Buccal fat removal in Turkey

The buccal fat pad is a distinct structure deep in the cheek, separate from the fat just under the skin. It gives the mid-face its fullness. Removing part of it narrows the lower cheek and increases the shadow below the cheekbone. It does not affect the jawline, the jowls or a double chin, which are different problems with different operations.

• Permanent and irreversible

  The pad does not regenerate. If too much is taken, restoring it means fat grafting or fillers, and the result is rarely as good as not having over-removed in the first place.

• It shrinks naturally with age

  Everyone loses mid-face volume over the decades. Removing the pad early accelerates the hollow, gaunt appearance that comes later.

• It is not a jawline operation

  Sagging along the jaw and fullness under the chin are not treated by this. If that is the concern, the wrong procedure will not fix it.

• The effect is subtle

  Photographs promising dramatic change usually show lighting, weight loss or other procedures. Expect a refinement, not a transformation.

1. 1

   Assessment

   The surgeon presses the cheek and assesses where the fullness actually sits. Some of what people want removed is skin or muscle, not the fat pad.
2. 2

   Local anaesthetic, usually

   Often done awake with local anaesthetic, sometimes with sedation. It is a short procedure.
3. 3

   Incision inside the cheek

   A small cut inside the mouth opposite the upper molars. Nothing is visible from outside.
4. 4

   Partial removal

   A portion of the pad is teased out and removed. Judging how much to leave is the whole skill of the operation.
5. 5

   Dissolvable stitches

   Closed from inside. You eat soft food and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash for a period.

• Anaesthetic. Local anaesthetic alone costs less than sedation or a general anaesthetic.
• Who performs it. A plastic surgeon or a maxillofacial surgeon, and their experience with this specific procedure.
• Whether it is combined. It is frequently sold alongside chin or cheek implants or a rhinoplasty, which makes quotes hard to compare. Ask for it priced alone.
• Follow-up. Whether review appointments and any correction are included.

The clinic list on this page shows the current price for each hospital with a label saying what it covers. On staged payment, see the payment plans page. If the concern is really the jawline or the chin profile, the chin implant and chin liposuction pages cover those instead.

• British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, facial surgery patient information.
• NHS, cosmetic procedures and choosing a surgeon.
• General Medical Council, cosmetic interventions guidance.
• Turkish Ministry of Health, health tourism authorisation for hospitals.