4. How is a buccal fat removal performed?
Step 1 – Anesthesia
You’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb the skin on your face so you won’t feel any pain. You’ll remain awake during the procedure. If you’re having more than one procedure done at the same time, you may receive general anesthesia.
Step 2 – The Incision
Your surgeon will make a small incision on the inside of your mouth on both sides of your face to expose the buccal fat pads.
Step 3 – Removing the fat
Your provider will press gently on the fat pads to further expose them, then cut and remove the fat pads.
Step 4 – Closing the Incision
Finally, your provider will close the incisions with sutures. Often, the sutures are dissolvable. Your provider will let you know if you need to come back for suture removal after your procedure.
Step 5 – See the Results
After your procedure, your healthcare provider will explain how to care for your incisions. They may give you a special mouth rinse to help with healing and prevent infection. You’ll be on a liquid diet for a day or two while your incisions start to heal. Gradually, you can add soft foods to your diet as your provider says it’s OK.
Some things you can expect after surgery:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Numbness at the incision sites