Buccal Fat Removal (Bichectomy): Definition Without Hollowing
Bichectomy is an aesthetic procedure that surgically removes excess fat tissue in the cheek area, making facial contours more prominent. It is also popularly known as "cheek thinning surgery". It has become a popular choice especially for people who want to have prominent facial features.
What is a Bichectomy?
Bichectomy is performed by removing the tissues in the cheeks called "Bichat fat pads". With this procedure, the face gains a slimmer, contoured and attractive appearance. Bichectomy is generally preferred by people with genetically round or full facial features.
Who is Suitable for Bichectomy?
Bichectomy is usually suitable for people with the following characteristics
- Round Face Lines: Those who want to have a thinner face structure.
- Those who want prominent chin and cheek contours: Those who want to make their facial features sharper.
- Those who care about their aesthetic appearance: Those who desire a younger and more attractive appearance.
- 18-45 Age Range: Individuals in the age group where skin elasticity is preserved.
How is a Bichectomy Performed?
The bichectomy procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia and takes a very short time. The stages of the procedure are as follows:
- Planning The surgeon analyzes the face and determines the area where the fat pads will be removed.
- Anesthesia: The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia so that the patient does not feel pain during the procedure.
- Making Incisions: Small incisions are made inside the mouth so that there is no external scarring.
- Removal of Fat Tissue: Bichat fat pads are carefully removed.
- Stitching and healing: The incisions are sutured and the procedure is completed.
Recovery Process After the Procedure
- Mild Swelling: Swelling and tenderness may occur in the first few days.
- Diet: It is recommended to eat soft foods for a few days after the procedure.
- Hygiene Pay attention to oral hygiene; mouthwash recommended by the doctor can be used.
- Full Recovery: Results are usually fully visible within 3-4 weeks.
Advantages of Bichectomy
- It defines facial contours and provides a more attractive appearance.
- With minimal incisions, it leaves no external scar.
- It offers a fast healing process.
- It provides a permanent solution; the removed fat tissues do not regenerate.
Risks and Side Effects
Bichectomy is generally a safe procedure. However, like any surgical intervention, it carries some risks:
These side effects usually resolve quickly as long as the surgeon's instructions are followed.
- Temporary swelling and bruising.
- Slight tenderness in the mouth.
- Risk of infection in very rare cases.
Who Should Not Have a Bichectomy?
This heading matters more than the procedure itself. Bichectomy is irreversible — the buccal fat pad that is removed cannot be put back. Not operating on the wrong candidate is therefore as decisive as operating on the right one.
- People whose faces are already slim: Where cheek volume is limited, the procedure can produce a hollow, tired appearance.
- People whose fullness is not from the fat pad: If the source is chewing-muscle thickness or skin laxity, bichectomy will not deliver the expected result.
- Fullness related to overall weight: Weight stability is awaited first.
- Older patients with marked skin laxity: Reducing volume can accentuate sagging.
- Unrealistic expectations: Bichectomy does not slim the face, does not sharpen the jawline and is not a substitute for weight loss.
The first thing done at examination is to identify the source of the fullness. A method chosen without establishing that source will not work.
Is There an Age Limit?
Legally, adulthood is required. But the real question is not the legal limit — it is whether the face has finished developing.
Cheek fullness reduces partly on its own through adolescence and the early twenties. A procedure performed during this period may prove excessive a few years later. The general approach is therefore not to rush in very young patients, and to wait for facial proportions to settle.
At the other end, facial fat volume already declines with age and the skin loosens. In older patients bichectomy can make the face look more hollow rather than younger; in this group the need is usually not to remove volume but to reposition tissue.
In short, the decision is made by examination findings and the proportions of your own face — not by age.
Is It Permanent? What Happens With Age?
The fat pad that is removed does not grow back, so in that sense the procedure is permanent. But the word “permanent” cuts both ways here, and this is the most important thing to understand before deciding.
As the face ages, the volume of fat beneath the skin naturally decreases and the supporting tissues loosen. In a face from which a large amount of fat was removed at a young age, this process can show up as more pronounced hollowing than average — particularly beneath the cheekbone.
This does not mean the procedure is inadvisable; it explains why keeping the amount measured matters so much. In a well-planned bichectomy the goal is not to empty the cheek, but to bring the fullness into line with the face’s own proportions.
The very dramatic changes seen on social media are usually the result of aggressive planning and can turn into an unwanted appearance over the years.
Bichectomy Prices
Bichectomy prices may vary depending on the location of the clinic, the experience of the surgeon and the techniques used. It is recommended to consult a specialist to get exact price information.
Bichectomy is an effective procedure that improves aesthetic appearance by making facial contours more defined. Working with an experienced surgeon, you can achieve safe and satisfying results.
