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Cheek (Bichat) fat removal

If you are petite or have lost extra pounds, but the plumpness of your face still remains, you probably have the so-called "Bichat" cheeks. The most effective way to give the face symmetry, fineness, and highlight the contours of the jaw is surgical removal of cheek fat (Bichat).

Who can have Bichat surgery?

Bichat fat is the deep fat located in the cheek cavity. The main purpose of these fats is to help babies suckle from their mother's milk. As the child grows, the functionality of the fat decreases until eventually it becomes meaningless and no longer serves any function, but remains noticeable.

The Bichat operation is performed on both women and men who are not satisfied with genetically formed chubby cheeks, a larger, slightly sunken face, a visually larger lower jaw, which remains the same even after shedding extra pounds. This operation is recommended for patients over 25 years of age, as the results may not be significant in younger patients. For older patients, Bichat surgery is often performed in conjunction with other plastic surgeries.

How is cheek fat removal performed?

Cheek fat removal is a simple surgery that takes about an hour and is performed under general or local anesthesia. Depending on the individual case, cheek fat removal can be done by several methods.

Internal incision method

During this operation, small, 4-5 mm incisions are made in the oral mucosa, through which part of the fatty tissue is separated and removed. The incision is usually sutured with dissolvable sutures that do not need to be removed.

External incision method

This method is usually applied when cheek fat removal surgery is combined with other plastic facial corrections - usually mid-face lifting or endoscopic eyebrow and forehead lifting. In this case, the fat is turned to the cheek areas or, in general, removed. The incisions are made on the outer part of the face.

Postoperative period and healing

Special care

The postoperative period is not complicated, but in order to avoid complications, you should avoid hard, hot, spicy food for at least a few days. It is also recommended to avoid heavy physical exertion for 1-2 weeks after surgery.

Healing and scarring

Immediately after the operation, the cheeks are swollen, but after a few weeks the swelling starts to subside. The end result – prominent cheekbones, a clearer jaw line, a more oval and finer face shape and less chubby cheeks can be enjoyed after only 2-3 months. If the incision is made in the mucous membrane, there are no scars at all. After the incisions are made on the outside, the scars remain slight.