Buccal fat side effects | Everything you need to know to face them

Buccal fat surgery is one of the best ways to get rid of excess fat of the cheeks. If you are willing to have a more boney looking face or want to make your jawline bolder, this surgery is perfect for you. But like other beauty surgeries, buccal fat surgery has it’s own side effects. In this article we will tell you what are they and what is the best way to take care of yourself during the recovery period after buccal fat surgery.

What is buccal surgery or drainage of oral fat?

Intraoral fat, or cheek fat, is a type of deep fat which specialists call “buccal fat”. This fat causes the outer corner of cheeks to become full and hides the ridge of the cheekbones. The buccal fat operation removes the fat from the lower part of the cheek and makes the cheekbones appear prominent. Only a specialist doctor should perform this surgery; because if not, they wouldn’t be able to maintain balance in the face and maintain symmetry of the face.

Cheek fat has fetal origin and is not considered subcutaneous fat; so it’s amount does not change with weight gain or loss. However, the effect of surgery is more pronounced in obese people and the changes will be more dramatic. You can’t get rid of buccal fat with exercise or diet! And the only way to get rid of it is surgery. But buccal fat operation, like any other invasive method, has side effects that you should be aware of before taking action.

The process of Buccal fat surgery:

The surgeon will use sedatives or local anesthetics for this operation and there is no need for complete anesthesia. Buccal fat operation won’t take more than 60 – 90 minutes. And you will not feel any pain during the operation. You should be monitored by a specialist for a few hours after the operation; and whenever your specialist declares your general condition normal, you will be discharged and can go home.

In this operation, they use absorbable sutures and the wound will be inside the mouth. Therefore, there are no scars or stitches on the face. The surgeon will cut 2 to 4 cm inside the mouth in the upper part of the second tooth of the upper mill and then they’ll empty the cheek fat from this area. Be sure to go for a few sessions before the operation and ask your physician to give you a full explanation of the operation and care before and after.

Side effects of buccal fat surgery

This operation is a low-risk and low-complication method. However, we can’t ignore a series of possible side effects!

• Temporary stiffness in the jawbone is one of the rare complications of buccal fat operation. In the event of this complication, it’s difficult for you to move your jaw and it seems as if it’s locked. The jawbone may also become numb.
• Restrictions on head and neck
• Movement Swelling: Another complication is swelling in the jaw and face. Swelling after buccal fat operation is normal and you’ll definitely experience it; but if it became too much or painful, you should inform your specialist. To reduce or eliminate the natural swelling of the face after the operation, use face masks or anti-inflammatory drugs. Of course, this inflation will disappear on it’s own after a while and there’s no need to worry!
• Infection: Another possible complication is infection. If you don’t follow the postoperative care or recovery period properly, the risk of infection will be high. Regular use of mouthwash, antibiotics and good oral hygiene will greatly prevent infections.
• Bleeding: If you eat solid food or do strenuous exercise, it can cause bruising and damage to the wound and even bleeding!
• Persistent pain: Take proper care before and after the operation, or pain in the operated area will be inevitable! You should see a specialist if you feel severe pain.
• Cheek asymmetry: Cheeks may be asymmetrical if the surgeon is not professional enough; or if you manipulate the operation site.
• Cheek sagging: If you don’t follow the postoperative care properly, there’s a possibility of sagging cheeks! Aging is also another factor that causes drooping cheeks.
• Facial muscle damage: If the surgeon is not skilled enough, they may damage your facial muscles and have irreversible complications. So be careful in choosing your surgeon and clinic!

Preoperative care for buccal surgery

• Stop taking allergens altogether a few days before surgery.
• Buccal fat operation is a topical procedure; for this reason, avoid eating or drinking any food or drink 12 hours before the operation.
• Stop drinking alcohol or smoking completely two or three days before the operation.
• Do not take aspirin in the days leading up to surgery. Because aspirin dilutes the blood.
• Rinse your mouth with mouthwash before surgery.

Care after buccal surgery

As we mentioned so far, postoperative care and recovery play a key role in achieving the desired result and reduce the risk of upcoming complications of buccal fat surgery. And if you don’t implement them properly, not only will you not get good results, but there may be serious damage to health; and you may get some rare complications of buccal fat surgery such as infection! But what does this postoperative care include?

• Operational bends make it difficult to eat for several days and there’s a possibility of pain in the surgical area. Therefore, it is better to eat liquids and watery foods such as tonic soups instead of solid foods during this period.
• To reduce the swelling caused by buccal fat operation, it is better to use two pillows while lying down so that your head is high.
• Don’t forget the face mask! It is better to use this gene for a week after the surgery to achieve the desired result. This gene reduces swelling and greatly reduces the pressure on the operated area.
• It is best to use mouthwash and antibiotics regularly to prevent the wounds from becoming infected. Of course, you should not forget oral hygiene!
• Heavy exercise puts a lot of pressure on the operated area and increases the chance of the sutures opening. Therefore, it’s better to avoid exercising for as long as your specialist prescribes.
• No Smoking! Avoid smoking, especially cigarettes.
• Do not manipulate or irritate the wound or suture. In this case, the balance of the face will be lost and you will face a serious problem!
• After a meal or drink, you need to rinse your mouth with special serums!

In addition to postoperative care, preoperative care is also very important; and you must follow it properly to get a satisfactory result.

Recovery period after buccal surgery

This operation does not require hospitalization, so you are discharged the same day and you can spend your recovery period at home. There is a possibility of bleeding up to two or three days after the operation at the site of the wound or suture. A few days after the operation, the suture inside the mouth disappears and no trace of it remains. Although some of the complications you experience after buccal fat surgery are normal, but they might be dangerous if they continue. So, be sure to see your specialist if you still feel pain, burning, or infection in this area after this time. You can control and reduce postoperative pain by taking painkillers. Talk to your physician if you feel severe or unbearable pain.

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