Similar names: Bichectomy, cheek reduction surgery, cheek contouring surgery.
Buccal fat removal, or bichectomy, slims the cheek contours for patients with full lower cheeks. Also known as cheek reduction surgery, the target area is the cheek just lateral to the corner of the lips, which often bulges when one smiles. Vital structures, like nerves and salivary ducts, traverse the surgical site and selecting a plastic surgeon well-trained in this operation is crucial.
Many considering buccal fat surgery are concerned with sunken cheeks and looking worse after surgery. The right patient selection is critical in avoiding this adverse effect. We only recommend this procedure for patients who will reap the benefits of buccal fat surgery. For instance, instead of removing the buccal fat, a patient with a wide jawline may benefit more from jaw reduction or a less invasive masseter procedure.
Procedure Time:
30 minutes
Anaesthesia:
Local anaesthesia
Hospitalisation:
Day Surgery
Recovery Time:
2 Days
Procedures often done together with buccal fat surgery to enhance the lower face contour and aesthetics:
After buccal fat surgery, your cheeks will feel bruised on the first 2 days but it ill not be intensely painful. We suggest softer foods for 3 days.
Our surgeons are experienced in selecting patients suited for buccal fat removal. There are patients who are at risk of sunken cheeks after surgery and it is important that buccal fat surgery is not done for them.
The wounds are inside the mouth, opposite the upper molar teeth, and measure around 1 to 1.5cm.
The surgery cost for buccal fat removal surgery is S$3600. (excluding cost of consumables and tax)