NANA BLOG
Buccal Fat Removal in Korea: Are You a Good Candidate?
Contents
Buccal Fat Removal in Korea: Are You a Good Candidate?
A slimmer, more defined lower face without bone surgery, done entirely inside the mouth with nothing showing on the outside. The real question is not whether it works, but whether it suits your face.
Key takeaways
- Buccal fat removal reduces the deep fat pad inside the cheek to slim a round or full lower face, without touching bone.
- It is done from inside the mouth, so there is no scarring on the surface of your face.
- It targets cheek fullness that will not shift with diet or exercise, and can help refine cheeks that have started to sag.
- Removing too much fat can lead to hollowing, so only the necessary amount is removed, in only the areas that need it.
- Most people are back to daily life the next day, with swelling largely settled in one to two weeks.
What causes a more aged appearance, and what is buccal fat?
Buccal fat removal is a non-surgical procedure designed to address excess fat around the 45-degree angle of the cheekbone area. It is particularly effective for those whose prominent cheekbones give the appearance of a more pronounced contour, along with fuller side cheeks or sagging, fuller jowls.
Buccal fat refers to fat pads set deep within the cheeks, beneath the masticatory muscles you chew with. Unlike the subcutaneous fat just under the skin, the buccal fat pad is soft and pliable, with an almost liquid-like consistency. It extends from the side of the head down toward the lower jaw, contributing to the overall contour and fullness of the face.
Because it sits so deep, this pad often stays resistant to diet and exercise, which is why a full, round lower face can persist even as the rest of the body slims down. Reducing it can help with fullness around the cheekbone and jaw, including fuller side cheeks and sagging, heavier jowls.
Facial contouring without bone surgery
Slimming the face was once thought to require reshaping or shaving the bone. Buccal fat removal offers a different route within facial contouring. By reducing the deep cheek pad, it can soften a round, full lower face without altering the bone structure at all.
It tends to help most with the kind of cheek fullness that stays put despite dieting, and it can also refine cheeks that have started to droop with age and gravity, for a more youthful, defined look.
Careful, not just smaller
Only what is needed
Taking out too much buccal fat can leave the cheeks looking hollow later on. We assess your proportions first and remove only the amount that suits your face, in only the areas that need it.
Nothing on the outside
The pad sits too deep to reach with liposuction, so it is released from inside the mouth. The work stays hidden, and there is nothing visible on the surface of your face.
A natural, refined look
Only the necessary amount is removed, in only the areas that need it, for a more youthful and refined look rather than the most dramatic reduction possible.
You may be a good candidate if
- Your cheeks look fuller or rounder than you would like
- Cheek fullness has not budged with diet or exercise
- Soft, sagging cheeks are starting to make your face look older
- You want a more defined V-line without bone surgery
- Sagging cheeks are deepening the folds around your nose and mouth
One thing to keep in mind: removing too much buccal fat can lead to hollowing of the cheeks. That is why only the necessary amount is removed, in only the areas that need it. A consultation is the best way to confirm the right approach for your face.
Curious about our buccal fat removal surgery?
Send a photo to our English-speaking team for an in-depth assessment of whether buccal fat removal suits your face.
Ask on WhatsAppTwo ways buccal fat removal helps
Reducing the deep cheek fat can slim the jawline whether or not your cheeks have started to sag. The reasons people choose it fall into two groups.
When cheeks are full but not sagging
- Plump cheeks with a wish for a smaller face
- Cheek fat that lingers despite dieting
- Cheeks that spread wide when you smile
When sagging is also present
- Sagging that lingers after a facelift or thread lift
- A drooping, uneven jawline
- Hollow upper cheeks that make the cheekbones look sharper
The procedure, step by step
Intraoral incision
With you comfortably under anesthesia, a small incision of about 0.5 to 1 cm is made inside the mouth, so nothing is done on the outer face.
Buccal fat removal
Through that intraoral incision, only the excess buccal fat is selectively released and removed, with the amount matched to your facial proportions.
Intraoral suturing
The incision is closed with stitches that dissolve on their own, so there is nothing to take out later.
Before and after
Frequently asked questions
How long is the recovery period for buccal fat removal?
The recovery period for buccal fat removal can vary from person to person. Generally, you can resume your daily activities, including washing your face, the day after the procedure. Significant swelling usually subsides within 1 to 2 weeks, but it may take about 3 to 6 months to see the final results and complete reduction in swelling.
Does buccal fat removal leave visible scars?
No. Everything is done from inside the mouth and closed with stitches that dissolve on their own, so there is nothing visible on the outside of your face.
Will it make my cheeks look hollow?
Removing too much fat can lead to hollowing over time. To avoid that, only the necessary amount is removed, in only the areas that need it, based on an assessment of your facial proportions.
Can it help sagging cheeks?
Yes. Sagging cheeks often cannot be corrected by lifting alone, and reducing the deep cheek fat can help improve the look of sagging along the lower face.
Can I get a V-line without bone surgery?
For the right candidate, buccal fat removal can add V-line definition to the lower face with no bone surgery involved.
Can liposuction remove buccal fat instead?
No. The buccal fat pad sits too deep to reach with liposuction. It is released and removed from inside the mouth.
This article is for general information and education. It is not medical advice, and it does not guarantee any particular outcome. Results, recovery, and candidacy vary from person to person, and buccal fat removal is not suitable for everyone. Any surgical procedure carries potential risks. A personal consultation with a qualified medical professional is required before making any decision.
Find out if it suits your face
Send a clear photo to our English-speaking team for a detailed, personalized assessment of whether buccal fat removal suits your facial proportions, with honest guidance on what to expect from the procedure and recovery.
