Will A Buccal Lipectomy Make My Face Less Puffy?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello, I am interested in looking into the buccal fat removal procedure. I am looking for a way to make my face less ‘puffy’ and round especially when smiling. I was interested in finding out if this could be an option for what I’m looking to achieve. Thank you!

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. The cheek fullness to which you refer is anterior to the buccal fat pad and thus this procedure would not be effective for you. In addition any form of surgery is geared toward static problems while your primary cheek concerns are dynamic in nature. I(smiling) In other words there is no effective surgery for cheek fullness that primarily appears when one is smiling. Your facial concerns are extremely common but I know of no procedure that I can confidently say will solve it.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana