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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone has had buccal fat removal

52 replies

Depopdee · 11/06/2023 19:29

And if so whether you’re happy with the result?

I’m approaching 40 and still have hamster cheeks which are now starting to sag into jowls… delightful 😑so seriously considering the procedure but don’t know anyone else who has had it!

OP posts:
minipie · 11/06/2023 22:40

From a quick google it seems like non sleb women who have this done often also have filler in chin and jaw corners, to lend more definition in those areas and also lift a bit. And to my untutored eye, it’s those changes which have made the most difference. I don’t know the shape of your face of course but it may be worth considering trying jaw/chin fillers first? or maybe higher cheek? At least those are reversible if you don’t like it unlike buccal fat removal.

myladydarbanville · 11/06/2023 22:45

Depopdee · 11/06/2023 22:24

Each to their own! The celebrity before and afters obviously look ridiculous because they’re already thin faced women and if it’s on the right candidate, you shouldn’t actually be able to tell they’ve had it done. 90% of the “normal” before and afters look vastly improved to me, but I’m interested in how people feel about it years down the line - that’s the bit I’m missing at the moment.

It's a new (and odious, and foolish) trend. Therefore, you won't get information on how people feel "years down the line" as "years down the line" have not happened yet.

Original poster
Depopdee · 11/06/2023 22:47

minipie · 11/06/2023 22:40

From a quick google it seems like non sleb women who have this done often also have filler in chin and jaw corners, to lend more definition in those areas and also lift a bit. And to my untutored eye, it’s those changes which have made the most difference. I don’t know the shape of your face of course but it may be worth considering trying jaw/chin fillers first? or maybe higher cheek? At least those are reversible if you don’t like it unlike buccal fat removal.

This is very helpful - thank you!

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 11/06/2023 23:04

I've just googled. It doesn't look like something that occurs naturally? Like half my dc have very high cheekbones and so quite a sculpted face (adult dc) but the photos of buccal fat removal have the hollow in the wrong place?

Dillydollydingdong · 11/06/2023 23:10

It looks weird. And old.

dontchaknow · 11/06/2023 23:51

All surgery carries a risk, and the risks with this one are permanent damage to the facial nerves and salivary glands. So you may get hollow cheeks, but you won't be able to move them and you'll drool too. Sexy, eh?

Chandler12 · 11/06/2023 23:54

Mini face lift! You want to keep facial fat it’s the skin you want tightened

HowToBeZen · 11/06/2023 23:59

The hollowing in buccal fat removal looks sort of too far down in the face overall, to me?

Does anyone else agree with that?

It's like instead of creating cheekbones it just creates a hollow in an unusual place?

MsCactus · 12/06/2023 00:10

Agree @HowToBeZen it doesn't look like someone with high cheek bones to me, too low down. I feel like cheek and jaw filler would create the "sculpted" look better, making the cheekbones dip in in the right place by comparison

OneFrenchEgg · 12/06/2023 06:22

Does anyone else agree with that?

Yes I posted similar a couple of posts down.

Caraduneytunes · 12/06/2023 06:27

Yes. I had it done many years ago (around 2002), and I have not regretted it once. It did wonders for my self confidence.
mine were in the wrong place, though, as it turned out, and I had a very chipmunk-y look 😂
I didn’t turn into a “skull;” my face is just more balanced now. I looked like young Shirley temple, though, and this was at age 30.

Caraduneytunes · 12/06/2023 06:28

I think if you find a doctor with good reviews who will sit down and talk to you, you’ll get a feel for their honesty, etc. my doctor was in San Francisco, CA, and he came highly recommended. He was very conservative - talked to me a long time about it, and about the potential for it to “age” me, but I was so sick and tired of being talked to with baby talk at age 30, I went for it.

no regrets - very happy I did!

OnsenBurner · 12/06/2023 06:34

Can’t you just dons lower facelift and preserve the fat. Have it move upwards? It’s probably the same price

CamelliaAndPrunus · 12/06/2023 06:41

I've considered this in the past. My heaviness is in a similar place to yours, and heading south every year (I'm 46). But in the end I went for masseter Botox and a mid cheek filler. I had the same fear about adding volume, but the filler is strategically placed so that what it does is subtly pull everything up and forward to where the fullness should be. But the biggest impact was the Botox. The masseters shrunk right back and it seemed to almost redistribute the fat somehow. Must get back for more!

The other thing that helps my full face is less alcohol and salt.

Hoppinggreen · 12/06/2023 08:14

I’m fifty and pretty chubby. I have few wrinkles and people are often surprised at my age.
I am convinced it’s the fat, DH lost 2 stone last year and he does look older. I’ve seen similar in a few people

Sprinkles211 · 12/06/2023 08:18

I know where you mean wouldn't you be better putting more fat in but above it and just below your eye area this would improve youthfulness and even you out

Soozikinzii · 12/06/2023 08:23

I have had the hifu or ipl which ever they're calling the treatment a few times. It's only about.£60 round here .It tightens and smooths the skin. It's particularly good for the jowl areas . You could try that first ?

MyNameisMathilda · 12/06/2023 08:25

With age you will start to naturally lose weight from your face. What "works" now may not in the future. You are going to look older younger. This will be permanent. Show me a photo of anyone who has had this done and they look better now and when they are 20 years older.

007DoubleOSeven · 12/06/2023 08:31

I don't think buccal fat removal will achieve the result you're looking for (plus it looks very fake imo).

You'd be better off looking at specific procedures for jowels, such as liposuction.

bellac11 · 12/06/2023 08:33

This is a helpful thread for me. I had thought this might be the solution for me as Ive lost weight and have more to lose and Im looking pretty jowly where my face is melting downwards.

So the area that would be cheek bones for most people is now quite flat, having just been fat previously, never had nice cheek bones, so I had an idea that I could get fat removed from the jowly bits and put it into the cheek bone bit, is that not possible?

I dont see how a face lift would work in my case because its redistribution I feel I need.

bellac11 · 12/06/2023 08:34

007DoubleOSeven · 12/06/2023 08:31

I don't think buccal fat removal will achieve the result you're looking for (plus it looks very fake imo).

You'd be better off looking at specific procedures for jowels, such as liposuction.

What is the difference?

007DoubleOSeven · 12/06/2023 08:37

Buccal fat takes fat from the inside of the cheek (ie, around the point where your upper and lower teeth meet), I believe its cut out.

Jowls are where fat forms around the bottom of the lower jaw, leading to a heavy appearance, reducing the definition of the jawline. Liposuction sucks the fat from this area specifically.

Search jaw definition / jewels treatment procedures instead of buccal fat removal.

Wasitworthitreally · 12/06/2023 08:39

Depopdee · 11/06/2023 22:24

Each to their own! The celebrity before and afters obviously look ridiculous because they’re already thin faced women and if it’s on the right candidate, you shouldn’t actually be able to tell they’ve had it done. 90% of the “normal” before and afters look vastly improved to me, but I’m interested in how people feel about it years down the line - that’s the bit I’m missing at the moment.

Can you post a photo of a good one? My googling only came out with gaunt celebs.

StrikingStriker · 12/06/2023 08:43

I think it wouldn't look awful if you have a fat face to begin with. It looks awful on celebs because they're trying to get the vampire jaunt look. They're removing from an already slim face.

With very chubby cheeks, you'd simply look 'normal' (no chubby cheeks but not gaunt) unless you go for extreme fat removal.

007DoubleOSeven · 12/06/2023 09:03

StrikingStriker · 12/06/2023 08:43

I think it wouldn't look awful if you have a fat face to begin with. It looks awful on celebs because they're trying to get the vampire jaunt look. They're removing from an already slim face.

With very chubby cheeks, you'd simply look 'normal' (no chubby cheeks but not gaunt) unless you go for extreme fat removal.

I think the risk is that jowls look mire pronounced or youll appear to have them if you didn't before because fat is being taken from the wrong place.