Can A Buccal Lipectomy Be Redone?

Q: Dr. Eppley,  I have some questions regarding facial slimming with buccal lipectomies and perioral liposuction. 

I’m interested in doing the procedures and I’m wondering if you think that you could help me with this.

To give you the full background:

I’ve previously had some treatments done in my face in order to shape it in a pleasing way. I used to have so called “hamster cheeks” and where really heavy on the lower face (think reversed egg ) – so I’ve had cheek implants done and have had a buccal fat pad removal that resulted in success on the left side, but still with fat remaining on the right side, leaving the face to be uneven… 

The reason why the plastic surgeon didn’t succeed on both sides is due to the buccal fat on my right side being scattered around (at least that’s what he told me). 

So if possible I’d love to have the left and the right side be symmetrical (as much as possible, as I know this isn’t an exact science) – do you think it would be possible to “go in” on the right side again and correct it? Knowing it’s a very sensitive area with nerves etc.

I can also start seeing droopiness on the perioral mound area (the side of the mouth) due to excess fat – making me look sad when I’m really not. So this is something I really like to get rid of. I’ve inherited it from both my mom’s and dad’s side, and it’s something that I’d like to correct while the skin still heals an bouncing back easily.

A:Thank you for your inquiry. I have never seen or heard of the buccal fat pad being ‘scattered around’ as that is not how it is anatomically located. I suspect he just wasn’t able to locate the buccal fad capsule as it is often deeper than what most surgeons think it. Thus trying to ‘redo’ the left buccal lipectomy which seem appropriate. But on both sides perioral liposuction can be done to complement the buccal lipectomies and provide some further facial slimming effects.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana