Buccal Fat Removal
For some people, full, round lower cheeks — a soft, “baby-faced” look that persists well into adulthood — never slim down with diet or exercise, because the fullness comes from a deep structure called the buccal fat pad. Buccal fat removal (also called cheek reduction or buccal lipectomy) conservatively reduces that pad to reveal a gentle hollow beneath the cheekbone and a more defined, sculpted jawline. It is one of the fastest-rising facial procedures of the past few years — U.S. search interest roughly tripled between 2021 and 2023, driven by celebrities and social media — but it is also one of the most over-requested. Dr. Rafizadeh approaches it the way he approaches all facial surgery: conservatively, and only for patients it genuinely suits. He has shaped faces for more than 40 years in Morristown, NJ.
“Buccal fat removal is a wonderful operation for the right face and the wrong operation for many of the people who ask for it. The face thins as we age, so the cheeks that look full at thirty often look just right at fifty. I remove a measured amount — never all of it — and I am honest when the answer is no. A good cheek reduction should look like good genetics, not like surgery, ten and twenty years down the road.”
— Dr. Farhad Rafizadeh, MD FACS
What Buccal Fat Removal Does
The procedure addresses a specific kind of facial fullness — and works best as one part of a balanced contouring plan rather than a single fix.
A conservative amount of the buccal fat pad is teased out and removed, softening excess roundness in the lower cheek and introducing a subtle, natural hollow beneath the cheekbone.
Reducing lower-cheek fullness lets the bony contour of the cheekbone and jaw read more clearly, lending the face a more sculpted, photographed-from-every-angle definition.
The work is done through a small incision on the inside of each cheek — between the cheek and gums — that closes with dissolving sutures, leaving no visible scar on the face.
The Honest Part: Candidacy & Aging
More than almost any cosmetic procedure, buccal fat removal lives or dies on candidate selection. The buccal fat pad naturally shrinks as you get older, and the face loses volume everywhere with age. Remove too much fat from a face that was never very full — or in a patient who will thin with time — and the result can be a gaunt, sunken, prematurely aged look that is difficult to reverse. A 2025 systematic review found that roughly a quarter of patients experience some complication, and a meaningful share of people treated years ago now report dissatisfaction tied to over-hollowing. None of this means the procedure is bad; it means it must be done conservatively and selectively. Dr. Rafizadeh removes only what is needed, often leaves more behind than patients expect, and will recommend against surgery when your face is likely to thin on its own. When fullness is better treated another way, he may suggest jawline liposuction, a chin implant to rebalance proportions, or simply waiting.
→ Schedule a ConsultationMeet with Dr. Rafizadeh personally to discuss your goals and a personalized plan. Call (973) 267-0928 or request a consultation online.Buccal Fat Removal vs. Other Contouring
Cheek fullness has more than one cause, so the right treatment is not always buccal fat removal. Submental or jowl fullness along the jaw responds better to fine liposuction or, with loose skin, a neck lift. A weak or recessed chin can make a normal lower face look heavy — a chin implant sharpens the profile far more effectively than removing cheek fat would. And patients chasing a sculpted look who are actually losing facial volume may be better served by facial fat grafting or non-surgical contouring to restore structure rather than subtract it. At consultation, Dr. Rafizadeh identifies what is actually creating the fullness before recommending any procedure.
The Procedure & Recovery
Buccal fat removal is a brief outpatient procedure, usually performed under local anesthesia in about 30 to 60 minutes. After numbing the inside of the cheeks, Dr. Rafizadeh makes a small intraoral incision, gently expresses a measured portion of the buccal fat pad, and closes with dissolving sutures. You go home the same day.
Days 1–3: Mild swelling and tightness; the cheeks may briefly look fuller, not slimmer, which is normal. A soft diet and saltwater rinses protect the incisions. Week 1–2: Most patients return to work and social activity; swelling steadily subsides. Weeks 2–4: The slimming becomes visible as residual swelling resolves. Months 3–6: The final, refined contour settles in. Because the removed fat does not return, results are permanent as long as your weight stays stable.
Buccal Fat Removal in New Jersey
Dr. Rafizadeh performs buccal fat removal in Morristown, NJ for patients throughout New Jersey — including Essex, Morris, Union, Somerset, and Bergen counties — as well as those traveling from New York City and beyond. Because the procedure is permanent and so dependent on the right diagnosis, the first step is always an in-person evaluation of your facial structure, fat distribution, and how your face is likely to age. Many patients consider it alongside a chin implant, facelift, or rhinoplasty as part of a balanced facial plan.
Sources & References
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “Cheek Implants & Facial Contouring — What to know.” plasticsurgery.org
- Surek CC, et al. “Buccal Fat Pad Excision: A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Complications.” Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2025. PubMed
- Stuzin JM, et al. “The Anatomy and Clinical Implications of the Buccal Fat Pad.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. PubMed
- American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (The Aesthetic Society). Procedural Statistics. theaestheticsociety.org
- American Board of Plastic Surgery. “Verify a Surgeon's Certification.” abplasticsurgery.org
- Dr. Farhad Rafizadeh, RealSelf Q&A profile. realself.com
