What Is Buccal Fat Removal? a Complete Guide

A sharp jawline and chiseled cheekbones seem to be all the rage these days. And while these coveted features can be the result of genetics, there is another — albeit lesser-known — way to get permanently contoured bone structure: an under-the-radar cosmetic procedure called buccal fat removal. To learn more about the facial surgery and why it's become all the rage in Hollywood, we tapped two plastic surgeons for their professional insight.

Keep reading for our expert-approved guide to buccal fat removal.

What Is Buccal Fat?

"The buccal fat pad is an isolated fat pocket residing just below the cheekbone on each side of the face almost directly above the lower lip," explains Dr. Corey Maas, a San Francisco-based plastic surgeon and President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

He explains that the removal of this fat pad is done to define the cheekbone, or as doctors call it, the zygomatic arch. "It's been popular for many years in rounder faces that would like more definition," he says.

What Does Buccal Fat Removal Do?

The purpose of buccal fat removal (also referred to as buccal lipectomy and cheek reduction surgery) is to provide a defined, contoured look without the need for makeup, explains Dr. Smita Ramanadham, a New Jersey-based plastic surgeon. "Removal of this fat results in thinner cheeks and creates a hollow below the cheekbones," she says. "It essentially creates that contour appearance through surgery."