Everyone dreads the infamous “chipmunk cheeks”, but what causes them? It all depends on fat distribution. Even if we’re not particularly overweight, it doesn’t take much in the way of fat deposits to get a little too much fullness in the lower cheeks. If this sounds like your struggle and you want to do something about it, buccal fat removal may be your answer! Below, we’ll go over some of the pros and cons and more around buccal fat removal surgery, so you can make the most informed decision you can.
The Pros Of Buccal Fat Removal
Convenience
The first you’re likely to notice about this procedure is how achieving the face you’re dreaming of is actually a relatively quick and simple process! The procedure itself lasts only about an hour, and the downtime is typically a surprisingly short 3 to 4 days. Even the actual recovery period is only about 3 weeks. While the final results may take a bit longer to set in (about 2 to 4 months), you may already begin to see a difference as soon as post-op swelling begins to fade in around 2 weeks.
Looks That Last
Unlike other procedures that rely on simply draining fat cells that are gradually reabsorbed by the body and always need touch-ups or multiple sessions, buccal fat removal eliminates fat cells from the lower face completely! This means it’s a “one-and-done” kind of procedure, so while your final results at the end may take even a few months, that dream look is permanent!
Aesthetics Without Compromise
In certain aesthetic procedures there’s sometimes a trade-off between achieving a certain look, and settling with a little scarring. This procedure, however, is done via an incision on the inside of your mouth. This translates to the results you want, but with scarring nobody will ever see (except for maybe your dentist).
The Cons Of Buccal Fat Removal
Recovery’s A Drag
The roughly 3 week long recovery period for buccal fat removal is relatively quick compared to many other surgeries. However, there’s no getting around the fact that it’s no fun feeling anything less than 100%. The best things in life don’t come easy though, so if your doctor agrees you’re a good candidate for buccal fat removal, we think a few weeks of discomfort and a few more patience in exchange for permanently achieving the look you’re going for is a pretty good deal.
Unlikely Complications Of Buccal Fat Removal
As with any surgery, there is always a small chance of infections or complications, but they’re usually treatable. Also, because this is a minimally invasive procedure, these improbable side effects are even less than with your standard surgery. Plus you have the power to take those chances even lower by researching the best most experienced plastic surgeons as well as following their post-op aftercare instructions to a tee.
In Closing
You may have noticed the trend here. Nothing has pros without cons, but in the case of buccal fat removal, the cons are pretty minimal, controllable to a degree, and way outweighed by the pros. If you feel you’re ready to make the right change to take your face to the next level with a procedure that lasts, search our listing for the best plastic surgeon in your area.