Buccal Fat removal In Tampa

Buccal Fat Removal In Tampa

What is the function of the buccal fat pad?

​The main function of the buccal fat pad is to provide a gliding plane for your muscles of mastication, which are your chewing muscles. It’s location in the cheek allows these muscles to glide past each other.
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What other procedures do patients typically do with buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat removal is often combined with neck liposuction. Neck liposuction helps remove the excess fat under the jaw bone while buccal fat removal takes care of the fat above the jaw. This can give the face a nice strong jawline. 

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How much buccal fat can be removed?

The amount of buccal fat that needs to be removed depends on each patient’s anatomy. The buccal fat pad is encapsulated that makes it easier to remove and on average 2 lobes are removed. 

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How much does buccal fat removal cost?

The average cost of buccal fat removal in Tampa is between $3300-$3800 dollars. This includes the physician fees and the facility fees. 

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How is buccal fat removal surgery performed?

The surgery is performed from incisions on the inside of the mouth. It is usually done under local anesthesia. There are no external incisions. 

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Is buccal fat removal painful?

Most patients describe mild discomfort with buccal fat pad removal. It is not a very painful surgery. 

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How long until you see results from buccal fat removal?

Results can be seen 2 weeks after the surgery as the swelling starts to subside. Although some swelling can persist and it can take 3-4 months to see the final results.  

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What is the fastest way to recover from buccal fat removal?

During the first 7-10 days after the surgery you need to give time for the incision inside the mouth to heal. So avoid eating sharp and caustic foods and stick to a bland diet. Sometimes patients may also be prescribed a mouthwash to help keep the area clean as it heals. 

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Will removing my buccal fat pad make me look older?

As we age we lose volume in our faces, how much volume is lost depends on genetics for example Caucasian patients tend to lose more volume in their faces than other patients. Most of the time facial aging changes impacts the cheek fat pad and fat pads in the temple causing them to lose volume giving the face an older appearance. The buccal fat pad will also lose some volume as we age. How much is lost again depends on numerous factors that are very difficult to predict. The buccal fat pad is only a minor contribution to this and if the need arises you can also place filler or perform fat grafting  to the area. But if you watch all the videos and information on filler you will know that these areas are rarely filled. Secondly the buccal fat pad can herniate from its location as we age contributing to sagging tissues and may need to be removed during a facelift. Look at this article to learn more.