Buccal Fat

To appreciate the benefits of buccal fat removal, it helps to understand how the face ages. In youth, the face naturally has an attractive inverted triangular shape—fuller through the cheeks and narrower at the jawline. As we age, the buccal fat pad descends and the skin loses elasticity, creating fullness in the lower cheeks and jowls. The youthful triangle gradually becomes a heavier, rectangular facial shape.

When appropriate, removing a portion of the buccal fat pad during a facelift helps restore this youthful inverted triangle by slimming the lower face, enhancing the jawline, and creating a more refined facial contour. Because every patient’s facial anatomy is different, buccal fat removal is performed selectively. 

Dr. Perrotta prefers to remove buccal fat during a facelift.   After raising the skin, he elevates the deep layer called the SMAS, after which the buccal fat is readily accessible.  He then teases the buccal fat right out of its compartment.  As mentioned above, this simple maneuver narrows the lower face.  

Removal of buccal fat is not for everyone.  Ask your surgeon if your a good candidate for this simple add-on procedure.