• What is the goal?

    The goal of buccal fat reduction is to give a slimming, more contoured appearance to the face.

  • Who is a good candidate?

    You may be a candidate for this procedure if you have "chipmunk cheeks" or "chubby cheeks" even if you are not overweight.

  • How is the procedure performed?

    This procedure can be done in 15-30 minutes in the office under local anesthesia or under general anesthesia and can be combined with neck liposuction or other procedures. Dr. Kalaria injects local anesthesia (the same medication that dentist's use to numb your mouth) through the inside of the cheeks. She makes 2 small incisions on the inside of your mouth and teases out the fat from the deep buccal fat pad. She closes the incisions using absorbable sutures.

  • What is recovery time?

    You can expect 1-2 weeks of bruising and swelling of the cheeks and lower face. You can use arnica and ice and your compression garment to maximize results.