The main purpose of the Bichectomy or the Buccal Fat Removal procedure is to eliminate the extra fat in the face and slim down the face. It also helps with making the jawline look more defined. Having a more contoured look has become one of the most popular aesthetics lately. Many celebrities have gone the buccal fat removal route to make their features sharper and more slender. However, one of the most common questions people have about this procedure is whether dieting and weight loss can offer the same results. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the topic of bichectomy vs. weight loss and what both can do for your face.
👩⚕️Understanding the Fat in Your Face: Two Distinct Types
The human face has two types of fat. One type is the subcutaneous fat, which is a superficial layer of fat immediately under the skin. The second type of fat that we have in our faces is fat pads. These fat pads include the buccal fat pads (located in the lower cheeks), the malar fat pads (fat pads below the eyes), and the temporal fat pads (located in the temples). The fat pads that we have in our faces are essentially clusters or pockets of fat that are located over our muscles and bones. Their main purpose is to provide our face with volume and contribute to the overall shape and contours of the face. In fact, these fats are what keep our skin lifted and taut since they support the skin on the face.
🔴 When we talk about buccal fat vs subcutaneous fat when it comes to face slimming, the main difference between the two is that subcutaneous fat in our faces can diminish when we lose weight and increase when we gain weight. However, the buccal fat pads in our face are a part of our facial anatomy, and their size depends on genetics. Weight loss will likely not shrink the buccal fat pads.
⚖️ What Weight Loss Can (and Can’t) Do for Your Face
As we discussed earlier, weight loss through diet and exercise is effective for losing face fat. When we lose weight, the subcutaneous fat in our faces shrinks, leaving the face looking slimmer. It takes away the fullness of the face, making it look slightly more chiseled due to the cheekbones and jawline looking more defined.
🔴 However, it should be noted that weight loss does not affect the buccal fat pads. It cannot change the structure of one’s face. In fact, it is very much possible for someone who is not at all overweight to have defined buccal fat pads.
✂️ Here’s What a Bichectomy Does
The bichectomy procedure targets the excess fat in the face and eliminates it to take away chubbiness from the cheeks, leaving behind a more chiseled facial appearance. In this, the surgeon removes the fat pads in the cheeks and leaves behind no visible scar as the incision is made inside the cheeks. Once the buccal fat pads are removed, the results are permanent.
🔴 However, one important thing to know is that this surgery only makes the face slimmer and sharper, and more aesthetically pleasing. It is not a weight loss surgery of any kind.
This surgery involves 2 incisions inside the cheeks. The surgeon then uses these incisions to take out the buccal fat pads in the cheeks as well as excess fat tissue. During all of this, the patient is sedated. Next, the surgeon stitches up the incisions with absorbable sutures.
Anyone who desires more prominent cheeks and wants to reduce the softness and roundness of their face can opt for a cheek fat removal surgery like the buccal fat removal procedure.
🎯 A Detailed Comparison: Weight Loss vs. Bichectomy
- For starters, our weight can fluctuate during our lifetime. Weight loss can shrink the subcutaneous fat all over the face and reduce facial volume, while the bichectomy procedure can only eliminate the buccal fat pads and make the cheeks more apparent.
- The results we get from weight loss aren’t always permanent. Any weight gain can reverse these results. However, the buccal fat removal is a surgical procedure and offers permanent results.
- When we lose weight, we can’t control how it will affect our face. We cannot specifically target our face for fat loss. Therefore, we can’t control which part of our faces slim down due to the weight loss. On the other hand, the buccal fat removal surgery allows for precise contouring of the face.
- Weight loss is not genetic. This means we can lose and gain weight. However, our buccal fat pads are genetic, and we cannot grow back our buccal fat pads once they have been removed.
👩⚕️ Which One is Right For You?
If you are thinking about whether weight loss or buccal fat removal surgery is right for you, you can begin by analyzing your goals and what it is your body needs the most. If you are an overall healthy person and are at a healthy weight but still have a round face that even weight loss hasn’t slimmed down, you can consider the bichectomy procedure. The results with this procedure are largely permanent, so you can expect your chiseled facial features to last you a lifetime.
However, if you are over a healthy weight and have a chubby face, you can try following a healthy diet and incorporating exercise in your daily routine. Weight loss can also change the way your face looks drastically. It can make your jawline appear more defined and eliminate any puffiness in the face.
You can even try a mixed approach. You can use a healthy diet and exercise to reach your ideal weight for a healthier body and lose the excess fat. Then, you can opt for the bichectomy procedure to target your cheeks and get your desired contoured look.
Get your consultation booked with Dr. Cengizhan today!
