Buccal fat removal is the most talked-about aesthetic procedure at the moment, following rumors that several celebrities have undergone the surgery circulating on social media in recent weeks.
According to Google Trends data, searches for “buccal fat removal” have dramatically surged since December 11.
But what is buccal fat removal and what is it for?
Buccal fat removal is exactly what the name suggests: the removal of a mass of fatty tissue located deep in the cheek. The procedure, which is surgical, is usually performed under anesthesia. A surgeon will create small incisions on both sides of the inside of the patient’s mouth to expose the buccal fat and then remove part or all of the fat.
The goal of the procedure is simply to accentuate the cheekbones.
Typically, people with a fuller and rounder face are interested in this type of surgery because the result of buccal fat removal will leave them with a thinner and slimmer face.
Older individuals also seek the procedure in search of facial rejuvenation, as the buccal fat pad is subject to gravity and may “drop” over time.
However, the reason why buccal fat reduction is trending at the moment is another: by removing fat from the cheeks, the procedure can create the appearance of more sculpted and defined cheekbones.
However, dermatologists and surgeons warn that this procedure, if not done just right, can, in the long run, produce the opposite result. As the patient ages and naturally loses volume in their face, the lack of buccal fat can make them appear skinny and older.
And once your buccal fat is removed, there is no way to fully recover it, although there are cosmetic fillers and fat injections that can be used to replicate the appearance of buccal fat.
Source: CNN