Manhattan buccal fat excision

Sculpt your face

Dr. Michael Bassiri-Tehrani specializes in enhancing facial harmony, offering you a customized approach to achieving your aesthetic goals with minimal downtime.

If you want a more sculpted, defined appearance, buccal fat removal can help highlight your natural bone structure and create a more refined look.

On This Page Procedure Description How It Works Gallery Recovery Ideal Candidate FAQs

What is buccal fat removal?

The buccal fat pad is one of the many facial fat pads of the face. Unlike fat in other parts of the body, this fat does not readily change with weight loss.

Patients with round faces, or patients who want additional contouring of their cheeks can consider removal of this fat pad.

What issues does
buccal fat removal address?

Buccal fat removal targets excess fat in the lower cheeks, helping to reduce the appearance of a round or overly full face.

This procedure is ideal for individuals who want to enhance the natural contours of their face, creating a slimmer, more sculpted look. It’s particularly effective for those who feel that their cheeks give them a "baby-faced" or soft appearance, even at a healthy weight.

By removing a small amount of buccal fat, the procedure highlights the cheekbones and jawline, resulting in a more defined and balanced facial profile.

How buccal fat removal works with Michael Bassiri-Tehrani, MD, PLLC

Buccal fat removal is done comfortably awake under local anesthesia or with sedation. Removal of buccal fat takes about an hour and can be performed through the mouth under local anesthesia, much like a dental procedure.

Additional sedation with medications or light anesthesia can also be arranged. Small incisions on the inside of the cheek are closed with absorbable sutures. Swelling can offset the immediate result and temporarily cause some fullness of the cheeks.

Most of the swelling will go down after the first week, with additional refinement continuing in the weeks to follow. Patients can usually get back to work within a day or two, and resume some light exercise at one week after surgery.

Buccal fat removal gallery

What to expect during recovery for buccal fat treatment

After buccal fat removal, you can expect some mild swelling and bruising in the cheek area, which typically subsides within a week or two. Most patients experience minimal discomfort, and you’ll be able to return to normal activities in just a few days.

It’s important to follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions, which may include a soft diet for a short time and gentle care of the treatment area to promote healing.

As the swelling decreases, you’ll begin to notice a more defined and contoured look to your cheeks. Full results are typically visible within a few weeks to a couple of months, giving you a refined and natural appearance.

Our team will guide you through the recovery process to ensure smooth healing and optimal results.

Is buccal fat removal right for you?

Often, patients with round faces for most of their lives despite weight changes are most interested in this procedure. Contouring with injectable fillers on round or full faces typically offers limited results — so buccal fat excision is often a better solution.

This procedure can be combined with other treatments or surgery to give a more angular appearance to the face. The fat is removed from a small incision inside the mouth and does not grow back, so the results are long lasting.