What Is Buccal Fat Removal?
Buccal fat removal, also called cheek reduction, removes part of the buccal fat pad, a rounded pad of fat that sits deep in the lower cheek between the cheekbone and the jaw. In some people the pad is large enough to make the face look round or “chubby-cheeked” whatever their weight, and because it sits deep in the face, no amount of diet or exercise reaches it. Removing a measured portion through a small incision inside the mouth slims the lower cheek, creates a subtle hollow below the cheekbone and defines the jawline, with no scar on the face. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Moises Salama performs buccal fat removal at Elite Plastic Surgery in Hollywood, Florida, serving Miami and Fort Lauderdale, alone or with other facial and body procedures.
Buccal fat removal at a glance
- Treats
- Full lower cheeks that persist at a stable weight
- Incision
- About 1 cm inside the mouth; no scar on the face
- Anesthesia / time
- General; under an hour; home the same day
- Recovery
- Liquids and soft food for a few days; normal routine in about a week
- Results
- Visible by a month; final at 3–6 months; permanent
- Often combined with
- Neck or chin liposuction, lip lift, eyelid surgery, Morpheus8
- Surgeon
- Dr. Moises Salama, board-certified plastic surgeon
How Buccal Fat Removal Works
The buccal fat pad lies between the cheek muscles, in front of the masseter (chewing) muscle and below the cheekbone, close to the parotid duct and branches of the facial nerve. Through a small incision in the cheek lining inside the mouth, opposite the upper molars, Dr. Salama applies gentle pressure to the outside of the cheek so the fat pad presents itself through the opening. He removes a measured portion, compares both sides so they match, and closes the incision with dissolving stitches. Removing part of the pad, not all of it, is what gives a natural result: the lower cheek slims, the cheekbone looks more defined by contrast, and the face keeps enough fat to age well.
Medical illustrations, simplified and not to scale.
Benefits of Buccal Fat Removal in Miami
- Slims and contours the lower cheek and midface, giving a more sculpted look.
- Defines the cheekbones and jawline by contrast.
- Treats fullness that diet and exercise cannot reach.
- No visible scar; under an hour; recovery in about a week.
- Permanent: the fat removed does not return.
Who Makes the Best Candidate for Buccal Fat Removal?
- Full or round lower cheeks that persist at a stable, healthy weight.
- Fullness in the lower cheek rather than the jowls or neck, which need different treatment.
- Good health, non-smoker (or willing to stop for a month before and after), and realistic expectations of a subtle, natural change.
- Good skin elasticity, usually patients in their twenties to forties.
Dr. Salama is conservative with patients who have a naturally thin or narrow face, because the buccal fat helps the face look youthful as it ages, and with patients over fifty, whose facial fat is already thinning. For some patients, neck liposuction or Morpheus8 gives a better result than buccal fat removal, and he will say so.
Video: Buccal fat removal at Elite Plastic Surgery.
The Procedure Step by Step
- Consultation. Dr. Salama examines where the fullness sits, pinches the cheek to judge the pad, reviews photos from several angles and confirms that buccal fat removal, not another procedure, is the right answer. Virtual consultations are available.
- Preparation. No nicotine for a month before and after; stop blood-thinning supplements two weeks before; labs when needed; a dental check if you have any gum or tooth infection, since the incision is in the mouth.
- Anesthesia. General anesthesia by a board-certified anesthesia provider in the practice’s own state-certified facility.
- Surgery. Under an hour. A one-centimeter incision in the cheek lining on each side; the pad is delivered with gentle pressure and a measured portion removed; both sides matched; dissolving stitches.
- Same day home with a mouth rinse, written instructions and a follow-up visit in the first week.
Recovery from Buccal Fat Removal
| Time after surgery | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | Swelling and soreness of the cheeks; cold compresses; liquids only; prescribed mouth rinse after anything by mouth; sleep with the head elevated. |
| Days 3–7 | Soft foods; swelling peaks then begins to fall; most patients back to desk work and light routine; no strenuous exercise. |
| Weeks 2–3 | Normal diet; incisions healed; swelling mostly gone; exercise resumes at two weeks. |
| Months 1–6 | The slimmer shape shows by a month and the final contour by three to six months as the last swelling settles. |
Temporary numbness of the cheek is normal and returns over weeks. Call the office about increasing pain, fever, pus, or swelling that grows after the third day.
Buccal Fat Removal with Other Procedures
Because it takes under an hour, buccal fat removal is easy to add to another procedure. It is commonly combined with chin or neck liposuction for a defined jawline, an upper lip lift, blepharoplasty, otoplasty or Morpheus8, and with body procedures such as a Brazilian butt lift or breast augmentation under the same anesthesia.
Risks and How They’re Managed
Temporary numbness, swelling, bruising, asymmetry, infection and bleeding are the common risks; injury to the parotid duct or the buccal branch of the facial nerve, which run close to the pad, is rare and is avoided by delivering the pad with gentle pressure rather than pulling. The long-term risk is over-removal, which can make the face look hollow with age; Dr. Salama removes a measured portion and declines the procedure for patients whose face would not benefit.
What Is the Cost of Buccal Fat Removal in Miami?
At Elite Plastic Surgery, buccal fat removal typically falls between $3,000 and $4,000. Where your quote lands in that range depends on whether it is done alone or added to another procedure, and on anesthesia and facility time. Your written quote from Elite Plastic Surgery lists the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia fee and your post-operative care, with no hidden extras. It is cosmetic and not covered by insurance; financing is available through CareCredit, United Medical Credit and Alphaeon Credit (see financing).
Why Choose Dr. Salama for Buccal Fat Removal
Patient reviews: 4.9★ on Google, 748 reviews for Elite Plastic Surgery · 4.7★ on RealSelf, 2,561 reviews (RealSelf Verified) · counts as of October 2026.
- Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society.
- An honest assessment of whether buccal fat removal, neck liposuction or skin tightening is the right answer for your face.
- Surgery in the practice’s own state-certified facility in Hollywood, Florida, between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, with board-certified anesthesia providers.
- Bilingual team: hablamos español. Virtual consultations for out-of-town patients.
Find Out Whether Buccal Fat Removal Suits Your Face
Book a virtual consultation from home, or call or text (305) 933-4033. Hablamos español.
Buccal Fat Removal Frequently Asked Questions
What is buccal fat removal?
Buccal fat removal (cheek reduction) removes part of the buccal fat pad, a rounded pad of fat that sits deep in the lower cheek between the cheekbone and the jaw. Removing a measured portion through a small incision inside the mouth slims the lower cheek, creates a subtle hollow under the cheekbone and defines the jawline, with no scar on the face. It is done for people whose cheeks stay full despite a stable, healthy weight.
Am I a good candidate for buccal fat removal?
Adults with full lower cheeks that persist at a stable weight, a face that is round or wide at the lower cheek rather than the cheekbone, good health, no smoking, and realistic expectations. The best candidates are in their twenties to forties with good skin elasticity. Dr. Salama is cautious with patients who have a naturally thin or narrow face, because the buccal fat helps the face look youthful as it ages, and with patients whose fullness is in the jowls or neck, which buccal fat removal does not treat.
How is the buccal fat removal procedure performed?
Under general anesthesia in the practice’s own state-certified facility, in under an hour. Dr. Salama makes an incision of about a centimeter in the lining of the cheek inside the mouth, opposite the upper molars, applies gentle pressure to the cheek so the fat pad presents itself through the opening, removes a measured portion, matches both sides, and closes the incision with dissolving stitches. There is no incision or scar on the face.
What is the recovery time for buccal fat removal?
Swelling, soreness and some bruising for a few days; a liquid diet for the first day or two, then soft foods; a mouth rinse after meals while the incisions heal; and back to normal routines within about a week. The incisions heal in about three weeks and the final shape appears over several months as the swelling settles.
Are there risks or side effects?
Temporary numbness of the cheek, swelling, asymmetry, infection, bleeding, and, rarely, injury to the parotid (salivary) duct or the buccal branch of the facial nerve, which run close to the fat pad. Dr. Salama reduces these risks by working through a small opening, removing the pad gently without pulling, and taking a conservative amount. The long-term consideration is over-removal, which can make the face look gaunt with age; that is avoided by removing a measured portion, not the whole pad.
Will buccal fat removal result in scarring?
No visible scarring. The incision is inside the mouth, in the cheek lining, and heals as a fine line that cannot be seen from outside.
How long do the results last?
Permanently. The fat that is removed does not grow back. The face continues to age and changes with weight, and because facial fat naturally thins with age, Dr. Salama removes a conservative amount so the result still looks right in twenty years.
Can buccal fat removal be combined with other procedures?
Yes. It is often combined with neck or chin liposuction, a lip lift, eyelid surgery, otoplasty or Morpheus8 skin tightening in one session, and with body procedures such as a BBL or breast augmentation, since it adds under an hour to the surgery.
Is buccal fat removal painful?
Discomfort is mild: a sore, swollen cheek for a few days, like a dental procedure, eased with cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medication. Chewing is uncomfortable for a few days, which is why the first days are liquids and soft foods.
How much does buccal fat removal cost in Miami?
At Elite Plastic Surgery buccal fat removal typically runs $3,000 to $4,000, depending on whether it is done alone or added to another procedure, and on anesthesia and facility time. Your written quote from Elite Plastic Surgery lists the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia fee and your post-operative care, with no hidden extras, and financing is available through CareCredit, United Medical Credit and Alphaeon Credit. It is a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance.
Does buccal fat removal make you look older?
Not when the amount removed is conservative and the candidate is right. Facial fat thins naturally with age, so removing all of the pad, or removing it from a face that is already thin, can look gaunt years later. Dr. Salama removes a measured portion and declines the procedure for patients whose face would not benefit, which is the safeguard against this.
Will buccal fat removal give me cheekbones?
It does not change the cheekbone itself; it slims the lower cheek beneath it, which makes the cheekbone look more defined by contrast. Patients who want more cheekbone projection can add filler or fat grafting to the cheekbones at a later visit.
How long does swelling last after buccal fat removal?
Most of the swelling resolves in one to two weeks, and the cheeks may look fuller than before during that time. The slimmer shape shows by about a month and the final result by three to six months.
What should I eat after buccal fat removal?
Liquids for the first day or two (water, broth, smoothies, protein shakes), then soft foods for about a week (yogurt, eggs, mashed vegetables, soups), avoiding anything crunchy, spicy or very hot, and rinsing the mouth with the prescribed rinse after each meal while the incisions heal.
Sources
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Buccal fat removal.
- The Aesthetic Society, Buccal fat removal.