If you’ve been looking in the mirror and noticing rounded, chipmunk-like fullness in your lower cheeks that no amount of diet or exercise seems to change, you may be dealing with prominent buccal fat pads. Buccal fat removal (also called buccal fat pad excision or cheek reduction surgery) is one of the fastest-growing facial contouring procedures in Miami, and for good reason: it’s a relatively short, targeted surgery that can permanently sculpt a slimmer, more defined lower face and cheekbone contour.

At Dr. Nidia De Jesus’s Miami practice, buccal fat removal is often requested on its own or combined with other facial procedures for patients who want sharper facial angles without the downtime of a larger surgery. Here’s what the procedure actually involves, who makes a good candidate, what recovery really looks like, and how it fits alongside other facial contouring options.

What Is Buccal Fat Removal?

The buccal fat pads are two small, encapsulated pockets of fat located deep in the cheeks, between the cheekbone and the jawline, roughly at the hollow beneath your cheekbone when you suck in your cheeks. Everyone has them — they’re part of normal facial anatomy and actually help babies nurse — but their size varies significantly from person to person and can make the lower face and cheeks appear fuller or rounder than a patient would like, even at a healthy weight.

Buccal fat removal is a surgical procedure that removes a portion of these fat pads (never all of it, since some fullness is needed to avoid a hollow, aged look later in life) to create a more contoured, chiseled lower face. The goal isn’t to eliminate cheek fat entirely — it’s to reduce it strategically so the natural angles of your cheekbones and jawline become more visible.

How the Procedure Works

Buccal fat removal is typically performed under local anesthesia with oral sedation, or occasionally under light general anesthesia if combined with other procedures. The technique is elegantly simple:

• A small incision (usually less than an inch) is made inside the mouth, along the inner cheek near the second upper molar
• Through this incision, the surgeon gently accesses the buccal fat pad
• A carefully measured amount of fat is removed — enough to slim the area, but not so much that it creates hollowing
• The incision is closed with a few dissolvable sutures

Because the incision is made from inside the mouth, there is no visible external scarring — one of the biggest draws of this procedure. The surgery itself typically takes 30 to 45 minutes when performed alone.

Am I a Good Candidate for Buccal Fat Removal?

Buccal fat removal works best for patients who have naturally full or prominent buccal fat pads that create a rounder lower face, even when they are at a stable, healthy weight. Good candidates typically:

• Have round or “chubby” cheeks that persist regardless of weight loss or exercise
• Are looking for more definition along the cheekbones and jawline
• Are in overall good health with realistic expectations
• Are generally between their 20s and 40s (younger patients have more skin elasticity to adapt to the new contour, and older patients risk premature hollowing since facial fat naturally decreases with age)
• Do not have significantly low body fat or already-hollow cheeks

Buccal fat removal is not recommended for patients who are already thin-faced, have low facial fat volume, or are over 45-50, since removing more fat can accelerate the hollow, aged appearance that comes naturally with time. During your consultation, Dr. De Jesus will assess your facial structure, skin elasticity, and long-term facial aging pattern to determine whether this procedure — or an alternative — is the right fit.

Buccal Fat Removal vs. Facial Liposuction

Patients sometimes confuse buccal fat removal with submental or facial liposuction, but they target different tissue. Buccal fat removal addresses the deep fat pad in the mid-to-lower cheek, while facial liposuction or chin/neck liposuction removes superficial fat under the chin and along the jawline. Many patients considering full lower-face refinement — chin, jaw, and cheek — combine buccal fat removal with submental contouring for a more complete result.

What Results Can You Expect?

Buccal fat removal creates a permanent reduction in cheek fullness, but the final result takes time to fully reveal itself. Immediately after surgery, cheeks are swollen — often appearing fuller than before surgery for the first one to two weeks, which surprises many patients. As swelling resolves over the following weeks, the new, more contoured shape gradually emerges, with the true final result visible around 3 to 6 months after surgery, once all residual swelling has resolved.

The improvement is typically described as:

• More visible cheekbone contour
• A slimmer, less rounded lower face
• Better definition where the cheek meets the jawline
• A more “sculpted” or mature facial appearance

Because the fat removed does not return, results are considered permanent — although natural facial aging (gradual fat loss everywhere in the face) will continue on its own timeline regardless of the procedure.

Recovery After Buccal Fat Removal

Buccal fat removal has one of the more comfortable recovery profiles among facial procedures, but there are specific care steps that matter for a smooth healing process.

The First Few Days

Most patients experience:

• Swelling that peaks around day 2-3 and can make cheeks look temporarily fuller, not slimmer
• Mild bruising in some cases
• Some difficulty with wide mouth movements (talking, chewing) for the first several days
• Manageable discomfort, typically controlled with prescribed or over-the-counter medication

Patients are placed on a soft food or liquid diet for the first week to protect the internal incision, along with a prescribed antiseptic mouth rinse used after every meal to keep the surgical site clean while it heals from the inside.

Daily Monitoring at Dr. De Jesus’s Clinic

As with all procedures at the practice, patients recovering from buccal fat removal — especially when combined with other facial or body procedures — are seen daily, in person, during normal business hours for wound checks and to confirm the intraoral incision is healing properly and without infection. This is not an overnight stay or a 24-hour recovery facility; it is a series of daily clinic visits, generally lasting a portion of the day, after which patients return to their accommodations to rest.

Out-of-town and international patients typically stay at the Best Western located directly behind Dr. De Jesus’s office (33134 zip code), which offers a free airport shuttle and easy walking access to daily appointments. A companion — a friend or family member — is recommended for at least the first few days after surgery, particularly if buccal fat removal is combined with any procedure requiring sedation or general anesthesia.

Timeline Summary

• Days 1-3: Peak swelling, soft/liquid diet, rinse after meals, daily clinic check-ins
• Week 1: Swelling begins to subside, most patients return to non-strenuous routines
• Weeks 2-4: Continued swelling reduction, more normal chewing and speaking
• Months 1-3: Contour becomes increasingly visible as deep swelling resolves
• Months 3-6: Final, stable result visible

Combining Buccal Fat Removal with Other Procedures

Because buccal fat removal is quick and low-impact, it’s frequently combined with other facial and body procedures during the same trip to Miami. Popular combinations at Dr. De Jesus’s practice include:

• Buccal fat removal + facelift — for patients addressing both lower-face fullness and skin laxity
• Buccal fat removal + chin/neck liposuction — for full lower-face and jawline refinement
• Buccal fat removal + facial fat transfer — reducing fullness in the cheeks while adding volume elsewhere, such as the temples or under the eyes, for a more balanced, youthful result

Combining procedures during a single Miami trip is common among out-of-town patients who want to maximize their results in one visit while minimizing total travel and time away from work.

Risks and Considerations

As with any surgical procedure, buccal fat removal carries risks, including infection, asymmetry, temporary numbness, or (rarely) injury to nearby facial nerves or the parotid duct. The single biggest long-term risk, however, is over-removal — taking out too much fat, which can lead to a hollow, prematurely aged appearance years down the line as natural facial fat continues to decline with age. This is why choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon with specific experience in facial contouring — not just a general cosmetic provider — matters enormously for this procedure. Dr. De Jesus takes a conservative, measured approach specifically to avoid this outcome, removing only what is needed to achieve natural-looking definition.

What Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost in Miami?

Pricing for buccal fat removal varies based on whether it is performed as a standalone procedure or combined with other facial surgeries, as well as anesthesia requirements. Because pricing depends on your specific facial anatomy and any combined procedures, the most accurate quote comes from an in-person or virtual consultation with Dr. De Jesus, where your goals and facial structure are evaluated directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is buccal fat removal painful?

Most patients describe the discomfort as mild to moderate — more similar to soreness after dental work than a typical surgical recovery. Swelling is usually the more noticeable symptom in the first week, rather than pain.

Will my face look hollow when I’m older?

Not if the procedure is performed conservatively. A skilled surgeon removes only a portion of the buccal fat pad, leaving enough volume to age gracefully. This is why an experienced, board-certified surgeon’s judgment matters so much for this particular procedure.

How long until I can eat normally again?

Most patients transition off the soft-food diet within 5-7 days, though full comfort chewing tougher foods can take a bit longer as swelling continues to resolve.

Can buccal fat removal be reversed?

No — once the fat pad tissue is removed, it does not grow back. This is why a conservative, carefully measured approach and a thorough consultation beforehand are essential before moving forward with surgery.

Do I need to travel with a companion for this procedure?

If buccal fat removal is performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation, many patients can manage independently, though having a companion for the first day or two is still recommended. If combined with general anesthesia or another procedure, a companion is required for at least the first several days, consistent with our standard recovery protocol.

Ready to Explore Buccal Fat Removal in Miami?

If you’ve always felt your cheeks were fuller than you’d like — regardless of your weight or fitness level — buccal fat removal may be the targeted, low-downtime solution you’re looking for. Dr. Nidia De Jesus offers thorough consultations to evaluate your facial anatomy, discuss realistic outcomes, and help you decide whether buccal fat removal alone or in combination with another procedure best fits your goals.

Call (305) 600-3736 or email info@nidiadejesusmd.com to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward a more defined, sculpted facial profile.