FACIAL SURGERY
CHEEK REDUCTION
Buccal Fat Removal in
Houston, TX
Defined cheekbones are considered to be a desirable facial characteristic. However, many men and women have a perpetually soft ‘baby face’ that can give the impression of a chubby appearance. This is usually a hereditary condition and it is impossible to achieve a leaner appearance with exercise and diet.
Cheek reduction surgery – also referred to as buccal fat removal – can help define your cheekbones and create an attractive facial appearance. Plastic surgeons work to remove buccal fat pads that conceal the cheekbones and cause plumpness. Many patients who receive this procedure enjoy a more chiseled and well-contoured mid-face that improves their self-image and boosts their confidence.
Houston, TX plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Balinger offers cheek reduction procedures to patients in Houston, Conroe, and surrounding Texas communities. The surgeon understands that your best self is connected to your self-confidence. Working with a team of experienced clinicians, Dr. Christopher goes out of his way to make sure that each patient is comfortable, safe, and happy with their procedure outcome. He uses state of the art equipment and advanced surgical methods to achieve the best result while minimizing the risk of side effects such as scarring.
Is Cheek Reduction for Me?
While facial volume is often viewed favorably, many people feel that too much of it can detract from a desirable facial appearance. Cheek reduction – also referred to as cheek fat removal – is a cosmetic procedure designed to achieve a contoured and thinner facial profile. You may be an ideal candidate for this procedure if:
- You are in good physical and emotional health
- You have stable weight or are close to your ideal weight goal
- You are dissatisfied with cheeks that are excessively chubby
- You are a nonsmoker or have stopped smoking in readiness for this procedure
- You have realistic expectations about the outcome of this procedure
When you visit Dr. Balinger for your first consultation for a buccal fat pad removal procedure, the surgeon will listen to you and examine your face before letting you know whether this surgical procedure is for you.
Your Initial Fat Removal in Houston Consultation
During your first buccal fat removal consultation, Dr. Balinger will ask questions and review your medical history to learn more about your health.
Buccal fat removal vs cheek resculpting
Many patients wonder what the difference is between buccal fat removal and cheek sculpting. In a cheek sculpting procedure, the surgeon will create an incision on either side of the inner lip. The bone will then be pushed inward or shaved down in order to create a new facial appearance. This procedure creates a more proportionate facial appearance and yields a permanent outcome. The goal of cheek sculpting surgery is not to dramatically change the patient’s appearance, but rather to achieve a balance that they are happy with. Fat removal buccal plastic surgery, on the other, simply aims to remove the buccal fat pad that leads to chubby cheeks and often a child-like facial appearance. The technique for buccal fat removal entails creating incisions inside the cheeks, through which excess fat is removed. The goal of buccal fat removal plastic surgery is to achieve a more mature-looking, chiseled facial appearance.
Procedure Approach
Buccal fat removal is an outpatient procedure that is performed at Dr. Balinger’s in-office operating room or an accredited surgical facility. Before the procedure starts, local anesthesia will be administered in order to ensure your safety and comfort. The next step is to create an incision inside your cheeks to allow the surgeon to get rid of the buccal fat. Once the fat is removed, the incision is closed with absorbable sutures. Since the incision is placed inside the mouth, this cosmetic procedure does not result in any visible scarring. Buccal fat pad removal surgery takes about 1 hour to complete. Immediately after the surgery, you will be placed in an observation room for a while before you are allowed to go home for recovery.
Recovery After Your Buccal Fat Pad Removal
Buccal fat pad removal is typically a very quick procedure with very little downtime expected. You will experience swelling and bruising on the cheeks after the surgery. This however subsides on its own within a few weeks. The surgeon may recommend that you apply cool gel packs to the area after every 20 minutes within the first 48 hours. You will also need to switch to a soft diet during the first few days after this procedure as your mouth recovers. In many cases, patients are allowed to return to work and their daily schedule as soon as they are comfortable being seen in public. The surgeon will ask that you avoid strenuous exercises and anything that may elevate your blood pressure till you are fully recovered. Make sure to adhere to the surgeon’s precise post-op instructions in order to ensure a speedy recovery. Dr. Balinger’s office is available to answer your questions and provide the support you need throughout the recovery duration.
Plan Your Buccal Fat Pad Removal in Houston TX
Cheek reduction prices can vary dramatically based on the extensiveness of the procedure. Most of Dr. Balinger’s cheek reduction patients can however expect to pay between $3,500 and $4,000 for this treatment. Health insurers typically do not pay for this procedure because it is considered to be an elective cosmetic treatment. During your consultation visit with Dr. Balinger, the surgeon will provide a cost estimate based on a personalized treatment plan developed for you. The surgeon offers financing options for his patients in Houston, Conroe, and surrounding TX areas.
Meet the Surgeon
Christopher Balinger, MD, brings keen professionalism to the operating table. With each patient, the surgeon creates a highly customized plan to achieve the desired procedure outcome while working to eliminate or minimize the risk of scarring and other side effects. Dr. Balinger is uniquely skilled to perform buccal fat removal procedures and a host of other cosmetic surgeries. He works with a team of highly qualified support staff who are committed to the safety and well being of their patients. If you are looking for the best plastic surgeon in Houston for cheek reduction, get in touch with Dr. Balinger’s office today.
