Buccal Fat Removal

In Birmingham, AL

woman pulling hair back after fat removal | Raggio Facial Plastic Surgery

Price: $3,000-$4,000

Procedure Time: 30 minutes

Recovery Time: 1 week

Introduction to

Buccal Fat Removal

When you examine your face in the mirror, there may be aspects of your appearance that make you insecure, such as full or “chubby” cheeks likely stemming from stubborn childhood fat or genetics. If this is a source of discomfort or low self-esteem for you, a Buccal Fat Removal procedure with Dr. Blake Raggio can address your issues quite effectively. A buccal fat removal procedure can help you achieve a more contoured and defined look to the midface, restoring the confidence you’d like to see in your facial structure. If you are considering Buccal Fat Removal in Birmingham, AL, come and see double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Blake Raggio and his team at Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery who will help you achieve your aesthetic goals. We invite you to schedule a consultation or read below to learn more about one of the best buccal fat removal Birmingham has to offer. 

Buccal Fat Removal In Birmingham, AL

What is Buccal Fat Removal?

The buccal fat pad is located in the lower part of your cheek above your jawline and below your cheek prominence, and when hypertrophied or full can give the face a more rounded, padded, and fuller look. While these fat pads are an essential part of the overall structure and support of your face, nevertheless an excessive or enlarged amount of buccal fat can distort your contour and lead to a heavier appearance to your face with associated insecurities. In short, everyone has buccal fat, but some people have more than others. A Buccal Fat Removal in Birmingham with Dr. Raggio surgically removes the stubborn areas of fat in your cheeks that cannot be eliminated by diet or exercise. Via small inconspicuous incisions on the inside of your mouth, the scars heal incredibly well and will never be seen. Ultimately, the final results of buccal fat removal lead to a more pleasing and contoured definition of the midface.

What are the benefits of Buccal Fat Removal?

When you choose to get a Buccal Fat Removal in Birmingham, these are some of the benefits you can expect to see: 

  • A slimmer appearance to your face
  • Better facial symmetry
  • A more defined “v-shaped” contour in the lower portion of your face
  • The appearance of higher cheekbones
  • Better cheek and jawline definition
  • Reduction of the puffy look on your cheeks
  • No visible scarring on the outside

Interested in learning more about the benefits of Buccal Fat Removal?

Get in touch with us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Blake Raggio, Double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in Birmingham, AL.

 

Who are the best candidates for the Buccal Fat Removal procedure?

The best candidates for a Birmingham Buccal Fat Removal procedure are patients who have given careful thought to what the surgery involves, and why they want to do it. By consulting with  Dr. Raggio and his team, you will have a well-informed view of what to expect before you make your final decision. 

The best candidates for this procedure are: 

  • people who are generally healthy
  • have a realistic goal in mind 
  • have a stable weight, or are at least 20 lbs within their ideal weight. 
  • Are negatively affected by the full appearance associated with excess buccal fat

During a consultation session, Dr. Raggio will examine your face, hear your concerns, assess your intended goals, and use this information to determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure.

Interior photo of the practice of Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery

First steps of Buccal Fat Removal

What’s the first step to scheduling a Buccal Fat Removal?

The first step to getting Buccal Fat Removal in Birmingham is to call our practice at Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery and schedule a consultation. During your session, Dr. Raggio will walk you through the benefits of buccal fat removal, determine your candidacy for the procedure, and discuss the steps of the procedure and the techniques he uses to achieve maximum results. We encourage all prospective patients to use this opportunity to discuss your goals, the problems you have experienced stemming from an excessive amount of buccal fat, and any remedies you have tried that did not work. 

Dr. Raggio will work with you to create a custom treatment plan tailored to your needs if he believes you are a good fit for this procedure. Our patient care coordinator is happy and willing to answer any questions you have regarding the procedure and to set you up for success.

What to Expect Before Buccal Fat Removal Surgery

Several days before your surgery, Dr. Raggio and his team will best prepare you for the procedure by providing you with a list of detailed pre-op instructions to optimize your recovery. If they haven’t been obtained already, professional photos will be taken of your face and jaw which Dr. Raggio will use to guide his surgery. You will also receive your peri-operative prescriptions at this time, a carefully crafted blend of medications targeting a number of unwanted variables including pain, bleeding, infection, nausea, anxiety, and inflammation.

On the day of your surgery, Dr. Raggio and his team will work carefully to make you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible in our elegant and inviting boutique cosmetic surgery clinic in Birmingham, AL. Buccal fat removal, when performed in isolation, can be safely and comfortably performed in the office setting using only mild oral sedation and injection numbing medicine. The initial step in the Buccal Fat Removal typically involves administering local anesthesia to numb the area. After this initial numbing injection, you should not feel any pain during the surgery.   

Once the anesthesia has set in, Dr. Raggio will make the small incisions on the inside of your cheeks. The right and precise amount of excess buccal fat will then be removed. Once Dr. Raggio is satisfied he has completed the procedure as mapped out during your consultation, he will close the incisions, which is usually done using sutures that absorb or dissolve on their own after several days. 

Once the surgery is complete, you will be relocated into a private, dedicated recovery room, where Dr. Raggio and his team will review your post-operative instructions to guide you through the healing process. You will then be discharged home with a responsible adult.

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Buccal Fat
Removal
Recovery

The most important piece of advice during recovery is to limit any strenuous activity and to avoid playing with or manipulating the intraoral sutures with your tongue. The wound site will likely be tender and vulnerable initially, so care is advised. Dr. Raggio often instructs patients who’ve had buccal fat pad removal to stay on a liquid diet for several days to help prevent any issues. Dr. Raggio may also prescribe you a mouth rinse to reduce the risk of infection. 

Here are some typical side effects you can expect after surgery:

  • Swelling.
  • Bruising.
  • Numbness at the incision sites.

The above side effects are typically minor and temporary and should gradually fade as your body heals. Dr. Raggio can advise on the right type of medication to alleviate pain or discomfort, swelling, anxiety, inflammation, etc. Healing of the incision site can take up to 1-2 weeks, at which point you will be able to resume a regular diet if your sutures are fully dissolved and the wound is completely closed.

How much does Buccal Fat Removal cost in Birmingham, AL?

Every surgery Dr. Raggio performs is custom-designed to benefit each patient at our clinic, which changes the overall cost of the Buccal Fat Removal procedure. The price for buccal fat removal is $3,000-$4,000, but is based on several factors: 

  • Percentage of fat being removed from the cheek pads
  • The total time estimated for your surgery
  • The type of anesthesia being administered

During your initial consultation, Dr. Raggio will determine the above factors, while also assessing your goals, expectations, and overall candidacy for the procedure. Our patient care coordinator will connect with you to let you know the final price as well as any financing options you may be looking for.

Why choose Dr. Raggio for your Buccal Fat Pad Removal?

Dr. Blake Raggio embodies a holistic approach to Buccal Fat Pad Removal, prioritizing each patient’s unique goals and concerns. With a comprehensive facial analysis, he meticulously evaluates all aspects before recommending personalized surgical or non-surgical interventions. Dr. Raggio’s patient-centric philosophy ensures collaboration throughout the treatment journey, culminating in a tailored plan that prioritizes patient satisfaction.

Utilizing proven techniques, both surgical and non-surgical, Dr. Raggio strives to achieve durable and natural-looking results aligned with the patient’s cultural and ethnic values. His commitment extends to upholding classical beauty ideals, ensuring outcomes that stand the test of time.

Dr. Raggio’s success is indicative of his esteemed credentials and qualifications. 

He strongly believes in educating the next generation of clinicians and serves as a Clinical Adjunct professor with the Faulkner Physician Assistant Studies Program, as a Clinical Adjunct professor with Tulane University Medical Center Department of Head and Neck Surgery in New Orleans Louisiana, and as a Clinical Preceptor for the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine

He is an active member of multiple medical societies, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS) as well as the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (AAFPRS)

Lastly, Dr. Raggio is one of only a few Fellowship-Trained Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons in the entire Birmingham Hoover Metropolitan area, and has obtained rare Dual board certification in both Head and Neck Surgery as well as Facial Plastic Surgery.

For these reasons, patients can be confident and rest assured that they will receive the absolute best care and service with Dr. Raggio and his team at Raggio MD Facial P

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Contact us

Schedule Your Buccal Fat Removal Consultation

To schedule a consultation for Buccal Fat Removal in Birmingham, AL with Dr. Raggio, call us today, and one of our patient care coordinators will guide you through the steps. Alternatively, you can also contact us through our website, and a team member will respond in a timely manner to schedule your consult. Dr. Raggio is excited to work with you and help you achieve your aesthetic goals!

Buccal Fat Removal FAQ’S

Patient reviews

  • Torrey

    5 Star Review

    I am a week post-op from my cosmetic rhinoplasty with Dr. Blake Raggio, a Facial Plastic Surgeon here in Birmingham, Alabama. I just had my cast removed today and I could not be happier with my results already!

  • Jessica

    5 Star Review

    Thank you, Dr. Blake Raggio, for the excellent work on my nose. The Rhinoplasty to correct the deviated septum and nostril closure went so smoothly. My breathing has improved and the before and after pictures were amazing. Your knowledge and skills improved my health and facial profile.

  • Pamela

    5 Star Review

    Dr. Blake Raggio is an amazing Facial Plastic Surgeon. I am one week out from having my
    Blepharoplasty and Browlift and could not be more pleased. Not only is he a talented Facial Plastic Surgeon he also has a wonderful bedside manner.

  • Elizabeth

    5 Star Review

    Dr. Raggio and staff get an A+ for their superb care! From the time you walk in the door to the time you leave, you will be treated like family! Best of all you’ll leave looking younger and feeling good! You can’t beat the care and compassion from Dr Raggio and his staff!

  • Chelsea

    5 Star Review

    Dr. Raggio is the absolute best! He listens and is very precise with his injections. I am extremely happy with the results I have gotten with him. He does not push any services on you, either. I have uploaded two pictures to show the difference. I get Botox and lip filler.

  • Sheila

    5 Star Review

    I went to Dr Reggio for my eyelids. They were folding over. I was scared to have the surgery but the right eye was bothering me. So I decided to have the surgery and this Doctor is such a delight and kind-hearted. I am very, very happy with the way my surgery turned out. I would highly recommend Dr. Raggio to anyone!

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