If you have soft, rounded cheeks despite your best efforts to slim down, you may have excessive buccal fat. The buccal fat pads sit just below the cheekbone. These pads are determined by genetics, so they can be extremely stubborn areas to tone. In some cases, they can be pronounced enough to earn the name “chipmunk cheeks.” Cheek reduction surgery, or buccal fat extraction, is a facial cosmetic procedure that can reduce the puffiness of the cheeks, creating more prominent cheekbones and a more defined jawline.

Candidates for Buccal Fat Removal

If you have excessive buccal fat, you may feel the area below your cheekbones is disproportionately wide compared to the rest of your face. Cheek reduction surgery can sculpt your features into a more proportionate appearance. Many people are excellent candidates for buccal fat removal, and it is a relatively simple procedure. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Younger people may naturally have a slightly rounded face until they reach maturity, so buccal fat removal is not recommended until features are fully set. This occurs around age 18. Also, if you carry excess weight, it can be difficult to determine if the buccal fat is contributing to facial roundness until you have slimmed down.

Additionally, it is very important to take aging into account. If you already have a thin or narrow face, you may end up with extremely gaunt features as you age. Some fat is necessary to define areas of the face and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In the right places, fat pads prevent you from looking too severe.

Combining Cheek Reduction with Other Procedures

Buccal fat reduction on its own is a relatively quick procedure with a fairly short recovery period. However, many patients choose to combine cheek reduction surgery with other procedures, including rhinoplasty (nose job), otoplasty (ear surgery) and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Although the downtime for multiple procedures may slightly increase, it also means all your concerns are addressed at one time.

If you are uncomfortable with your rounded cheeks, contact Azouz Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery to discuss cheek reduction surgery today.