Bichectomy (Buccal Fat Removal)

Bichectomy, clinically known as buccal fat pad removal, is a precise structural facial contouring surgery designed for individuals exhibiting a persistent fullness or heaviness in the midface and lower cheek areas. By selectively extracting specialized deep lipophilic tissue pockets, this procedure significantly sculpts the sub-zygomatic contours, enhancing the definition of the cheekbones and çene hattı (jawline) to create an aesthetically desirable "reverse triangle" or rafine "V-shape" facial proporsiyon.

A primary advantage of a bichectomy is that it leaves absolutely no visible external scars on the face. The entire operation is carried out internally, working directly through the muscle layers to refine the lower malar architecture, ultimately yielding a longer, more slender, and high-definition facial aesthetic. At Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçüker Clinic, each bichectomy is planned with absolute respect to the patient's aging architecture, ensuring the ideal volume is retained to preserve long-term facial youthful structural support.

Why Choose Bichectomy (Cheek Slimming Surgery)?

Both male and female patients seeking to transition from a round, structurally heavy, or "baby-faced" profile to a sharper, more sculpted appearance frequently choose bichectomy. It is an exceptional solution for individuals who remain structurally full in the cheeks despite maintaining an ideal body mass index, as the buccal fat pad of Bichat is metabolically highly resistant to traditional diet and rigorous exercise.

Following the procedure, the face gains structural shadow dynamics beneath the zygomatic arch, mimicking the contoured look sought after globally in advanced facial aesthetics.

Eligibility Criteria for Buccal Fat Removal

While any individual over the age of 18 is legally eligible, successful, long-term bichectomy outcomes depend on strict anatomical candidate selection:

✦ The Ideal Age Window: It is highly recommended for individuals over the age of 25. By this milestone, natural facial lipit distribution and deep buccal volume have fully settled, allowing the surgeon to accurately forecast mature facial aging.

✦ Age Considerations After 45: It is generally discouraged for individuals over the age of 45. As superficial and deep fat compartments naturally atrophy with age, pre-mature removal of the buccal pad can result in an excessively hollowed, gaunt, or aged facial appearance later in life.

✦ Weight Fluctuations: This procedure is not indicated for significantly overweight individuals, as generalized facial fat will mask the sharp sub-zygomatic structural lines obtained by targeting the deeper pad alone.

Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçüker Clinic Bichectomy Buccal Fat Removal Cheek Slimming Surgery

How Is Bichectomy Performed? Surgical Nuances

Buccal fat removal is a highly sophisticated, outpatient procedure routinely performed under general anesthesia, sedasyon, or targeted local anesthesia depending on patient comfort preferences. The entire surgical process is accomplished within approximately 30 to 45 minutes:

A minor, 1 cm intraoral mucosal incision is precisely made inside the mouth, positioned next to the upper second molar. Through this access point, the buccinator muscle fibers are gently separated to expose the encapsulated buccal fat pad. The surgeon carefully mobilizes and extracts the precise partial volume of fat necessary to balance the midface without over-hollowing. The incision is then closed using self-absorbing medical sutures, allowing patients to comfortably return home the exact same day.

Post-Bichectomy Realities and Facial Appearance

Immediately following surgery, post-operative swelling and mild edema within the deep tissue spaces are perfectly normal, meaning the face may temporarily appear slightly fuller during the initial recovery days.

As a critical medical clarification, it must be noted that a bichectomy is strictly a volume-reduction surgery; it does **not** directly tighten superficial wrinkles, eliminate fine lines, or stimulate cellular production of collagen, elastin, or hyaluronic acid. Instead, it works purely as a structural reshaping procedure. By diminishing the deep underlying fat mass, the skin drape settles more cleanly over the bone structure, altering facial shadow patterns to emphasize a striking, high-definition cheekbone contour.

Is the Result of a Bichectomy Permanent?

Yes, the aesthetic results of a bichectomy are **strictly permanent**. Unlike temporary medical estetik dermal fillers, neurotoxins, or non-surgical skin tightening devices, the extracted buccal fat pad of Bichat does not possess the biological capability to regenerate or grow back. Even if a patient experiences modest weight fluctuations later in life, the lower malar and sub-zygomatic areas retain their newly sculpted, refined structure. The final, contoured "Hollywood Cheek" morphology becomes fully visible between 3 to 6 months post-operatively, once deep tissue swelling has completely resolved and the healing matrix has matured.