It is usually the first thing patients want to know, before size, before recovery, before cost. If I have this done, will it just come back?
The short answer is no. The fuller answer is more useful, and it is worth a few minutes before you decide anything.
At Bombshelled Aesthetics in Frisco, TX, buccal fat removal is performed by Dr. Pamela Brownlee, DO, FACS, a double board-certified plastic surgeon certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, with fellowship training in aesthetic plastic surgery. Pricing starts at $3,500, quoted out-the-door with nothing added afterward.
The Short Answer: No, Buccal Fat Does Not Grow Back
Buccal fat does not grow back. The fat cells removed during surgery are gone, and your body does not build new buccal fat pads to replace them.
What that means in practice is that the change to your facial structure holds. What it does not mean is that your face stops changing, because no face does. The rest of this post is about that distinction.
What Weight Gain Can and Cannot Do
The fat cells that were removed cannot come back. The fat cells still in your face can get larger if you gain weight.
So if your weight goes up significantly, you may notice more fullness through your face overall. What you will not see is your cheeks returning to exactly the shape they had before surgery, because part of the buccal fat pad is no longer there.
This is why Dr. Brownlee prefers patients to be at a weight they can maintain before surgery. It is not about being a particular size. It is about planning your result around a face that is not still changing.
What About Aging?
Everyone loses facial volume over time. Fat redistributes, skin support changes, and the face gradually becomes less full on its own. That happens whether or not you have had anything done.
Which is exactly why how much fat comes out matters so much. Remove too much and a face that looks sculpted at thirty can look drawn at fifty.
Dr. Brownlee takes a conservative approach for that reason. The goal is definition that still looks right in
twenty years, not the largest change possible today.
How Much Buccal Fat Gets Removed?
There is no standard amount. Some patients do better with a partial reduction, others with more. It depends on how much buccal fat you have to begin with, your bone structure, and how full your face is likely to stay as you age.
Dr. Brownlee works this out with you during your consultation rather than deciding in advance.
Where the Incision Goes
The incision is made inside your mouth, on the inner surface of the cheek. There is no cut anywhere on your face and no visible scar.
The stitches dissolve on their own. Most patients say the inside of the cheek feels strange for the first few days more than it actually hurts.
Anesthesia and Combining Procedures
Buccal fat removal can be performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. Which one suits you depends on whether you are having anything else done at the same time, and on what would make you most comfortable.
Dr. Brownlee also combines buccal fat removal with other facial procedures, including facial fat grafting, when doing so gets a patient closer to what she is actually after. Reducing fullness in one area while restoring volume in another is sometimes the more balanced answer than either on its own.
What Recovery Looks Like
Swelling is the main event in the first couple of weeks, and it improves steadily. Facial definition keeps refining for another two to three months as everything settles.
For the first week, plan on soft foods. A wet diet is easier while the inside of your cheek heals. Nothing crunchy, nothing that needs much chewing.
You can return to work once you are no longer taking prescription pain medication.
Am I a Good Candidate for Buccal Fat Removal?
You may be a good candidate if you:
- Have naturally fuller lower cheeks that have not changed with weight loss
- Feel your face reads rounder than you would like
- Are at a weight you can maintain
- Have reasonable skin elasticity
- Are looking for refinement rather than a dramatic change
Patients with naturally thin faces or minimal buccal fat usually are not good candidates. Taking fat from a face that does not have much to spare tends to age poorly. If that is you, Dr. Brownlee will say so at the consultation.
What Buccal Fat Removal Costs
Buccal fat removal at Bombshelled Aesthetics starts at $3,500. Every price quoted is out-the-door and includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, and facility costs, so nothing is added afterward.
If buccal fat removal is combined with another procedure, pricing is set for the full surgical plan rather than added together piece by piece.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Brownlee for Facial Contouring in Frisco, TX
Facial contouring is a judgment procedure more than a technical one. The hard part is not removing the fat. The hard part is deciding how much to leave, on a face that will keep changing for the next thirty years.
Dr. Brownlee would rather tell you at the consultation that you are not a good candidate than take you to surgery for a result that looks right this year and wrong later.
- Double board certification. Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.
- Fellowship training. Completed an Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Fellowship in Dallas, TX.
- Whole-face assessment. Dr. Brownlee looks at bone structure, skin quality, and how your face is likely to age, not just the cheeks.
- 90-minute consultations. Long enough to talk properly, in person in Frisco or virtually.
- Published pricing. Starting prices are published, and every quote is out-the-door.
- Patient feedback. A 5.0-star average across more than 35 Google reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buccal Fat Removal
Does buccal fat grow back after removal?
No. The fat cells removed during surgery do not regenerate, and the body does not build new buccal fat pads. The change to your facial structure holds. Your face will still change with weight and with age, as every face does, but the removed fat itself does not return.
Will buccal fat removal leave a scar on my face?
No. The incision is made inside the mouth, on the inner surface of the cheek, so there is no cut on the face and no visible scar. The stitches dissolve on their own.
How long is recovery from buccal fat removal?
Swelling improves steadily over the first two to three weeks, and facial definition keeps refining for two to three months after that. Plan on soft foods for the first week while the inside of the cheek heals. You can go back to work once you are no longer taking prescription pain medication.
Is buccal fat removal done under general anesthesia?
It can be performed under either local or general anesthesia. Which one suits you depends on whether you are having other procedures at the same time and on what would make you most comfortable. Dr. Brownlee will go through both options with you.
How much does buccal fat removal cost in the Dallas-Fort Worth area?
Buccal fat removal at Bombshelled Aesthetics starts at $3,500. Every price quoted is out-the-door and includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, and facility costs. If the procedure is combined with anything else, pricing is set for the full plan rather than added together piece by piece.
Can buccal fat removal be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Dr. Brownlee often combines it with other facial procedures, including facial fat grafting, when that gets a patient closer to the result they are after. Reducing fullness in one area while restoring volume in another is sometimes the more balanced approach.
Will buccal fat removal make me look older?
Removing too much buccal fat can make a face look hollow over time, which is why the amount taken out matters more than the technique itself. Dr. Brownlee works conservatively and plans around how your face is likely to age rather than how it looks today.
Thinking About Buccal Fat Removal?
The consultation is where you find out whether this suits your face. Dr. Brownlee and our team will walk you through what is realistic before any decisions get made, and will tell you if the answer is no.
Call (469) 327-6850 or complete our online form to request a consultation. Located in Frisco, TX,
Bombshelled Aesthetics serves patients across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the United States, and
internationally.
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Our comprehensive services, provided by female plastic surgeon Dr. Brownlee, include various breast surgical options that help our patients achieve a better quality of life and a heightened sense of self-esteem.
