Some faces stay round in the lower cheeks regardless of weight, because the fullness comes from the buccal fat pads rather than from fat under the skin. Those pads do not respond to diet or exercise.
At Washingtonian Plastic Surgery in McLean, Dr. Navin Singh performs buccal fat removal with the restraint the procedure demands, keeping the result proportional to your facial structure rather than simply reducing volume.
Serving patients throughout McLean, Tysons, Great Falls, and the greater Washington DC area.
What Is Buccal Fat Removal
Buccal fat removal, clinically a bichectomy, removes part of the buccal fat pad, a distinct structure that sits deep in the cheek between the buccinator and the surrounding muscles of facial expression.
Dr. Singh makes a small incision inside the mouth along the inner cheek, so there is no external scar. The pad is gently released, a measured portion removed, and the incision closed with absorbable sutures.
Performed on its own the procedure usually takes under an hour. Because the buccal fat pad contributes to facial volume in a predictable way, removing a conservative amount can define the cheekbones and slim the lower midface.
Who Is a Good Candidate
The right candidate is usually an adult whose face has finished developing, typically mid-twenties or older, with persistent cheek fullness that sits out of proportion to the rest of the face. Patients who describe their face as round or full despite a stable, healthy weight are often describing buccal fat specifically.
What rules someone out matters just as much. If your fullness is distributed broadly, or your face is already lean and angular, removing buccal fat can create hollowing that ages poorly.
Dr. Singh evaluates bone structure, skin quality, fat distribution, and how your face is likely to change over the coming decades. That assessment decides whether this procedure serves your long-term goals, or whether facelift surgery or a non-surgical option would suit you better.
Your Procedure
Your consultation covers your facial anatomy, your goals, and your medical history. Dr. Singh explains exactly what removing the pad will and will not change, so your expectations rest on your anatomy rather than a general outcome.
Our preparing for treatment guide covers medications to avoid, fasting, and what to arrange for the day of surgery.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia, depending on your preference and whether anything else is planned. It takes place in our Quad A accredited operating room, on site in the same suite as your consultation.
Patients traveling in can plan using our out-of-town patient page.
Recovery & Results
Most patients have mild swelling and some soreness in the cheeks for the first one to two weeks. A soft diet is recommended through early healing, and strenuous activity is restricted for about two weeks.
The inner cheek incisions heal without visible scarring for most patients. Desk work and light activity are usually comfortable within three to five days.
Cheek contour begins to change as swelling resolves, and the refined result becomes visible between three and six months. The reduction can make the cheekbones read as more prominent and the midface more sculpted, without altering your expression.
The outcome is intended to last, since buccal fat pads do not regenerate, though natural aging continues to shape your face over time. You can review facial outcomes in our before and after gallery.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Singh
Dr. Navin Singh trained at Brown, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins, and served as Director of Cosmetic Surgery at Johns Hopkins before founding the practice. He holds dual board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and serves as a board examiner for both. More on his profile page.
That background matters for a procedure this dependent on anatomy. How much fat to remove, and whether to remove any at all, calls for a surgeon who understands how a face ages and who will counsel restraint when restraint serves you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is recovery?
Most patients return to desk work and light activity within three to five days. Cheek swelling is most noticeable in the first week and resolves gradually over several weeks. A soft diet is recommended for about two weeks while the inner cheek incisions heal.
Will it leave visible scars?
No external incisions are made. Dr. Singh reaches the fat pad entirely through a small incision inside the cheek, closed with absorbable sutures, so nothing is visible on the outside of the face.
How do I know if my cheek fullness is buccal fat?
Buccal fat produces fullness in a specific part of the lower midcheek that does not change much with weight. Fullness that fluctuates with weight, or sits across the whole face, usually has a different cause. A physical examination is the only reliable way to tell.
Is it appropriate for younger patients?
Dr. Singh generally recommends waiting until the mid-twenties, once facial development is complete. Removing buccal fat before the face has matured can produce a gaunt or hollow result as natural volume loss continues.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
Yes. It is frequently performed alongside rhinoplasty, chin augmentation, or facial rejuvenation to address proportion from several angles.
What affects the cost?
Cost varies with anesthesia type, whether the procedure is performed alone or combined, and facility fees. Those details are reviewed at your in-person consultation. Financing through CareCredit and Alphaeon is available to qualifying patients. An in-person consultation with Dr. Singh is $150.
Are there non-surgical alternatives?
Dermal fillers can add definition to adjacent areas such as the cheekbones, creating a more contoured look without removing tissue. Our MedSpa offers several non-surgical facial options. For permanent reduction of buccal fat volume, surgery remains the only route.
Schedule Your Consultation
To learn more about buccal fat removal, schedule a private consultation with Dr. Navin Singh at our McLean office, minutes from Washington DC and serving patients throughout Northern Virginia and Montgomery County.
Call (703) 345-4377 or request your appointment.
Dr. Navin Singh is a dual board-certified plastic and facial plastic surgeon and founder of Washingtonian Plastic Surgery. He previously served as Director of Cosmetic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and currently serves as a board examiner for both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and has been recognized as a Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine.
