Netizens are obsessing over buccal fat removal, which has recently sparked a number of social media posts, videos, and articles around it. It isn’t the first time a cosmetic procedure going “viral.” Lately, multiple celebrities are rumoured to have gone under surgery to remove buccal fat so their face could look aesthetically pleasing. Hence, we decided to dig deep and find out everything there is to know about buccal fat removal.

What is buccal fat?

Buccal fat (pronounced like “buckle”) is essentially the medical word for cheek fat. The layers of skin, muscle, and fat that make up the face, such as the fat pads and subcutaneous (beneath the skin) fat, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to help shape the face. Buccal fat is a naturally occurring fat pad that is situated between the muscles of the face and beneath the cheekbone. The buccal fat pads are where the cheek tends to balloon out if you ask someone to puff up their face. Everybody has buccal fat, but some people are born with more than others. Therefore, your level of buccal fat is purely inherited.

Does weight loss cause buccal fat to decrease?

Unlike the fat on the rest of the face or body, buccal fat pads are unique. This fat is deeper and thicker and resides in the area between your cheek skin and the inner lining of the mouth. Because of this, it’s incredibly challenging to alter your natural level of buccal fat. Buccal fat may change slightly if you lose weight.

What is buccal fat removal?

An operation to remove the fat pad or a piece of it off the face is known as buccal fat removal. Buccal fat removal through the mouth is most frequently preferred since it leaves no scars. To remove the fat and close the incision, surgeons make a little incision on the inner cheek lining while being careful to avoid the facial nerves and the parotid gland (salivary gland).

Does removing buccal fat alter the structure of your face?

Buccal fat removal can alter the appearance of your face by making the lower cheeks appear less full, bringing attention to the cheekbones and facial features. Buccal fat reduction has become popular lately, especially among celebs. People opt for it to improve the appearance of the lower face for those who have bigger cheeks but dislike the way this makes them look.

What are the risks of removing buccal fat?

When carried out by a skilled surgeon, buccal fat reduction is generally a low-risk treatment. It’s a simple and quick operation that can be completed under local anesthesia. Depending on how full the cheeks are, the surgeon will decide how much of the buccal fat pad to remove.