Dr. Michael K. Obeng, a board-certified plastic surgeon, explains buccal fat removal and what anyone thinking about it should know.
Buccal fat removal is another popular cosmetic procedure on social media.
Buccal fat is located in the center of the cheek and can cause a “baby face” appearance. Buccal fat removal can help slim the face.
Patients boasting about the slimming results have documented the procedure on TikTok, which involves removing fat from the cheeks to create a more contoured face. Buccal fat removal is also becoming increasingly popular in Hollywood. Chrissy Teigen, in particular, revealed that she had the procedure done last year.
Dr. Michael K. Obeng, a board-certified plastic surgeon and member of news Health Squad, explains the procedure to the news.
Obeng says the procedure has no health benefit, but “People like the way it makes them look, that they have a slim face, their cheeks are not puffy, and they have sunken-in cheeks. It puffs out the cheekbones and creates a natural contour.”
Based in Los Angeles, Obeng has seen an increase in requests for buccal fat removal in his practice, seeing about four patients per month for the procedure.
“Some people have puffy cheeks,” explains Obeng. “So if you suck your cheeks in, some people are still puffy there; they have buccal fat.
Obeng claims that the procedure takes only two or three minutes and that patients are not under general anesthesia for it.
“You make a tiny incision inside the mouth, take out the fat, and then sew it back together,” he explains. “Then I tell my patients to put ice on it or eat popsicles all day because it cools the cheeks and keeps them from swelling and bleeding.”
“It’s a very simple procedure,” Obeng adds, noting that it’s quick and easy when done correctly. “You do it during lunchtime, and the person returns to work.” There are risks associated with any cosmetic procedure. However, Obeng assures that the chances of buccal fat removal are usually minimal.
