Are you one of those who wish to remove excess fat from the middle of their cheeks and are unaware of its procedure? Well, if that’s the case, then we’ll highly recommend you to read this article till the end as it may prove to be of great help to you.
The buccal fat pad mainly comprises excessive fat deposits, primarily in the cheeks area of the face. Such a condition is also described as ‘chipmunk cheeks’ as they can give one a ‘baby face’ appearance. However, let us proceed further to learn more about buccal fat removal cost and its related contents.
Buccal Fat Removal: Everything You Ought to Know
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First and foremost, you need to be crystal clear about buccal fat surgery. It is a sort of plastic surgery, also known as cheek reduction surgery or buccal lipectomy. Many people witness fat deposition in their cheeks. However, the measurements of buccal fat pads can vary from person to person.
During buccal fat surgery, the extra fat deposits are surgically removed from your cheeks. Resultantly, this gives the face a thin appearance and redefines facial angles. Depending on the patient’s condition, this surgery can be done solely or in association with another surgery, such as a facelift, chin implants, rhinoplasty, Botox treatment, or lip augmentation.
Getting Started with the Procedure
Before the procedure begins, you’re likely to talk with your medical practitioner about your medical conditions, recent medications (including supplements and vitamins), tobacco, alcohol, or drug use, any present or past allergies, and expected results.
These details will permit your plastic surgeon to design the soundest surgical approach for you with limited risks and enhanced results. However, the surgeon might ask you to avoid taking medications or run some blood tests before beginning the treatment.
Steps Involved in the Surgery
Once the surgery commences in a certified hospital or doctor’s office, here is what you will have to go through.
- If you only need to go through the buccal fat removal, you’re likely to be given confined anesthesia in your face. Although you won’t experience any pain, you’ll have to be awake throughout the surgery.
- If you need to go through more than one surgery, general anesthesia might be used. Moreover, this procedure might require a little extra time.
- The surgeon will initiate by creating an incision inside your cheek and exerting pressure on the exterior of your cheek to further uncover the buccal fat pad.
- The next phase would be to cut and eliminate the excess fat deposits from the cheek.
- Lastly, the surgeon would use dissolvable stitches to close the wound.
Recovery Process
After the surgery, your medical practitioner will explain some essential care-taking tips and recommend you to use a medical mouthwash to stop infection. You might also be asked to stay on a liquid diet for a few days after a successful surgery. However, after a few weeks, you can slowly progress to soft foods and then finally to your regular diet.
After the procedure, you may experience a swollen face or mild bruising. But that’s not something to worry about as you’ll slowly heal in about a 3 to 4-week span.
Buccal Fat Removal Cost
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A medical practitioner’s buccal fat removal cost might vary from $2000 to $5000, depending on their experience and geographical location. It would be best to consult your surgeon’s office to get a clear idea of the final fee. Many medical practitioners also provide patient financing plans to facilitate someone willing to undergo this procedure.
The cost for the complete buccal fat treatment primarily covers the following charges:
- Plastic Surgeon’s Fee
- Anesthesia Fee
- Medicational Prescriptions
- X-rays and Medical Tests
- Hospital and Surgical Facility Costs
Possible Side Effects
Although buccal fat surgery is generally considered safe, there’s always a risk of unwanted side effects. For instance, you may witness an opposing reaction to anesthesia, bacterial infection, excessive bleeding, fluid accumulation, lockjaw, or hematoma.
In the worst scenario, thrombosis, facial nerve impairment, salivary gland damage, cardiac-related complications, or facial asymmetry may also be observed. Most of these complications require additional post-treatment surgery for correction.
Final Verdict
There’s nothing flawed with having more prominent cheeks. But if you wish to make them smaller, a medical professional might recommend buccal fat surgery to reduce the width of round faces.
During recovery, try following your doctor’s instructions for self-care and healthy eating. Attending follow-up appointments is also crucial. Although it takes time for cheeks to settle into a new shape, you can expect positive results within a few months.
When selecting a certified medical practitioner for fat removal surgery, keep in mind that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort levels are just as essential as the total cost of the surgery.
