Buccal Fat Removal

What is Buccal Fat Removal Surgery?

Buccal Fat Removal, also called Bichectomy or Hollywood Cheek, is a Facial Aesthetic Surgery that aims to make the cheekbones appear more prominent and the facial lines sharper by removing the buccal adipose tissue in the cheek area. Buccal Fat Removal changes U-shaped facial lines into a sharper V shape. Buccal Fat Removal leaves no visible stitch marks and is permanent as long as there is no excessive weight gain.

Why is Buccal Fat Removal performed?

Buccal Fat Removal surgery is performed on patients who have excess fat accumulation on their cheeks in connection with their facial structure. The fat tissue hides facial features and gives a chubbier look to the patient’s cheeks, which can wrongly present an image of being overweight.

After the Buccal Fat Removal surgery, sharp lines appear on the face of the patient in the form of an aesthetically pleasing inverted triangle.

What are the conditions for Buccal Fat Removal?

Bichectomy, which can also be defined as cheek thinning surgery, can be applied to both men and women. Buccal Fat Removal is not recommended to patients who:

  • Are younger than 25 as the facial features of younger patients can continue to change until 25.
  • Have a Body Mass Index, BMI, above 25 as overweight or obese patients are often dissatisfied with their look after weight loss.
  • Smokers, and individuals over the age of 45.
  • Have thin cheeks. Buccal fat removal is better suited to patients with full cheeks, which can avoid adverse effects that might appear with advanced age.
  • Are not suitable for general anesthesia. Patient's health history is reviewed and appropriate preoperative diagnostic testing is performed to assess eligibility.

What Are The Things To Be Considered Before Buccal Fat Removal?

Before the Surgery, patients should:

  • Be at the hospital a day before their surgery for the pre operative tests to be performed.
  • Stop smoking, drinking alcohol, and using recreational drugs a month before the surgery.
  • Avoid medication containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) for two weeks before and after surgery. These medications may increase the risk of internal bleeding. Patients should confirm each medication and supplement they wish to take with their Patient Coordinator.

How is the Buccal Fat Removal performed?

Buccal Fat Removal can be performed under either general or local anesthesia. An incision is made towards the back of the oral cavity, near the second upper molar, in the mouth. Buccinator muscle then becomes visible, its fibers are separated, without an incision, until the Buccal Fat is accessible. Then, a thin casing over the fat is opened and the fat is gently teased out by an externally applied gentle pressure. The fat is then cauterized at the base and removed. The remainder of the buccal fat pad then is placed back to its anatomic site and the oral mucosa, as well as the incisions, are sutured. On average, the procedure takes about 30 minutes.

What are The Things To Be Considered After Buccal Fat Removal?

Patients are advised to:

  • Not eat or drink anything until three hours after the surgery.
  • Prevented the swelling in the mouth by applying cold presses for 15 minutes at regular intervals in the first 3 days after Buccal Fat Removal.
  • Gargle with salt water every 12 hours for the first 7 days after the surgery since the surgery is performed inside the mouth.
  • Avoid strenuous physical activities.
  • Use prescribed medicine as instructed by the Plastic Surgeon.
  • To put on sunscreen when going outside for the first few weeks after surgery, especially if the surgery was performed in the summer.
  • Keep good dental hygiene to prevent an infection as the stitches are inside the mouth.
  • Wait a week for the swelling to go down, and 2 to 4 months for cheeks to reach their permanent look.

What Are The Risks of Buccal Fat Removal?

While Buccal Fat Removal is a short and simple Aesthetic surgery, like any major surgery it has some risks associated with it. The possible risks of buccal fat removal surgery include, but are not limited to:

  • Bleeding
  • Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
  • Seroma
  • Hematoma
  • Infection
  • Injury to a salivary duct
  • Injury to branches of the facial nerve, resulting in temporary or permanent facial muscle weakness
  • Numbness or other changes in sensation
  • Prolonged swelling
  • Suboptimal aesthetic result and/or minimal changes
  • Risks associated with anesthesia
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After I was so worried about travelling abroad for my bypass surgery I haven’t regretted it once, I wish I had done it sooner, the hospital was clean staff were amazing my husband was really happy with all his meals and felt at ease with my care. Thank you so much I will be back again

Chanrods reviewed Dr Emin

Dr Emin did an FDL +breast uplift and implants, arm lift + bra back lift line,thigh lift + lipo suction. I was 3 times u der his professional care. He's really a good surgeon who did an amazing job after I lost 85kg of weight.

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Georgia Harley reviewed What an amazing experience

What an amazing experience. Like most, the idea of travelling to another country for a medical procedure was nerve wracking at first however, my amazing care co ordinator Sean was there every step of the way! I arrived on the 31st December and everything from my booking experience, hospital stay, pre op tests, gastric sleeve surgery , transport home and post op assistance has exceeded alp expectations. I am from the UK and all of the care far surpassed anything that I have recieved in the UK. Sean has also been there post me returning to the UK to check in and respond quickly to any post op questions that I have had. Would 100% reccomend

Tylor reviewed The staff in the hospital was very…

The staff in the hospital was very professional and the language translators have all been amazing and you needs and questions are met and answered with any problems

Mellissa Heath reviewed Had a bit of a mix up but this was…

Had a bit of a mix up but this was easily fixed and my feedback taken onboard for future patients 😊 The hospital is immaculate with very friendly and caring staff. I was very well looked after before and after surgery. After surgery nurses would check on me every 1.5/2 hours and if I rang the bell they would come instantly. Translators were brilliant and the staff who didn’t speak much English was very good with google translate 😊 The care and the cleanliness at the hospital I went to Medistanbul was out of the world. Puts the UK hospitals to shame honestly! Had so many family & friends telling me don’t go abroad for surgery but it’s the best thing I ever done! My coordinator Rick Miller was so quick at responding, always kept me up to date and was very helpful throughout the whole process. My surgeon was Prof Dr Kagan Katar who was very professional, he came to see me before and after operation Also the transfer driver Orhan was amazing he was so helpful with our bags in the huge airport and sorted us out with wheelchairs Had a brilliant experience

customer reviewed Dr Ahmet - arm lift and Sr Emre - face, neck, eyes. First class

I had arm lift surgery with Dr Ahmet on 8 October 2024. David Turker was my co ordinator. From the collection at the airport to dropping be off ;I also had dental implant and my partner has a hair transplant) everything went smoothly. They’re organised and efficient. There are several interpreters and staff who work for Booking Surgery who are resident at different times in the ward of the hospitals. On 30/1/24 I returned to finish off my tooth implant and to have a deep plane facelift, a neck lift and upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Again everyone was fantastic. My only critique is the hospitals’ food, which, similar to UK is not great but I knew that prior to going and found out where the nearest shops were. I also ordered in pizza via the helpers and they got me stuff from the shop. They also got me a soft pillow as the pillow on my hospital bed the second time was like a boulder with wee pebbles in it LOL. But this is a minor thing and plenty of cheap pillows for sale nearby. I felt that my treatment in Istanbul was better than any I’d ever received in the UK and I’ve had over 5 operations in Scotland. The nurses in Turkey are so kind and compassionate. Any medication you need for any ancillary issues that arise is readily prescribed to you. The surgeons are lovely too and experienced and professional. I had Dr Emre Koçman for my face etc., ab older guy in his 60s with great experience. I’m not 10 days post op and pleased Ruth progress. I’m 65 and once healed I'm going to look 45. That wasn’t my aim but I’ll take it LOL ! Thank you booking surgery. You’re the best. Maxine

MELVIN BORG reviewed The best company to go with

The best company to go with . Me my friends used several times . They work with passion and they are definitely not commercialized . Good people , good job , good results Dr Tardu is the best surgeon...