Buccal fat pad removal is a minimally invasive procedure which reduces the size of the buccal (cheek) fat pad in order to create a slimmer, a more defined and contoured face. Some patents may be unhappy with their “chubby” cheeks and overall full faces. Some patients may have genetically larger buccal fat pads. If you feel that your cheeks appear full and you are unhappy with their appearance then buccal fat pad removal may be an option for you. Dr. Kitto is a Board-Certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation and performs buccal fat pad removal in her office under local anesthesia only.

Best Candidates

Men and women who are unhappy with their full cheeks. Patients should also be in good overall health, refrain from smoking and do not have any conditions that hinder healing.

The procedure

After the area has been numbed Dr. Kitto places small incisions inside your mouth and removes a carefully planned amount of your buccal fat pads. It is important not to remove all of the buccal fat pad as this may lead to a gaunt appearance. Dr. Kitto carefully plans the amount of fat pads to be removed to ensure a symmetric and overall attractive appearance. All stitches are dissolvable and nothing needs to be removed.

Recovery process

As this is an in-office procedure under local anesthesia recovery is fairly quick and painless. The scars become invisible over time. It is common to experience mild swelling, bruising and tenderness in the area for a few days. Patients are given pain medications and followed closely until complete recovery.