Buccal Fat Removal - Cheek Slimming, Facial Contouring, Benefits, Recovery, Risks, Cost

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Benefits of Enhancement

Slimmer Lower Cheeks

Excess volume in the buccal space can create what many people describe as “chubby cheeks” or “chipmunk cheeks.” By selectively reducing this fat pad, buccal lipectomy narrows the lower face and softens a round or boxy appearance without affecting the lips or jaw muscles.

More Defined Cheekbones

When fullness in the lower cheek is reduced, the cheekbones and malar fat pad can appear more pronounced. This shift often creates the angular highlights associated with youthful, photogenic faces, similar to the structure seen in many runway models.

Refined Facial Balance

Buccal fat removal can subtly rebalance the face by subtracting volume where it is heavy and preserving or adding volume where it is needed. When combined with fat transfer to the midface, it can turn an imbalanced or aged configuration into one that looks more harmonious.

Hidden Incisions and Quick Procedure

All incisions are made inside the mouth, so there are no external scars. The procedure is performed through small openings in the inner cheek mucosa and typically takes between 15 and 40 minutes, often combined with other facial procedures in the same setting.

Expected Results

Buccal fat removal does not change the bones of the face. Instead, it refines how soft tissue drapes over that structure. Early on, swelling can make the cheeks look fuller before they look slimmer. As swelling settles, the lower face narrows and the cheeks appear more sculpted, with greater attention drawn to the cheekbones. Final results are typically visible around six weeks after surgery.

Slimmer Cheek Contour

As swelling resolves, the lower cheeks become noticeably slimmer. The transition from the mouth corner to the jawline looks more tapered, which can make the face appear more refined in both frontal and three quarter views.

Enhanced Midface Definition

By subtracting volume from the buccal space, the cheekbones and malar fat pad can appear more defined. When combined with fat transfer to the midface in appropriate candidates, this dual approach can restore a more youthful, lifted look without appearing overfilled.

Natural Expression

Because the incisions are hidden inside the mouth and no sharp dissection enters the buccal space, the muscles that move your mouth and smile remain intact. The goal is a change in contour, not a change in expression, so you still look like yourself, simply more sculpted.

Real Patient Results

Browse our extensive gallery to see the natural, symmetrical results Dr. Neavin achieves.

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Patient Stories

5-Star Experiences

“

Dr. Tim Neavin is an outstanding plastic surgeon professional with an uplifting bedside manner that makes you feel comfortable after surgery. He sees the beauty in you and improves it with the right cosmetic technique

— Hugo

Anatomy and Technique

Understanding the anatomy of the buccal space is essential for a safe and elegant result. Dr. Neavin focuses on careful access to the fat pad, conservative removal, and full respect for the nearby duct and nerves.

Anatomy of the Buccal Space

The buccal space contains a discrete fat pad sometimes called Bichat’s fat pad. It sits between several muscles of facial expression and surrounds the parotid duct, which delivers saliva into the mouth. This fat pad is separate from the malar fat pad above and the jowl region below, which is why each of these areas is addressed differently in facial contouring.

Relationship to Cheeks and Jowls

The malar fat pad contributes to youthful high cheeks and tends to descend and deflate with age. Jowls represent tissue and skin that have fallen below the jawline. Buccal fat removal does not treat jowls and is not a substitute for lifting procedures. It is reserved for excess fullness in the lower cheek that blunts the natural curve between the cheekbone and jaw.

Step by Step Buccal Lipectomy

Local anesthetic is injected into the mucosa inside the mouth where the small incision will be made. A 1 to 1.5 centimeter incision is placed just above and behind the parotid duct. The tissues are gently spread to enter the buccal space. The encapsulated fat pad is identified, freed from surrounding tissue, and allowed to emerge through the incision without sharp instruments in the space. Only a measured portion is removed, and the incision is closed with dissolvable stitches.

Combination With Other Procedures

Buccal fat removal is often combined with other facial procedures, such as rhinoplasty, chin augmentation, or facial fat transfer. This allows Dr. Neavin to address multiple planes of the face in one setting and fine tune balance between the midface, lower face, and profile.

Patient Profile

Candidates

Ideal Candidates

Ideal candidates for buccal fat removal typically have:

Noticeable fullness in the lower cheeks that persists even at a healthy weight
A desire for a slimmer, more sculpted lower face and better cheekbone definition
Good skin quality and support so the face will not appear deflated after reduction
Realistic expectations about the degree of change and the time it takes for swelling to resolve

This procedure is often considered for people who have been told they have “chubby cheeks” and feel that their facial structure is hidden under excess volume in the buccal space.

Not Ideal Candidates

Buccal fat removal may not be ideal for:

Very lean faces that already appear hollow or gaunt
Patients seeking correction of jowls or loose skin along the jawline alone
People who are primarily bothered by midface descent rather than lower cheek fullness
Anyone expecting a dramatic change from a very conservative procedure

Jowls and skin laxity are better addressed with treatments such as facelift, selective liposuction, fillers, or other contouring procedures, rather than buccal fat removal alone

Estimated Investment

$4,500+

The cost of buccal fat removal typically starts around $4,500 and increases depending on the type of anesthesia used and whether other facial procedures are performed at the same time. Because each face and treatment plan is unique, you will receive a detailed fee quote after a full consultation and examination.

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Harmony and Fat Transfer

Why Addition Sometimes Follows Subtraction

Beautiful faces rarely rely on only removing tissue. In many cases, Dr. Neavin uses buccal fat removal to slim a heavy lower face while adding volume to areas that have deflated with age, such as the cheeks. This balanced approach of taking away where there is excess and adding where there is deficiency is often what creates a truly harmonious, youthful result.

Surgery Day Journey

Consultation and Planning

Your journey starts with a detailed evaluation of your facial structure, photographs, and a discussion of your goals. Dr. Neavin will differentiate buccal fullness from issues such as jowls or midface descent, then recommend whether buccal fat removal alone or in combination with other procedures is appropriate for you.

Day of Surgery

On the day of surgery, local or general anesthesia is administered based on your plan. After numbing the inside of the mouth, small incisions are made above and behind the parotid duct. The fat pad is identified, gently mobilized, and a measured portion is removed. The incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches and there are no external scars.

Immediate Recovery

You will go home the same day with instructions for a soft diet, oral rinses, and activity restrictions. Swelling peaks over the first few days. Most patients describe a sensation of fullness or tightness rather than sharp pain. Follow up visits allow Dr. Neavin to monitor healing and answer questions.

The Artisan Promise

Comprehensive
Aftercare Support

Thoughtful aftercare is essential to protect your result and keep healing on track. You will receive written instructions and direct guidance from Dr. Neavin and his team.

Soft Diet and Oral Hygiene

For the first three days, you will follow a soft diet to avoid irritating the incisions. Regular antiseptic mouth rinses are used two to three times per day. These steps help prevent food particles from collecting near the stitches and support smooth healing inside the mouth.

Managing Swelling

Swelling is normal and expected. Keeping your head elevated, using recommended cold compresses in the early period, and avoiding strenuous activity all help reduce swelling faster. Mild asymmetry in swelling between sides is common and typically resolves on its own.

Monitoring for Rare Issuses

You will be instructed to watch for unusual symptoms, such as persistent pain, significant asymmetry, or swelling that suggests blockage of the parotid duct. While these issues are rare, early communication with the office ensures that any concern is addressed promptly and appropriately.

Healing Timeline

Every patient heals differently, but this timeline offers a general guide for your return to daily life.

Days 1 to 3

Mild to moderate swelling is expected in the cheeks. You will be asked to eat only soft foods for the first three days and to rinse your mouth with an antiseptic solution several times per day to keep the incisions clean. Discomfort is usually well controlled with prescribed medication.

Days 4 to 10

Swelling begins to decrease, although the cheeks can still look fuller than before surgery at certain angles. Most patients feel comfortable returning to light desk work as long as they avoid trauma to the cheeks and follow oral care instructions. Stitches inside the mouth continue to dissolve on their own.

Weeks 2 to 6

Residual swelling gradually fades and the lower cheeks look slimmer week by week. The contour change becomes easier to appreciate from the front and in photographs. By about six weeks, the final result is usually visible, with a more defined transition between the cheek and jawline.

6 Weeks+

Once healing is complete, the result is considered long lasting, provided body weight remains stable. The buccal fat pad does not regenerate. The face will continue to age naturally, but the improved contour from the procedure remains.

Safety &
Potential Risks

In experienced hands, buccal fat removal is considered a very safe facial procedure. Respecting the anatomy of the parotid duct and branches of the facial nerve, along with conservative fat removal, keeps the risk profile low. Dr. Neavin uses blunt techniques inside the buccal space to avoid sharp injury to these critical structures.

All surgical procedures carry risk. During your consultation, Dr. Neavin will review your anatomy, your goals, and the specific risk profile for you.

Important Considerations

Swelling in the cheeks that may last up to 10 days, with subtle swelling for several weeks
Temporary discomfort or tightness inside the mouth
Rare temporary blockage of the parotid duct with associated swelling
Infection, which is uncommon and usually responsive to treatment
Over resection of fat leading to an overly hollow appearance if not performed conservatively
Extremely rare nerve or duct injury in unskilled hands

Frequently Asked Questions

What is buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat removal, or buccal lipectomy, is a procedure that reduces fullness in the lower cheeks by removing a measured portion of the buccal fat pad through small incisions inside the mouth. The goal is to slim the lower face and highlight the natural contour between the cheekbone and jawline without creating a hollow or gaunt look.

Can buccal fat removal be done while I am awake?

Yes. In patients who can comfortably keep their mouth open and remain still, the procedure can be performed while awake under local anesthesia. Topical and injected anesthetic agents are used to keep the surgery pain free.

How large are the incisions and where are they placed?

The incisions are about 1.0 to 1.5 centimeters in length and are placed inside the mouth, just behind the parotid duct near the second upper molar. The incision may be made above, below, or occasionally both above and below the duct if needed to free the encapsulated fat pad safely.

How much fat is removed?

For most people, a substantial portion of the buccal fat pad is removed, but not all of it. Removing the entire pad can leave the cheeks too hollow and may make the face look older or overly sculpted, especially as the patient continues to age.

Can buccal fat removal make me look older?

If too much fat is removed, or if the procedure is done in someone who is already very lean, the result can appear too gaunt and may age the face. In properly selected patients, with conservative removal, the results are often striking in a positive way. Careful diagnosis and an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon are essential.

Dr. Tim Neavin

The Artisan

Artistry Meets
Surgical Precision

Dr. Tim Neavin approaches facial contouring as both a surgeon and an artist. Buccal fat removal is not simply about taking fat away. It is about reshaping the lower face so it works in harmony with the cheekbones, jawline, and lips.

With deep knowledge of facial anatomy and years of experience in buccal lipectomy, he focuses on:

Careful diagnosis to decide who is and is not a good candidate
Conservative removal of fat to avoid a hollow or gaunt result
Combining subtraction in the lower face with addition in the right areas when needed, such as fat transfer to the cheeks

His philosophy, often described as Surgery with Symmetry, prioritizes long term balance over aggressive debulking. The goal is a slimmer, more sculpted lower face that still looks like you.

Diplomate American Board of
Plastic Surgery

Philosophy "Surgery with
Symmetry"

Beverly Hills & Santa Barbara

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Schedule your private consultation with Dr. Neavin today.

Buccal Fat Removal Refine full cheeks and define the lower face.