Bichectomy, fat removal from the cheek, also known as Hollywood cheek, is an esthetic operation that makes facial features sharper and cheekbones more prominent by removing buccal fats (buccal fat pads) that’s located in the cheeks.
After the procedure, cheeks get bit more depressed, cheekbones and facial features becomes more distinct.
People whose face looks fatter due to thick cheeks are suitable for this operation.
Because facial features becomes more permanent after adolescence, this procedure can only be performed on people who are older than 25 years old.
Patients’ faces becomes longer and thinner after the surgery.
Patients should be in a great condition before the surgery. You should tell your surgeon about any recent health problems, your allergies and every medication you take (herbal included). It’s recommended that patients should stop taking any blood thinner medication 2 weeks before the surgery. Patients should stop smoking and drinking alcohol 1 week before the surgery.
Bichectomy is a surgical operation that’s done in a operating room environment.
It’s a surgery that’s done by cutting the insides of each cheek by 1 centimeters. In this operation, which can be performed under local anesthesia, the fat pad is removed and 1 or 2 self-melting sutures are placed on the incision. Procedure takes between 30 to 45 minutes.
Patients are discharged on the same day of the surgery. They have to be careful for the first three days after the surgery. Patients should eat soft foods preferably. In order to avoid inflammation, attention should be paid to oral hygiene, patients should use mouth solution or a mouthwash for 1 week.
Swelling and bruises can occur on the face after the surgery. Applying ice is recommended for 1 week after the procedure
.There is no need to remove the stitches as they can dissolve. These stitches disappear within a few weeks.
Edema occurs on the face after the surgery. It may take 1 week-10 days for the edema to disappear. Applying ice after surgery is very beneficial. It is not a painful procedure. The most important problem that can occur in the early period is bleeding. If it does, re-intervention can be required.
The most severe complication that can happen is injury to the facial nerves during the procedure. This condition, which is rarely permanent, may cause the patient to have oral paralysis for several months.
Bichectomy surgery is a permanent operation. Facial lines will become clear 6 months to 1 year after the surgery. Bichectomy gives the face a more attractive but more mature appearance. Performing this procedure on young women and men whose facial features have not yet settled will make them look older than they are 10 years later. In older ages, this situation may need to be corrected with fat injections. Because of that, choosing the right patient is the most important part of the procedure. I can say that this is an effective procedure when done carefully, with low risk, and when applied to the right patients.