Buccal Fat Removal

If you’re self-conscious about having a round face and are interested in achieving a more sculpted appearance, Dr. Jill Hessler provides buccal fat removal in the Bay Area to slim down the face and add a sensuous contour to the cheek area.

Buccal Fat Removal in Palo Alto, San Jose, and the Bay area

What is buccal fat?

Everyone is born with buccal fat pads in their cheeks, but for some individuals, this fat is more prominent. This is often due to genetics, which can make it extremely difficult — or impossible — to improve with any sort of exercise or diet. If you’re worried about your “baby face” or “chipmunk cheeks”, buccal fat removal is an effective surgical procedure in which the buccal fat pad is removed from inside the mouth, resulting in enhanced cheekbones and a more contoured jawline.

Beautiful woman with serious facial expression

Buccal fat removal procedure details

Buccal fat removal in Palo Alto is performed under local anesthesia and takes about 30 minutes. Patients can drive themselves to and from the procedure. Once you arrive, you will be made comfortable in a medical chair. You will receive injections of local anesthesia on both sides of your mouth. Once you’re numbed, an incision will be made in the inner part of your cheek.

Dr. Hessler will gently separate the buccinator muscle from the buccal fat pad, and will then remove the fat. After this, the incision is cauterized and closed with dissolvable sutures. The other side of the mouth then receives the exact same process.

Recovery

Most patients need about one week to recover from buccal fat removal in San Jose. During this time, you will need to be on a liquid diet. Dr. Hessler will recommend or prescribe an antibacterial mouth wash to help prevent infection. She will also inform you on aftercare: how to take care of your incisions, what medications to take, and exactly what you can expect. Some patients become alarmed because of the swelling, but this is normal. You can expect to see final results from buccal fat removal in three months.

Hessler Plastic Surgery for buccal fat removal in Palo Alto, San Jose, and the Bay Area

If you’re in Palo Alto, San Jose, or the Bay Area and you’re interested in achieving a more sculpted cheek area with buccal fat removal, trust your face to double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jill Hessler. In practice for over a decade, Dr. Hessler is an award-winning leader who is widely recognized in her field. She currently serves as Chair of the Women on the Facial Plastic Surgery committee at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and she trains other surgeons, often teaching at Stanford University and plastic surgery conferences. At her Palo Alto practice, Hessler Plastic Surgery, you will be treated with the utmost care, with a staff who attends to every detail and provides you with everything you need to know about your procedure. If you’re considering buccal fat removal, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hessler to learn more.