Why Some Patients Ask About Reversing Buccal Fat Removal
Buccal fat removal, a cosmetic surgery that removes excess cheek fat, is growing in popularity. Although most plastic surgery patients who work with an experienced surgeon are happy with the results of their procedure, sometimes aesthetic goals and desires change. When they do, the patient may wish to reverse or alter their surgical results.
While it’s quite rare, some patients do wish to reverse their buccal fat removal procedure.
When they do, the reason is usually a change in facial appearance due to weight loss or aging that makes them look gaunt now that their buccal fat is missing. In some unfortunate cases, patients wish to reverse their procedure because their surgeon took out too much cheek fat, creating an immediate hollow appearance.
Can Buccal Fat Removal Technically Be Reversed?
Technically, no. Buccal fat removal is a permanent procedure. Once your buccal fat pad is removed, it’s gone for good. That doesn’t mean, however, that nothing can be done. We can “reverse” a buccal fat removal procedure even though we can’t put the buccal fat pad back in. Instead, cheek volume is restored using other techniques. Therefore, while this surgery cannot be reversed in the literal sense, results can be softened or corrected if needed.
Options for Restoring Cheek Volume After Buccal Fat Removal
We can’t put your buccal fat pad back in, but there are generally three ways that a plastic surgeon can correct a buccal fat removal procedure if you wish. We will explain all of them, but one of the three methods is generally not recommended, although it may be useful in some cases.
Facial Fat Transfer (Autologous Fat Grafting)
The best option for patients seeking permanent correction, a facial fat transfer uses liposuction to remove unwanted body fat and then injects that fat into the cheeks. Donor fat is often taken from the abdomen, thighs, or other areas where people tend to carry larger amounts of fat.
Fat transfer creates the most natural-looking result because it is natural—your body’s own fat cells are used to re-plump the cheeks, so there is nothing artificial used in the procedure. This procedure is also highly targeted, allowing your plastic surgeon to precisely correct areas of asymmetry and hollowness.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are a very effective way to restore cheek volume after buccal fat removal. At Mia Aesthetics, we use Juvéderm brand hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers exclusively. HA is a substance naturally found in your body, making these fillers a safe choice. And if necessary, HA fillers can be dissolved quickly if you decide you dislike them or have an issue with them.
The natural quality of HA fillers makes them quite safe, but it also makes them quite temporary. Over time, your body will absorb the filler placed in your cheeks. This means that to keep your buccal fat removal correction, you’ll need to visit your surgeon for a touch-up every 12 to 24 months, depending on your metabolism.
Cheek Implants (Less Common)
Cheek implants can be another permanent way to reverse buccal fat removal, but they’re not generally recommended for this purpose. Cheek implants come with more risks than fat transfer and dermal fillers, and they can be overly rigid and reduce the softness of your cheeks. Implants are typically used to create facial contours, not restore lost ones. Cheek implants can be an option for you, however, depending on your unique situation.
Who Might Consider Buccal Fat “Reversal” Procedures?
Sometimes we can slow it down, but in the end, age comes for us all. One of the things that happens as we age is that we naturally lose fat in our cheeks. While a buccal fat removal can correct chubby cheeks in your 30s, you may wish you had kept that cheek fat when you’re nearing 60 and are starting to look a little too hollow in the cheeks. In that case, you may find yourself considering reversing your buccal fat removal procedure. Other reasons people opt to reverse buccal fat removal include:
- The removal of too much fat or overly aggressive contouring
- Premature aging in the cheeks
- Significant weight loss after surgery that further reduces cheek fat
- A sense that their facial expressions changed after surgery, projecting a different personality
What to Expect from a Volume Restoration Procedure
It’s important to understand that while fat transfer and dermal filler procedures can create a soft, subtle, and uniquely tailored correction after buccal fat removal, neither one can undo the results of your surgery completely. A skilled surgeon can create a fuller look but will never be able to restore you to exactly the way you were before you had your cheek fat removed.
Dermal fillers can be injected with almost no downtime and your results will be visible immediately. You’ll need time to heal after a fat transfer procedure, though, so you should expect about two to four weeks of activity restrictions. Fat transfer also creates post-op swelling, so your results will reveal themselves gradually over time. Remember, too, that while fat transfer is considered permanent, fillers require periodic maintenance.
Preventing Over-Removal in the First Place
To prevent removing too much fat during a buccal fat removal procedure, plastic surgeons now take a more conservative approach, especially with young patients and those with naturally lean faces. Before opting for cheek fat removal, it’s important that you and your surgeon consider your natural facial anatomy and long-term goals. Try to consider how you will feel in a few years when you start to lose facial fat and don’t have much cheek fat to minimize the facial changes aging might bring.
Of course, the best way to ensure that you’re happy with the results of your fat removal procedure is to choose an experienced and skilled plastic surgeon like those at Mia Aesthetics. If you still find yourself unhappy despite your surgeon’s skill, or if your situation has changed, our surgeons have the expertise to reverse your buccal fat removal in a way that restores a natural-looking facial contour.
Recap: Buccal Fat Removal Can’t Be Undone — But It Can Be Softened
While your buccal fat pad itself can’t be put back, you do have safe and effective options to restore facial volume after buccal fat pad removal. Through fat grafting or fillers, surgeons can recreate youthful contours and correct over-removal or age-related changes. If you’re concerned about your results, we encourage you to schedule a free virtual consultation to explore a customized restoration plan.