Understanding the Role of Buccal Fat in Oral Soft-Tissue Surgery

What is the Buccal Fat Pad?

The buccal fat pad is located on both sides of your face in the area of your cheek bones. It gives a rounder and fuller look to the cheeks and contributes to the overall shape and contour of the face. Buccal fat is independent of the fat on the rest of the body and serves a special purpose in facial esthetics.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) can perform the following surgeries involving the buccal fat pad:

Buccal Fat Removal

In some cases, a person may desire a more contoured or chiseled facial appearance. To achieve this goal, oral soft-tissue surgery, including buccal fat removal, may be performed. During the procedure, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) removes part of the buccal fat pad through a small incision in the mouth, resulting in a more contoured cheek area.

Cheek Augmentation

Cheek augmentation is performed in the opposite scenario – when a patient wants the look of fuller cheeks. In this case, oral soft-tissue surgery can augment or add volume to the cheeks through techniques such as fat grafting or dermal fillers. Fat or other substances are injected into the cheeks to increase cheek fullness and restore facial balance.

Pathology Treatment

The buccal fat pad can be used during surgical repair and reconstruction of certain defects left after dental extractions, or the removal of benign and malignant pathology.

Examination by an OMS

Buccal fat removal or augmentation is a personal decision and should be discussed carefully with an OMS who can assess your facial structure, discuss your goals and expectations and advise on the best approach for you.

Removing or increasing buccal fat can produce desirable changes in facial appearance, but results vary from person to person. Factors such as facial structure, general health and natural aging processes can affect results. For more information, consult an OMS.