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If your end goal is to have a snatched facial appearance, look no further. Haute Beauty Ambassador Dr. Sachin Shridharani located on the famed Fifth Avenue in New York City has the procedure for you. Whether you’ve heard of it or not, buccal fat removal has been a procedure that has always been in talks, so to speak.

But, when celebrities like Lea Michelle, Emily Ratajkowski, and Mila Kunis, have been rumored to receive the procedure, their millions of fans makes the ‘on the down low’ procedure, trend. It’s all about accomplishing the same look as your celebrity crush, are we right? To learn more about what the haute procedure can do for you, Dr. Shridharani of LUXURGERY shares the details.

What is buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat removal is a surgery to remove the fat between your cheekbones and jaw bones in your face. A person’s buccal fat pads are encased in fat within each of their cheeks. Buccal lipectomy, or buccal fat removal, removes a portion of the fat pad through a small incision inside the back of the mouth across from your upper molars. Through this process, one will be able to have a more defined and contoured cheekbone structure, which many find to be more aesthetically pleasing.

How long has the procedure been around?

The procedure has been well described in the medical literature for over 200 years. The buccal fat pad was first described as glandular tissue in 1732. However, in 1802, French anatomist and pathologist, Xavier Bichat, identified and popularized the structure as fatty tissue. The procedure of removing this fat pad to contour the face has been well-described for over 20 years.

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Can buccal fat be combined with other procedures?

Buccal fat pad excision is commonly performed as a solo procedure but is often done in conjunction with facelift/neck lift surgery. Furthermore, Dr. Shridharani often will perform buccal fat removal in combination with chin liposuction to create a definition in the middle and lower third of the face/neck. Fat grafting and dermal fillers to the midface (cheekbone) area help create a more contoured and sculpted look, as well.

How long does the procedure take?

The procedure usually takes 30 minutes – 1 hour, excluding prep time. Removing the buccal fat can be performed under local anesthesia (awake) or with the patient having sedation and being asleep.

What are the results?

The surgery is used to highlight the bone structure in your face, especially the cheekbones and the hollowed-out areas between your cheeks and jawline, resulting in a more chiseled/contoured and slimmer appearance in those areas.

If you are interested in what buccal fat procedure can do for you, contact Dr. Shridharani today for a consultation.