction surveys happen within the first year after surgery, not five or ten years later when aging effects become apparent.

Real patient results tend to be much more subtle than social media suggests. The happiest patients we see are those who understood from the beginning that this procedure provides refined improvement, not dramatic change. More info on before & after

Short-Term Side Effects & Recovery Timeline

The good news about buccal fat removal recovery is that it’s generally much easier than most people expect. While you’ll need to plan for some downtime, most patients are pleasantly surprised by how manageable the healing process is.

Swelling peaks around day two after your procedure, which is completely normal. The soreness you’ll feel is typically mild and easily handled with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Since the incisions are inside your mouth, eating becomes a bit tricky at first. You’ll need to stick to soft foods for the first few days – think smoothies, yogurt, and soup.

Oral hygiene becomes your new best friend during recovery. We’ll give you specific instructions for gentle saline mouth rinses. The dissolvable sutures we use mean you won’t need to come back for suture removal.

Most patients return to work within 3-5 days, though you might still have some residual swelling. This is temporary and continues improving over the following weeks.

Your recovery journey: Days 1-2 bring peak swelling and require soft foods with plenty of rest. Days 3-5 show gradual swelling reduction, and many patients feel ready to return to work. By week 1, most swelling has subsided. Weeks 2-4 see continued improvement. Months 1-3 reveal your final results.

The buccal fat removal pros and cons during recovery lean heavily toward the pros – most patients find the process much easier than anticipated. More info about recovery

Managing Common Side Effects

Ice packs are your recovery superpower during the first 48 hours. Apply them for 15-minute intervals, always wrapped in cloth to protect your skin.

Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen handle any discomfort beautifully. Just avoid aspirin and other blood-thinning medications.

Gentle saline mouth rinses help maintain oral hygiene without irritating healing tissues. Regular follow-up visits let us monitor your progress.

Contact us immediately if you experience excessive bleeding, signs of infection like fever, severe pain not controlled by medications, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or persistent numbness.

Frequently Reported Early Complications

Hematoma formation is simply blood collecting under the skin. Small hematomas often resolve naturally. Salivary gland issues are rare but may cause temporary drooling or dry mouth.

Temporary numbness in your cheek area sometimes occurs when small sensory nerves are affected. This usually resolves within weeks to months. Asymmetrical swelling can make results look uneven during early recovery but typically evens out as healing progresses.

Long-Term Results, Aging & Maintenance

When considering buccal fat removal pros and cons, the long-term picture is perhaps the most important factor to understand. While immediate results can be stunning, what happens over the next 10, 20, or 30 years requires serious consideration.

The fat pads we remove are gone forever – they don’t grow back. This permanence is both the procedure’s greatest strength and its biggest potential drawback. Your newly sculpted cheekbones will remain defined, but your face will continue aging around these changes.

Our faces naturally lose about 10% of their fat volume each decade starting around age 25. When you remove buccal fat pads early in life, you’re essentially fast-forwarding this natural process. Some patients develop that hollow, gaunt appearance much earlier than they would have naturally.

Think of buccal fat pads as your face’s built-in anti-aging insurance. They’re among the last fat compartments to shrink with age, which means removing them eliminates one of nature’s ways of keeping you looking youthful.

Weight changes can significantly impact your long-term results. Significant weight gain might cause remaining facial fat to expand, softening that sculpted look. Weight loss can make the hollow appearance even more pronounced.

Many patients eventually find themselves seeking volume restoration through fillers or fat grafting. It’s somewhat ironic – removing fat to look better, then adding volume back years later to avoid looking too hollow.

Several factors influence how your results will age: your age at surgery, the amount of fat removed, your natural aging rate, genetics, skin quality, and lifestyle habits all impact long-term outcomes.

“Buccal Fat Removal Pros and Cons” Over Decades

The secret to long-term satisfaction lies in strategic, conservative removal. Experienced surgeons understand that taking out just enough fat to achieve beautiful contouring while preserving facial harmony is an art form.

Patients who undergo the procedure in their twenties often experience “aging acceleration.” They love their chiseled cheekbones at 25, feel great about them at 35, but by 45 may find themselves looking older than friends who kept their natural facial fat.

The most satisfied patients decades later are typically those who had realistic expectations from the start and chose surgeons who removed fat conservatively rather than dramatically.

Recent research reveals that buccal fat pads serve functions beyond just making cheeks look full. They provide structural support that helps maintain smooth, rounded contours we associate with youthful faces. When you remove them, you’re eliminating this natural support system permanently.

Understanding these long-term implications is crucial when weighing buccal fat removal pros and cons. The procedure can provide beautiful results, but it’s important to go in with eyes wide open about what the next few decades might bring.

Alternatives & Decision Checklist

Before jumping into surgery, it’s worth exploring gentler paths to facial contouring. Sometimes the buccal fat removal pros and cons equation shifts dramatically when you find non-surgical alternatives that can achieve similar results.

Dermal fillers offer a completely different approach to facial sculpting. Instead of removing fat, we strategically add volume to your cheekbones and jawline, creating the illusion of a slimmer face. These results last 12-18 months, giving you flexibility to adjust your look as preferences evolve.

Masseter Botox works wonders for patients whose facial fullness actually comes from enlarged jaw muscles rather than fat pads. Many people are surprised to learn their “chubby cheeks” are actually strong jaw muscles from teeth grinding. A few strategic injections can slim your lower face significantly.

Kybella injections target that stubborn double chin area, and improving your jawline definition can dramatically change how full your cheeks appear.

Radiofrequency skin tightening takes a gradual approach, stimulating your body’s natural collagen production to tighten and define facial contours.

Cheek liposuction offers a middle ground between surgical buccal fat removal and completely non-invasive options.

Let’s address the elephant in the room – facial exercises. While social media is full of promises about facial yoga, the science simply doesn’t support these claims for significant fat reduction.

The smartest approach considers your entire facial harmony rather than fixating on one area. Sometimes addressing your chin projection or jawline definition creates the facial balance you’re seeking without ever touching your cheek fat.

Pre-Consultation Self-Assessment

Before scheduling that consultation, take a moment for honest self-reflection. Grab a hand mirror and really examine what’s bothering you about your facial appearance.

Ask yourself these key questions: Are you bothered by overall facial roundness or specifically the cheek area? Have you maintained stable weight for at least six months? Do you understand that results are permanent and irreversible? Are you prepared for the possibility of needing volume restoration as you age?

Photo analysis can be incredibly revealing. Take pictures from multiple angles – front view, three-quarter view, and profile.

Prepare thoughtful questions for your consultation. Don’t just focus on the procedure itself – ask about your surgeon’s experience, alternative treatment options, realistic timelines, and long-term maintenance considerations.

More info about natural options

The best cosmetic decisions are never rushed. Take time to explore all your options, understand the buccal fat removal pros and cons thoroughly, and choose the approach that aligns with both your aesthetic goals and your long-term facial health.

Frequently Asked Questions about Buccal Fat Removal Pros and Cons

Does the fat ever grow back?

This is probably the most common question we hear at our Beverly Hills practice. The short answer is no – once buccal fat pads are surgically removed, they’re gone for good. Unlike other areas of the body where fat cells can regenerate, these specific fat pads don’t grow back.

Think of it like removing a piece of furniture from your living room – that exact piece won’t magically reappear. However, your face continues to change in other ways. If you gain significant weight later, other facial fat compartments can expand, which might soften your newly sculpted look somewhat.

This permanence is both the biggest advantage and the biggest concern when weighing buccal fat removal pros and cons. You get lasting results without needing touch-ups, but you also can’t undo the change if your preferences shift over time.

Dr. Sarah Yovino always tells patients to think carefully about this permanence. While the specific buccal fat won’t return, your face will continue aging and changing through weight fluctuations, hormonal shifts, and natural volume loss in other areas.

Will I look older faster after removal?

This question gets to the heart of the long-term buccal fat removal pros and cons debate. The honest answer is that removing buccal fat can accelerate certain aspects of facial aging, particularly the development of hollow cheeks.

Here’s what happens naturally: we lose about 10% of our facial fat each decade starting around age 25. Your buccal fat pads are actually some of the last fat compartments to shrink with age – they’re like your face’s built-in anti-aging reserves.

When you remove these fat pads early, you’re essentially fast-forwarding to what your face might look like in 10-20 years. Some patients love this sculpted look throughout their lives, while others find themselves wanting to restore volume with fillers later.

The timing of your surgery matters enormously. Patients who have the procedure in their early twenties may notice more dramatic aging effects than those who wait until their thirties or forties. This is why age guidelines exist – not to limit your choices, but to help you make the best long-term decision.

At Ideal Face & Body, we often recommend waiting until your late twenties or early thirties when your facial structure has fully matured and you can better predict how aging will affect your results.

Can the procedure be combined with other facial surgeries?

Absolutely! Buccal fat removal works beautifully as part of a comprehensive facial rejuvenation plan. Many of our Beverly Hills patients combine it with other procedures to achieve balanced, harmonious results.

Popular combinations include rhinoplasty for overall facial balance, chin augmentation to strengthen the jawline, or even facelift procedures for patients addressing multiple aging concerns. The key is ensuring each procedure complements the others rather than competing for attention.

Combining surgeries does mean longer time under anesthesia and potentially extended recovery, but it also means addressing all your concerns at once. You’ll have one recovery period instead of multiple, and the procedures can be planned to work together for optimal results.

However, not everyone is a good candidate for combined procedures. Your overall health, the complexity of each surgery, and your personal healing capacity all factor into this decision. Dr. Justin Yovino carefully evaluates each patient to determine the safest and most effective approach.

Sometimes we recommend staging procedures – perhaps starting with buccal fat removal and then addressing other areas once you’ve healed and can see how the first change affects your overall facial balance. This approach gives you more control over your change and allows for adjustments along the way.

The decision really comes down to your individual goals, anatomy, and comfort level with surgical procedures. During consultation, we’ll discuss all your options and help you create a plan that achieves your vision safely and effectively.

Conclusion

Making the right choice about buccal fat removal pros and cons isn’t something you should rush. This procedure can create stunning facial definition, but those changes are with you for life – and that’s both the beauty and the challenge of it.

Here at Ideal Face & Body in Beverly Hills, we’ve seen how transformative the right facial contouring can be. But we’ve also learned that the best results come when patients truly understand what they’re signing up for, both now and twenty years down the road.

The reality is this: buccal fat removal works beautifully for some people and not so much for others. The trick is figuring out which group you’re in before you make any permanent decisions.

Dr. Sarah Yovino and Dr. Justin Yovino have helped hundreds of patients steer these exact questions. What makes our approach different is that we don’t just focus on one procedure. Our expertise in “Precision Sculpt” awake liposuction and advanced injection techniques means we can often achieve similar contouring results without permanent changes.

Sometimes the answer is buccal fat removal. Sometimes it’s strategic filler placement or masseter Botox. And sometimes it’s a combination approach that gives you the best of both worlds.

The patients who love their buccal fat removal results long-term tend to have a few things in common. They chose conservative surgeons who didn’t over-remove fat. They had realistic expectations about subtle rather than dramatic changes. And they understood that they might need some volume restoration as they age.

Here’s what we always tell our patients: if you’re on the fence about buccal fat removal, start with non-surgical options first. You can always remove fat later, but you can’t put it back once it’s gone.

Take your time with this decision. Look at before-and-after photos of patients who are at least five years out from surgery, not just the immediate results. Think about how you want to look not just next year, but in the next decade.

If you’re ready to explore your options – whether that’s buccal fat removal or one of our many non-surgical alternatives – we’d love to help you figure out the best path forward. Every face is different, and your treatment plan should be just as unique as you are.

More info about your next step