Buccal Fat Removal by Dr. Mehdi Sina

Oftentimes, patients become frustrated because with diet and exercise, they can obtain sculpted and defined bodies, but their faces remain chubby. In older patients, the buccal fat pad descends and contributes to the heaviness in the lower face and jowls. A buccal fat removal, or buccal lipectomy, is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to remove the excessive fat in the cheeks to give the face a more contoured and defined appearance.

Dr. Mehdi Sina is fellowship trained in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and board certified. He is adept at the nuances and precision required of cosmetic facial surgery, including buccal fat removal.

What Are the Benefits of Buccal Fat Removal Surgery?

In patients who have excessive fat in the buccal fat pad resulting in a round facial shape or have “chubby cheeks” or “chipmunk cheeks,” a buccal fat removal surgery can help them achieve a more contoured and defined facial shape.

The buccal fat pad is sandwiched between the cheekbone above and the jawline below, by removing the excessive fat in the buccal space, a nice hollow is created in the space between the cheekbone and jawline, resulting in more contoured and defined facial appearance.

Buccal fat removal surgery has become a bit of a controversial topic in the plastic surgery community. This surgery should be truly reserved for patients that have excessive fullness in the central cheek. Because this surgery has gained notoriety on social media, many patients that are not appropriate candidates still ask for, and in some cases receive buccal fat removal surgery. The risk of having this surgery if you are not an appropriate candidate is that your face will look gaunt, especially as you age. Dr. Sina uses his expert knowledge of anatomy and facial beauty to help determine who is and more importantly, who is not a candidate for buccal fat removal.

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Am I a Candidate for Buccal Fat Removal Surgery?

Ideal candidates for buccal fat removal have a round facial shape or have “chubby cheeks” or “chipmunk cheeks”, they are not significantly overweight and they typically complain of stubborn facial roundness and fullness despite diet and exercise. Additionally, older patients who are experiencing heaviness in the lower face and jowls can benefit from a buccal fat removal, typically in conjunction with a facelift surgery.

Poor candidates for buccal fat removal are patients who have normal to thin faces, but desire more definition in the cheekbones or jawline. To best understand if you are an ideal candidate for a buccal fat removal, a consultation with Dr. Sina can give you more information. Call Vegas Facial Plastics today or fill out our contact form to request a consultation with our facial enhancement specialist.

What Are My Buccal Fat Removal Options?

The primary technique used to remove excess fat from the buccal space is a transoral approach, meaning a small incision is made inside of the mouth, and with minimal and careful dissection, the buccal space is encountered and the excess buccal fat is gently teased out and excised.

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Why Choose Dr. Sina For a Buccal Fat Removal Surgery?

Having a knowledgeable and honest surgeon are two of the most important factors when determining who should perform your cosmetic surgery procedure. At Vegas Facial Plastics, Dr. Mehdi Sina combines skill, honesty and humility to give his patients the reassurance they need and the confidence that they are in the best hands.

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How Is Buccal Fat Removal Surgery Performed?

Your Consultation

Your initial consultation with Dr. Sina is an important first step in your buccal fat removal journey. Dr. Sina considers the consultation as both a meet and greet between him and his patients, as well as an opportunity for him to help educate patients about every facet of the surgical process. Additionally, patients are required to clearly articulate their goals and concerns for the procedure. Dr. Sina will listen to your concerns and help you determine what treatments will be best for achieving your aesthetic goals.

Dr. Sina considers these meetings as an opportunity to have an honest discussion about goals and surgical realities. If you are a poor candidate for surgery for any reason, Dr. Sina won’t just turn you away, he will take the time to explain to you why and answer all of your questions. If you are a good candidate for surgery, Dr. Sina will give you comprehensive instructions on how to best prepare for surgery as well as the postoperative recovery. What he won’t do is pressure anyone to undergo surgery. Be sure to be honest with Dr. Sina, as he’ll be honest with you.

The Buccal Fat Removal Procedure

Buccal fat removal is performed under local anesthesia and typically takes about 1 hour to perform. Patients are given an oral medication to help them relax. The incision for buccal lipectomy is made inside of the mouth after it has been injected with local anesthesia. Once the patient is completely relaxed and the area of the incision is completely numb, the incision is made, and the excessive buccal fat is identified and gently teased out and cut away. The incision is then closed using dissolvable sutures.

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What Is Buccal Fat Removal Surgery Recovery Like?

Buccal fat removal is not dissimilar to a minor dental procedure. Because the incision is inside of the mouth, the patient may experience some soreness at the incision site and must be careful when eating for the first week after surgery. Foods to avoid will be anything that is excessively hot, spicy, hard/crunchy/sharp. It is typically best to start with cool, bland foods and advance to more solid foods over the ensuing few days.

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How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Surgery Cost in Las Vegas?

In the plastic surgery industry, like any other industry, pricing varies based on many factors including the skill and experience of the surgeon, the amount of undivided, individualized attention each patient receives, the quality of the patient experience, etc. Additionally, factors such as the cost of operating a medical practice are also important in determining the cost of surgery. At Vegas Facial Plastics, our patients receive 5 star care, often at a fraction of what a similar surgery and surgical experience would cost in Beverly Hills or Manhattan, NYC.

The cost of buccal fat removal surgery in Las Vegas varies between surgeons. Higher-rated and more experienced surgeons will command higher fees because their results are more natural-looking, and their experience suggests a reduced risk of complications or poor surgical outcomes. Dr. Sina will discuss all of your surgical options and give you an accurate cost estimate at the time of your consultation.

When Will I See Buccal Fat Removal Results?

There are a couple of different phases of recovery after buccal fat removal. In the immediate post-surgical period, the central cheeks will be swollen because of both post-operative swelling and because of the swelling that is attributable to the injection of local anesthesia. Typically, swelling from this first phase resolves in the first 1-2 weeks. The second phase of recovery is the time during which the remaining buccal fat settles in place and the results of surgery begin to become noticeable with improved definition of the cheeks, a submalar hollow, and improved jawline definition.

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Want to Learn More About Buccal Fat Removal Surgery in Las Vegas?

Anyone experiencing frustration or dissatisfaction with persistent fullness/roundness or heaviness in the cheeks despite being at normal weight may be a candidate for buccal fat removal surgery in Las Vegas with Dr. Sina. Call Vegas Facial Plastics today to request a consultation with our renowned facial rejuvenation expert, or fill out our online contact form to get started.

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