How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost in 2022 & Procedure


Buccal fat removal is a facial plastic procedure which can give a slimmer face. The buccal fat pad is a rounded mass of fat that is in the middle of your cheek and it’s located between facial muscles. The size of your buccal fat is affecting your facial shape.

However, everyone has buccal fat pads and the size of buccal fat pads can vary person to person. If you have too much buccal fat pad, then you may feel like your face is too full or round and you may also feel that you have a baby face.

Well, having a bigger cheek will not cause anything or there’s nothing wrong with having round face, but if you want to make them smaller, then a plastic surgeon might recommend your buccal fat removal, this procedure is done to reduce the width of round face.

Many people wonder how much buccal fat removal will cost in 2021?

  • Average cost of buccal fat removal: $ 3,600
  • Price range of buccal fat removal: $ 2,500 to 6,000
  • Duration: 30 to 45 Minutes
  • Recovery: Minimal one month

If you’re interested to know the buccal fat removal cost and the procedure, then read the article till the end.  

What is Buccal Fat Removal

There are fat pads on each side of your face in the cheek area called the buccal fat pads. Buccal fat is also known as a buccal lipectomy or check reduction surgery and it is a type of plastic surgery.

Well, during buccal fat removal procedure, the buccal fat pads in your cheeks are surgically removed. This can thin or slim your cheeks and give defined facial shape.  

The surgery can be done with another form of plastic surgery, like:

  • Chin implants
  • Botox injection
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Facelift
  • Lip augmentation

Who’s a Good Candidate for Buccal Fat Removal?

You should be a good candidate for buccal fat removal, here are below some factors that apply to you.

  •   You have a fuller or round face.
  • You are at healthy weight.
  • Your physical health is in good condition.
  • You don’t like the fullness of your cheeks.
  • You don’t smoke.
  • You have pseudohermitian.

Buccal fat removal is not recommended for everyone, and it may not be suggested in the following scenarios:

  •  You are older: as you age, you are naturally losing fat in your face, so this procedure might not give you the best results.
  • Your face is narrow: if your face is naturally narrow or thin, so this surgery might cause sunken cheeks as you age. And a plastic surgeon may not be suggesting you.
  • You have parry-Romberg Syndrome: this disorder is rare and may cause skin on one side of the face to shrink, and it also affects the buccal fat pads.

Before getting this surgery, it is best to talk with a doctor or plastic surgeon, because they are the best person to determine if you’re an ideal candidate or not.

What’s the Procedure of Buccal Fat Removal?

Before the Procedure (Surgery)

It very important to know the before the procedure for better results, you will need to talk to your plastic surgeon about your:

  • Medical condition
  • Expectations of the surgery and goals
  • If you are taking any medications currently, including supplements and vitamins
  • Tobacco, alcohol and drug use
  • If any past surgeries

This all information allows your surgeon to determine the possible risks and recovery outlook, and also decide the best surgical approach.

It is important to stop taking some medications and get blood tests before the procedure (surgery). Your surgeon also will analyze your face and according to your face they can plan the surgery.  

During the Procedure (Surgery)

This plastic surgery or procedure may be done in a hospital or in a doctor’s office. Here are usually process that involves:

  • If you’re only getting buccal fat removal, in the beginning the surgeon will be given you local anesthesia in your face. So, you won’t feel the pain, but you will be awake during the procedure.
  • If you’re getting more than one surgery, then the surgeon might be giving you general anesthesia.
  • The surgeon will make   an incision inside your cheek, and they will place pressure on the outside of your cheek to further expose your buccal fat pad.
  • Your surgeon will remove the fat and close the wound with dissolvable stitches.

After the Procedure (Surgery)

After the procedure, they will be giving you a special mouthwash to prevent infection. And before going home, they will explain how to care for your incision at home.

After the procedure you will need to eat a liquid diet for several days, then you can progress to soft foods before going to your normal diet.

It will take about 3 weeks to get full recovery and during the recovery you will need to follow your doctor’s directions for self-care and the eating process. Make sure to attend the follow-up appointments.  

You may see the result in several months, because it takes time for your cheeks to settle properly into their new shape.

What Affects the Cost of Buccal Fat Removal?

If you’ve decided to get a buccal fat removal, then this procedure might be the right for you. It is very important to know the financial aspects of plastic surgery procedures. There are some biggest variables that are impact on cost.

Just to be clear with you, the information in this article is a general guide. The plastic surgeons always provide the most accurate estimates of this procedure cost.

Generally, below are some of the outlines that can help you to get a better idea of the cost and you will know what may affect the cost of buccal fat removal.

  • Surgery provider: a more experienced, certified or specialized provider may typically charge higher consultation fees and procedure rates.
  • Anesthesiologist: the plastic surgeon experience and training will affect the cost of the procedure. The buccal fat removal can be performed under local and general anesthesia. The general anesthesia is more expensive than local anesthesia, so the rate will vary accordingly.
  • Location: there is no specific data on buccal fat removal in the 2019 American society of Plastic Surgeons Report. Generally, plastic surgery procedures will be changed frequently on the cost leading to higher overall costs.
  • Where your surgery is performed: if the surgeon’s own surgical center may cost less than a hospital.
  • Surgeon’s practice location: plastic surgeons practicing in an area may with high cost and high-cost maintenance or of living have to charge more.

How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost in 2021?

The buccal fat removal cost between $2,000 to $6,000, and the lower cost would most likely reflect a procedure under local anesthesia and higher cost may reflect under general anesthesia.

Since buccal fat removal is a cosmetic procedure and it is not covered by health insurance. So, you will need to pay out of pocket. Before getting the surgery, talk with surgeons about total cost and ask them if they offer payment plans.  

How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost Across the United States?

There is no specific data for a cheek reduction surgery, but the 2019 ASPS Report shows that the majority of plastic surgery procedures happen with higher cost or sometimes lower cost.

We listed below average cost by states, but you should confirm with plastic surgeons, they are the one that always provides the most accurate estimates of this procedure cost.

Here is average buccal fat removal cost in United States:

State Average Cost
New York, NY$3,000 to $5,000
Chicago, IL$2,500 to $5,000
Miami, FL$2,000 to $6,000
Birmingham, AL$2,500 to $4,000
Austin, TX$2,500 to $5,000
Los Angeles, CA$3,000 to $6,000

How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost Across the World?

If You wish to get a buccal fat removal abroad, the table that we listed below gives an average procedure cost around the globe. Make sure to keep some extra money for travel, and extra expenses related to recovery.

Hera is average cost of buccal fat removal by country:

Country Average Cost
Canada$3,000 to $6,750
Mexico$1,000 to $2,000
Colombia$1,200 to $2,000
United Kingdom$4,000 to $6,000
Australia$3,800 to $6,000
United Arab Emirates$2,000 to $3,500
Japan$2,000 to $4,000

QNA’s on Buccal fat Removal Cost

  • Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Buccal Fat Removal?

    If you’re wondering to know if insurance will cover your cheek reduction procedure? The short answer is NO, because buccal fat removal is cosmetic surgery and these procedures are not covered by insurance.

  • Can I Finance Buccal Fat Removal?

    The short answer is YES, you can finance buccal fat removal and also, financing can make casts of buccal fat removal more manageable.

    There are many financing companies offering their own financing offers, but there are only a few plastic surgery financing options. You need to search for financing companies that provide plastic surgery financing offers or you can also see financing options here

  • Does Buccal Fat Removal Leave Scars?

    The short answer is NO, buccal fat removal will not leave any scars on your face, because intraoral incisions are used, so there is no visible scarring.

Conclusion

Buccal fat removal is a cosmetic surgery that reduces the size of your cheeks, and the surgeon removes the buccal fat pads, creating a slimmer and thin face. You need to meet certain health criteria and have a fuller face, so you may consider an ideal candidate.

Generally, this procedure is considered safe and it takes several weeks to recover. Also keep in mind to avoid risks for complications, work with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.

Hopefully, you like this article, if you have any questions and suggestions kindly put them in the comment box below.

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