I am the patient you completed this procedure on, ive been getting compliments from friends and family. I do see the difference its been four months hope It can get more prominent results by month 6. Overall I feel good I want to feel great 👍🏼
@@MichelePearl Maybe he doesn't care to do it because he doesn't want to change his face lol i got my nose done and my surgeon has never gotten his nose done. 2 and 2 doesn't make 1.
A friend had this done in 2012. Definitely not as well known of a procedure back then. His results were amazing. He is very fit, works out but his face was always full. He had nice cheekbones as well. It was an in office awake procedure, he numbed the areas and removed it. It was less than an hour. He only prescribed tylenol for pain. He was swollen a lot for a solid week but by the 3rd week it looked great. So this was almost 10 years ago and he still looks the same. He has maintained his weight, if that matters. 💜
For the more aging faces and for say less collagenic skin types, surely the procedure can be also coupled with tightening up any slack skin, so a face lift as well and we’re good to go? Possibly some cheekbone filler also.
I got this procedure a week go! I’m so happy and thankful for not listening to those haters on RUclips that shame plastic surgeries specially Buccal fat removal! If you find a great surgeon! He will tell you upfront that they will not remove a lot! I still got my cute cheeks that match my face without the extra. Just a little helps a lot!! Not painful, feels like when you bite the inside of your cheek😅 . After 3-4 days it didn’t bother me. ❤
Because this procedure is awful. Yes, it looks good while you're young, but when you're in your late 30s, people will think you're in your early 50s. This procedure makes you look OLD after a few years. It removes the fat tissue connected to your cheeks, so they fall in and give you a "sunken" look. Don't get this surgery.
I did this and I don't feel like I look better. I look sunken in too much. I have less bone on one side of my face and that side is too sunken in. Both sides look more uneven. I lost my prettiness.
@@minkycat66 how much was removed is not really the issue ..there is always asymmetry ...its how much you leave...taking an equal amount from each cheek doesn't really matter if there is an unequal amount there ..and a surgeon needs to be aware of this.
I am really interested in getting this, but I am constantly worried that my face would look too hollow. Maybe I will fly out to california and consult you and possibly get this procedure done!
I had this procedure on October 17! Had no nerve damage and the procedure was quite straightforward. However I still can’t see any difference. But it’s only been 2 months so hopefully I notice some changes soon!
zelkeninstitute yes I did see the fat after the surgery. It didn’t look like much. But the surgeon said that once fat is outside of the body it shrinks. Is this true? hopefully it was more than what it looked like
zelkeninstitute I remember the surgeon saying it was 1mm by 4mm or 1cm by 4cm , I don’t quite remember. Still seemed quite less compared to pictures of buccal fat I’ve seen online
I’m turning 20 with the same issue but we should all tread carefully with affecting our appearance. Make sure you double and triple check IF you really want the procedure done and with whom.
I just got this done yesterday. The dr said I was a good candidate. I have a naturaly high check bones and a mild pronounced jawline. My only problem was the chubby cheaks, especially when I would smile. Once he did it, he did state that my buckle fat was smaller than usual. So I'm looking forward to seeing how much of a defreance i will getThe procedure was almost painless quick and hardly any swelling after.
@@JanKowalski-vc8xm I'm half way thru what they said would be full healing time. And I can definitely see a big difference. People don't really notice it but I do.
@@JanKowalski-vc8xm the swelling was only obvious to me almost non at all. Took about 2-3 days to go away but it's just now showing full results. I can see my face thinner and more defined. I
thank you for sharing this very useful information! is there anyone in the UK you could recommend for buccal fat removal? I really want to make sure I get it right.
Gina Soto not sure when or where this was done but all aspects of the lower face should be addressed. If you have jowling and buccal fat excess both need to be addressed.
I'm 19 and i wish I could have the money to do it . I am in the process of losing weight but even if I lose weight the fat still stays in that area of the face . I have strong cheekbones but a lot of flesh unfortunately
Your comment about Justice Ginsburg is interesting. I went for a consultation with a doctor last year who used her case as an example of someone who had a facelift, but who in his opinion, would have achieved better results with a facelift and buccal fat removal.
Did I missed an email or your office phone numbers? I am Asian, most of us have chipmunk cheeks..I think I am a perfect candidate bc I have high cheekbones and lower cheekbones, So far you’ve been the most honest in telling how it is. Thank you.
I'm extremely interested in this procedure and would love to be able to do this with you but I live in NYC. Is there a doctor you would recommend for this procedure in my city? I hope this is not a disrespectful question, it's just that my experience with NY plastic surgeons has not been good. To me, you're an ideal doctor so I would trust whomever you would recommend over here (if you don't mind sharing).
Can you post pictures of good vs bad cheekbones? Like what does that mean? I want this but I’m not sure I’d be a good candidate. Sadly I’m only 26 but I feel like my mid face is already falling and sagging, so what can I do if I’m not a good candidate for this?
@@jonathanzelkenmd do you have an example of this? i think i'll have to sign up for a consultation. my cheekbone only projects ever so slightly in front of the front of my eyeball. i can tell the fat on my face will start moving towards the middle of my face as i age because thats how my parents are
Hi sir, my cheekbones are like tom cruises. Am I a good candidate to this? He like me has wide cheekbones/zygomathic archs but with negative orbital vector. My cheekbone height is similar too. My face is already slim, but i wonder if I coudl get a even more slimmer look with this.
I want this done but I don’t want to look old. The only reason why I want this done is because my eyes are super small compared to the size of my face and it looks very disproportionate in real life of course camera angles and filters help as in my profile picture… but now idk if I want it done. I think I just want to have lipo like in that one video you posted of that woman that you also removed the buccal fat pads on, but without the buccal fat removal just the lipo.
I really want to know of i am a good candidate. But i cant seem to know how and i want to ask my doctor but i dont really trust that they will tell me the truth And all my folks are telling me that my skin will sag and this will accelerate my aging in the future I dont have high cheek bones nor do i have low cheek bones.. I have no idea what to do
Something that you said that really caught my attention was about the cheekbones how can i tell if I have negative vector cheekbones or regular ones? I have a similar cheekbone structure to yours where it’s not very prominent but it’s there. I’m afraid that if i do get it it’ll make me look weird because I don’t have very prominent cheekbones. Also my face isn’t exactly round it’s more like a oval except my cheeks come out more than my cheekbones.
if you have oval shape,then I don't recommend it coz I have seen doctor's saying that this procedure is for round face,and if the procedure is done for oval shape,then it will make u look gaunt/hollowed shape when u age
Hi Dr. Thankyou for the information. Could you please recommend anyone in india, as coming to USA is not possible as the entire expenses are not affordable.
Hi Doc! I am naturally thin everywhere except on my face where I have chubby cheeks and round face. It’s genetic. If i get this procedure done, will it make me look much older later on due to loss of fat? Or is it possible to ask my surgeon if I could only have less portion removed? I’m not looking into getting model chiseed cheeks, just less puffy :)
It depends. Probably not as the results tend to be subtle in my practice. I would need to evaluate your face in person to make a stronger recommendation
Hi Dr. Zelekn, Thank you posting this informative video. I am currently researching this procedure as it has been recommended to me and I am trying to assess the benefits vs the risks of doing this. I am 37 years old and have always had a rounder face, through I am at my ideal weight currently) As I was getting into my 30's I was noticing volume loss in my upper face, under the eyes, and in my upper cheeks and this actually started causing the bottom of my face to look even fuller. (Particularly, the part of my cheeks directly opposite the corners of my mouth, and along the bottom jawline). I recently consulted with two plastic surgeons to see if I could do anything about the volume loss and they both suggested fillers in the upper face and some type of bottom face contouring. One plastic surgeon suggested Botox in the masseter, and the other buccal fat removal. I am trying to determine which of these options is actually more suitable. the surgeon who suggested the botox in the jaw assessed my masseter and said that the masseter was enlarged and would benefit from the botox. The second surgeon advised agsint the botox saying that it could cause the buccal fat to look even worse. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the differing recommendation and would like to ask how you assess patients to determine what type of procedure is better (Or are there ever cases where you would do both of these procedures on someone?) Thank you
@@jelenajm1160 I have just found your comment and I am going through the exact same thing and I am 37. I have fullness right above the jowl area. Had some skin tightening done with radio frequency but it did nothing. I’ve had a consult for buccal fat. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get it done but would love to know if you went for it?
@@NHOD85 Hi Naomi, I ended up doing the botox for the masseters two years ago but it hardly made any difference for me. I had 30 units on each side and after several months, I could only see a small change in photos in my face looking more v-shaped, but not so much in person. I am considering trying it again but adding a bit more botox then before. I decided to not do the buccal fat removal as I went to another doctor who does the procedure and he said that my areas of concern are lower in the face the the area that buccal fat removal would address. After doing more research this year, I think that the area might only be improved best with lower cheek or jowl liposuction or a lower facelift. I'm not ready for a facelift yet but I am going to look into the lower cheek lipo for sure. Have you done anything with your situation and if so, was there anything that improved the areas?
Is it possible to have lots of buccal fat and strong masseter muscle? I'm over all on the skinny side but my cheeks are too full and the masseter us very prominent
Hello Dr! Thank you for your video. My face is on the rounder side but my issue isn’t the buccal fat, it’s my thicker perioral mounds. I’m 22 but for some reason I have perioral mounds that move when I speak & they make my face bulky. Even when I feel them by putting my thumb on the outside & the index on the inside, you can feel how much fuller they are to my actual buccal cheek area. There is one board certified doctor who performs perioral mound microlipo on them but here where I live in NYC, doctors say they don’t recommend it. What are your thoughts or what advice could you give me? Thank you for your time :)
Besides the cheek volume going down. Will the procedure affect under the chin and, jawline/jowl area? I find that not only do i have bigger cheeks, i have a recessed chin. Hoping to reduce drooping under chin to make my chin look more in proportion. Im 23, so not much drastic aging to face.
Do you recommend this procedure for someone with asymmetry when they smile? I have one side that is slightly larger and when I smile, that area becomes much more pronounced on that one side. Would that still involve a removal of the entire fat pad, or could a little bit be removed to only restore symmetry? If not, are there any home exercises or massage techniques that would work to reduce one side? Thank you.
I had the same issue Stacy, and I had this procedure done last thursday. On my bigger cheek the doctor removed 0,5 more, It came out that way. So I believe it will look much more even although my teeth need to be more aligned as well. I'll let you know how it looks in a couple of weeks once the swelling goes down if you'd like :)
I recently had buccal fat pad removal and it was very painful. During the process. I felt the cutting and pulling. On the right I saw a lump of fat taken out but it was so painful . On the left side During the process I screamed and yelled. The surgeon stopped. I do not believe the fat pad was removed on the left . Now I look uneven. Why was it painful. If local anesthesia was used?
I live in the uk and am seriously considering getting this done but struggling to find info, is there anywhere in the uk you would recommend? Many thanks
Should x-rays be taken before the buccal removal to look at persons anatomy? If one side is flatter than the other, than why would this be a good idea?
X-rays wouldn’t show 3 D anatomy and would not be helpful. A CT or better yet and MRI could be useful but may be overkill. I certainly do not require this type of imaging as my physical exam is generally sufficient in telling me all I need to know.
I’m also 16, wait until you’re 18 minimum cuz like the guy said your face is still growing, at 16 there’s still some to go and also if you went to puberty late, if you’re tryna get that look go for cheek bone filler or Chin filler, they last like 6 months and make u look more structured
hi doctor! I just realized that what bothers me is the fat / muscle behind the imaginary line you drew. Near the mouth I have almost no fat. My dream was to do buccal fat removal, but do you think that in my case I am not a good candidate?
I live in australia and am struggling to find someone to do it for me. Went to a surgeon for a consultation about it and he turned me away saying I’m not a candidate despite most of my facial chubbiness being anterior
I don't have cheek bones, like almost I don't, but I really have fatty face, even when I'm weighing 50 kg ... I don't know if it's a good option for me, or they just tell me yes to sell me something
So if the supreme court justice you talk about had gotten done the procedure when she was young...she would not have hanging skin now? ...u say if u take her fat out she will have hanging skin...so if a young person gets it done will they have hanging skin when they get old?
Jack this is a great question! I do think the patient would still have hanging skin but the downward force would be somewhat alleviated, and the fullness of the prolapsing fat pad less apparent. Therefore this (late) Supreme Court justice would be expected to look better, but still might benefit from a facelift in her veteran years.
Would you say that removing buccal fat before aging could prevent sagging jowls in the future? Or would it do the opposite--increase the chance of sagging skin?
I have obviously noticeable buccal fat, thanks to genetics on my mother's side, however I don't have prominent cheekbones. They're rather flat. And my jaw/masseter is average in fullness. Am I automatically not a good candidate for buccal fat pad removal?
So if you have a jowl appearance.. not due to loose skin, but due to your chubby cheeks, and are looking for a “v” shaped jawline. Cheek/jowl lipo would be best as opposed to buccal fat removal?
Would someone with TMJ issues be a good candidate to get buccal fat removal? I have a dislocated disc on my joints but I’m afraid to do surgery. I bite the inside of my cheeks a lot & was wondering if doing this procedure and removing excess fat would help alleviate pain?
Its a fantastic question. I don’t know. My instinct is no, it won’t help, and this may worsen the situation potentially. However, simultaneously injecting the masseter and botox, which may confer a synergistic cosmetic effect, would probably help reduce symptoms of TMJ.
@@jonathanzelkenmd I truly appreciate your honesty and help with this. Injecting Botox around the nerve does sound like a great alternative I will contact your office today to schedule an appointment. Thank you soo much
I had this done on one side to mask or correct facial asymmetry. I had tremendous swelling/hematoma. My question is - How long for it to heal entirely?
@@jonathanzelkenmd dont get me wrong, its been 6 month and still feel and see so.e residual/surgical swelling and some tension inside but it feels as if it is subsiding. I did hear another surgeon say very adamantly that full healing takes a year since the area inside needs to close up by filling the gap that exists after the removal.
so if I understand correctly, in some patients the bulging of the buccal fat pats could contribute to jowling and sagging of the lower face right? So the removal in younger patients could be beneficial for avoiding those negative effects in a more mature age? Is this often done together with a lifting of any kind (For example ultherapy)?
I think this is certainly possible. I’ve seen this phenomenon in older patients who undergo buccal fat removal. I often remove buccal fat during a deep plane facelift or even a SMASectomy facelift, Facetite, and yes it could also be done with Ultherapy.
I'm a victimv of a bad fatgrafting The fat injected got down on mandibular aerea Can you get rid it by this procedure or the liposuccion is better in this case?
Hey there, I got this procedure done with a doctor in Newport Beach 12 days ago and I had a complication with bleeding when i was there. In your opinion with this type of complication, would you consider it normal to have restrictions with opening the mouth. I can open as wide as the width of my index finger. It’s very awkward when i try to eat.
Hi there, this sounds very concerning and I have not seen this. Please discuss this with your plastic surgeon. If he or she is not board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery I would be happy to see you to ensure that there are no long term complications.
@@jonathanzelkenmd He is board certified and I just spoke with him but he is not suprised due to the cleaning out of the blood and having to reopen again. Says it spread to the jaw. Not sure how I feel with the explanation. If you don’t mind I might give it a few more days and give you guys a call.
@@jonathanzelkenmd Diplomat of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, as well as the American Board of General Surgery (as stated on his website) I did not ask since I found all the information online and I saw a plaque when I was in there but regretfully I did not ask to hear it from him. To add, this was on the right cheek. He did say this was unsual for him and has never occured in his 10 years of doing the procedure. I do have another follow up two weeks from now but he does not seem concerned enough to see me right away probably because no other bleeding has occured and my swelling is going down.
@@jonathanzelkenmd By the way, I appreciate you taking the time to answer questions for people that ARE NOT your patients. Says a lot about you and I wish I had discovered you prior.
Sorry to hear this, you should consider discussing your concerns with your plastic surgeon. If he or she is unavailable I’d be happy to examine you to determine why you are unhappy with the results
Hello dr , I have done my buccal fat removal 8 months ago but I can’t tell the difference and two of the other surgeons suggested me to have buccal fat removal for the second time assuming that the first operation went unsuccessful and there is great variety of fat excess left ! I would really appreciate if you please tell me your opinion on this issue 🙏🏻
@@jonathanzelkenmd yes he did before operation but still nothing changed. So my question is can buccal fat removal be done second time ? Also I sent you pictures on Instagram direct messages :)
Omg I don’t know you could take out MORE buccal fat? I thought it was 1 pad. I had the procedure done like 16 years ago but it didn’t make it v shaped enough. I had to exercise a lot and use firming cream to get it where I want
@@Wingomon not at all. I don't think the procedure is aggressive enough. Its more of slight change. My face was bigger than average persons and not gaunt to begin with
I have problem with moving my lips after this procedure now it’s been 5 hours since I left the surgery room and I’ve noticed it immediately there’s a weak spot around my upper left lip and left nostril. What is this symptom omgg will it go back to normal? Is this nerve damage ? Please respond anyone or the doctor
@@jonathanzelkenmd I was curious about this doctor so I went on realself. He has some good reviews and some really bad reviews. One too many in my opinion. For that reason I don't think I would choose him now.
@@minkycat66 sometimes the more famous you are the more negative reviews you attract, but I understand. My friend Dr Richard Reish is also in NYC - see if he offers this procedure. Or you can always fly out to California :)
I have an inquiry regarding the importance of BFP and the alternatives to it's removal. I would certainly benefit from BFP reduction however I have read about the importance of BFP in reconstructive surgery, e.g. bone grafting. Is this an exclusive property for BFP or is it a generic property for several fat pads in our bodies? And is it possible to aesthetically relocate it instead of reducing it?
There are creative reconstructive procedures that benefit from BFP but they are relatively uncommon. Like cleft palate repair, some mouth and dental procedures. These are not typical operations and I wouldn’t let it be a deterrent to fat pad reduction.
Yes there is variability yet not much of it between genders, races, ages, BMI etc. the impact of buccal fat depends more on its native position and surrounding architecture than absolute size.
I am the patient you completed this procedure on, ive been getting compliments from friends and family. I do see the difference its been four months hope It can get more prominent results by month 6. Overall I feel good I want to feel great 👍🏼
Hi Francisco! So great to hear from you, send us some selfies and yes, you're about 70% of the way there! We miss you.
Do you mind telling your age, and how many cc's he removed. Thankyou.
But notice he has not done it. No one else can do it? smh.
@@MichelePearl Maybe he doesn't care to do it because he doesn't want to change his face lol i got my nose done and my surgeon has never gotten his nose done. 2 and 2 doesn't make 1.
How much you paid francisco
A friend had this done in 2012. Definitely not as well known of a procedure back then. His results were amazing. He is very fit, works out but his face was always full. He had nice cheekbones as well. It was an in office awake procedure, he numbed the areas and removed it. It was less than an hour. He only prescribed tylenol for pain.
He was swollen a lot for a solid week but by the 3rd week it looked great. So this was almost 10 years ago and he still looks the same. He has maintained his weight, if that matters. 💜
Thanks for its inspiring
@@jamesalgernon1246
🙏🏼🙏🏼😍
For the more aging faces and for say less collagenic skin types, surely the procedure can be also coupled with tightening up any slack skin, so a face lift as well and we’re good to go? Possibly some cheekbone filler also.
I got this procedure a week go! I’m so happy and thankful for not listening to those haters on RUclips that shame plastic surgeries specially Buccal fat removal! If you find a great surgeon! He will tell you upfront that they will not remove a lot! I still got my cute cheeks that match my face without the extra. Just a little helps a lot!! Not painful, feels like when you bite the inside of your cheek😅 . After 3-4 days it didn’t bother me. ❤
Why is this video got a lot of thumbs down. It’s so much informative. He is just being very honest!
It’s a low percentage:)
@@jonathanzelkenmd hi usually when you do a double chin/ neck liposuction does the jowl fat removal included with it?
Because this procedure is awful. Yes, it looks good while you're young, but when you're in your late 30s, people will think you're in your early 50s. This procedure makes you look OLD after a few years.
It removes the fat tissue connected to your cheeks, so they fall in and give you a "sunken" look.
Don't get this surgery.
I did this and I don't feel like I look better. I look sunken in too much. I have less bone on one side of my face and that side is too sunken in. Both sides look more uneven. I lost my prettiness.
Sorry. Who was the doctor? How old were you when you did this and do you know how many cc's was removed
@@minkycat66 how much was removed is not really the issue ..there is always asymmetry ...its how much you leave...taking an equal amount from each cheek doesn't really matter if there is an unequal amount there ..and a surgeon needs to be aware of this.
I wish I could go to your clinic right now
I want to do this but the thought of nerve damage is horrifying
You heard of someone having nerve damage after this surgery?
@@millions2nette I have, she has a video on YT but not in English.
Same
its always a possibility ....
i heard its very low chance
I am really interested in getting this, but I am constantly worried that my face would look too hollow. Maybe I will fly out to california and consult you and possibly get this procedure done!
its not an aggresive procedure. But you may or may not need a filler later in life
Best video I've seen, thank you my guy.
I had this procedure on October 17! Had no nerve damage and the procedure was quite straightforward. However I still can’t see any difference. But it’s only been 2 months so hopefully I notice some changes soon!
Sorry to hear- did your surgeon mention anything about being conservative? Did they show you the fat?
zelkeninstitute yes I did see the fat after the surgery. It didn’t look like much. But the surgeon said that once fat is outside of the body it shrinks. Is this true? hopefully it was more than what it looked like
@@einstein1017 hard to say without seeing it myself:/
zelkeninstitute I remember the surgeon saying it was 1mm by 4mm or 1cm by 4cm , I don’t quite remember. Still seemed quite less compared to pictures of buccal fat I’ve seen online
@@einstein1017 1x4cm sounds about right if it’s 1cm thick (4cc about right)
I'll consider this procedure after i turn 21 I'm 17 rn
Thinking the same! But I’m 20 😨
@@ASGang I’m 18 now and live in Germany! I’ll do it in half a year or sumn after saving up enough 😳🙌🏽
I’m turning 20 with the same issue but we should all tread carefully with affecting our appearance. Make sure you double and triple check IF you really want the procedure done and with whom.
When I bite down I accidentally bite my cheeks and it’s painful, could this be a good procedure, my face is the place were my fat is mainly stored
edna martinez it’s possible, though this is not an indication for surgery as far as I know
I’m the same!! ☠️
Sometimes that can be caused by tooth problems! If it’s not always like that
If you’re biting your cheeks your teeth are certainly not aligned right. Go see a dentist
I just got this done yesterday. The dr said I was a good candidate. I have a naturaly high check bones and a mild pronounced jawline. My only problem was the chubby cheaks, especially when I would smile. Once he did it, he did state that my buckle fat was smaller than usual. So I'm looking forward to seeing how much of a defreance i will getThe procedure was almost painless quick and hardly any swelling after.
How is it looking right now for you
@@JanKowalski-vc8xm I'm half way thru what they said would be full healing time. And I can definitely see a big difference. People don't really notice it but I do.
@@JanKowalski-vc8xm and I love it!
@@yannaigonzalez5988 thats great to hear :) how severe was the swelling post-surgery? And how much time did it take for it to go away?
@@JanKowalski-vc8xm the swelling was only obvious to me almost non at all. Took about 2-3 days to go away but it's just now showing full results. I can see my face thinner and more defined. I
Thank you for being frank. Cheers from Germany.
Looking forward to more of your episodes.
Working on more! Thanks for feedback
thank you for sharing this very useful information! is there anyone in the UK you could recommend for buccal fat removal? I really want to make sure I get it right.
My pleasure, but I really do not know any plastic surgeons in the UK. Let me know if you find a good one, and how your experience is.
Did you ever manage to find one? I’m in the UK too and am looking!
I am about to have a consultation for Buccal Fat Removal from The Harley Clinic. They are amazing, you should check them out x
@@kynaatdad5133 I also am interested to find someone in the UK but not sure who
Thanks for video you just described me as an ideal candidate.
How does kybella work compared to this for an average roundfaced person? I hear so different things. Thank you 🙌🏻
I honestly think it looks best on almost all men and older women who want to get rid of chubby cheeks.
I had this procedure and now my face looks worse. I have deep indents on each cheek and my jowls are so prominent now. I regret it.
Gina Soto not sure when or where this was done but all aspects of the lower face should be addressed. If you have jowling and buccal fat excess both need to be addressed.
I'm 19 and i wish I could have the money to do it . I am in the process of losing weight but even if I lose weight the fat still stays in that area of the face . I have strong cheekbones but a lot of flesh unfortunately
it goes away a bit if u lose weight. depends
So it also has a positive effect on the jawline ?Also is there any way for my dentist to know if it will look even on both sides ?
Is your dentist going to do the procedure?
Your comment about Justice Ginsburg is interesting. I went for a consultation with a doctor last year who used her case as an example of someone who had a facelift, but who in his opinion, would have achieved better results with a facelift and buccal fat removal.
Did I missed an email or your office phone numbers? I am Asian, most of us have chipmunk cheeks..I think I am a perfect candidate bc I have high cheekbones and lower cheekbones, So far you’ve been the most honest in telling how it is. Thank you.
Thank you. Feel free to call us at 949-432-4730 after 9AM PST on weekdays :)
i mean you're just telling me i am an amazing candidate and i should go get it done
now the money part and finding a good surgeon... hmmmm
You said it, not me :)
Me too!
Very interested in getting this procedure done
Thank you for all this information
I had hard silicone cheek implants over 20.yrs ago. I don't.regret it at all, ESP.after seeing all of these DIY cheek fillers on YT!!!
DIY cheek fillers? Yikes. Yes, sometimes nothing beats the original.
I'm extremely interested in this procedure and would love to be able to do this with you but I live in NYC. Is there a doctor you would recommend for this procedure in my city? I hope this is not a disrespectful question, it's just that my experience with NY plastic surgeons has not been good. To me, you're an ideal doctor so I would trust whomever you would recommend over here (if you don't mind sharing).
Alan Matarrasso is wonderful, and you are not being disrespectful at all.
@@jonathanzelkenmd So kind of you Dr. Zelken, thank you very much for being willing to suggest someone.
after going through all the vedio of him I strongly believe I should have a complete whole body plastic surgery to look better.
Thank you for the information. I am considering this procedure.
Thanks for the very insightful information doc
Can you post pictures of good vs bad cheekbones? Like what does that mean? I want this but I’m not sure I’d be a good candidate. Sadly I’m only 26 but I feel like my mid face is already falling and sagging, so what can I do if I’m not a good candidate for this?
Stephanie good cheekbones is subjective- good call. What I mean is cheekbones that project forward more than, say the very front of your eyeball.
@@jonathanzelkenmd do you have an example of this? i think i'll have to sign up for a consultation. my cheekbone only projects ever so slightly in front of the front of my eyeball. i can tell the fat on my face will start moving towards the middle of my face as i age because thats how my parents are
plasticsurgerykey.com/alloplastic-augmentation-to-improve-blepharoplasty-and-midfacial-results/
Hi sir, my cheekbones are like tom cruises. Am I a good candidate to this? He like me has wide cheekbones/zygomathic archs but with negative orbital vector. My cheekbone height is similar too. My face is already slim, but i wonder if I coudl get a even more slimmer look with this.
I want this done but I don’t want to look old. The only reason why I want this done is because my eyes are super small compared to the size of my face and it looks very disproportionate in real life of course camera angles and filters help as in my profile picture… but now idk if I want it done. I think I just want to have lipo like in that one video you posted of that woman that you also removed the buccal fat pads on, but without the buccal fat removal just the lipo.
I really want to know of i am a good candidate. But i cant seem to know how and i want to ask my doctor but i dont really trust that they will tell me the truth
And all my folks are telling me that my skin will sag and this will accelerate my aging in the future
I dont have high cheek bones nor do i have low cheek bones.. I have no idea what to do
You can always seek a second opinion. This shouldn’t be a source of stress. If you can’t trust your plastic surgeon find another!
Dear Doctor , do you have fellowship program or short course programs for dermatologist perusing advanced cosmetic procedures
Thanks but I don’t currently offer any fellowship programs
Excellent video thank you
Something that you said that really caught my attention was about the cheekbones how can i tell if I have negative vector cheekbones or regular ones? I have a similar cheekbone structure to yours where it’s not very prominent but it’s there. I’m afraid that if i do get it it’ll make me look weird because I don’t have very prominent cheekbones. Also my face isn’t exactly round it’s more like a oval except my cheeks come out more than my cheekbones.
I am in same exact boat as you
if you have oval shape,then I don't recommend it coz I have seen doctor's saying that this procedure is for round face,and if the procedure is done for oval shape,then it will make u look gaunt/hollowed shape when u age
Hi Dr. Thankyou for the information.
Could you please recommend anyone in india, as coming to USA is not possible as the entire expenses are not affordable.
Sorry I do not
Hi Doc! I am naturally thin everywhere except on my face where I have chubby cheeks and round face. It’s genetic. If i get this procedure done, will it make me look much older later on due to loss of fat? Or is it possible to ask my surgeon if I could only have less portion removed? I’m not looking into getting model chiseed cheeks, just less puffy :)
It depends. Probably not as the results tend to be subtle in my practice. I would need to evaluate your face in person to make a stronger recommendation
Hi Dr. Zelekn, Thank you posting this informative video. I am currently researching this procedure as it has been recommended to me and I am trying to assess the benefits vs the risks of doing this. I am 37 years old and have always had a rounder face, through I am at my ideal weight currently) As I was getting into my 30's I was noticing volume loss in my upper face, under the eyes, and in my upper cheeks and this actually started causing the bottom of my face to look even fuller. (Particularly, the part of my cheeks directly opposite the corners of my mouth, and along the bottom jawline). I recently consulted with two plastic surgeons to see if I could do anything about the volume loss and they both suggested fillers in the upper face and some type of bottom face contouring. One plastic surgeon suggested Botox in the masseter, and the other buccal fat removal. I am trying to determine which of these options is actually more suitable. the surgeon who suggested the botox in the jaw assessed my masseter and said that the masseter was enlarged and would benefit from the botox. The second surgeon advised agsint the botox saying that it could cause the buccal fat to look even worse. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the differing recommendation and would like to ask how you assess patients to determine what type of procedure is better (Or are there ever cases where you would do both of these procedures on someone?) Thank you
Jelena JM the two (botox and buccal fat) are not mutually exclusive. Its popular to do both
@@jonathanzelkenmd Thank you so much for your reply. This is good to know!
@@jelenajm1160 I have just found your comment and I am going through the exact same thing and I am 37. I have fullness right above the jowl area. Had some skin tightening done with radio frequency but it did nothing. I’ve had a consult for buccal fat. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get it done but would love to know if you went for it?
@@NHOD85 Hi Naomi, I ended up doing the botox for the masseters two years ago but it hardly made any difference for me. I had 30 units on each side and after several months, I could only see a small change in photos in my face looking more v-shaped, but not so much in person. I am considering trying it again but adding a bit more botox then before. I decided to not do the buccal fat removal as I went to another doctor who does the procedure and he said that my areas of concern are lower in the face the the area that buccal fat removal would address. After doing more research this year, I think that the area might only be improved best with lower cheek or jowl liposuction or a lower facelift. I'm not ready for a facelift yet but I am going to look into the lower cheek lipo for sure. Have you done anything with your situation and if so, was there anything that improved the areas?
Is it possible to have lots of buccal fat and strong masseter muscle? I'm over all on the skinny side but my cheeks are too full and the masseter us very prominent
Yes absolutely. Also a bony component possibly.
is there any way i could convince a surgeon to take out the entire fat in my cheeks if i offer to pay extra?
You should never have to convince a surgeon of anything. Find another surgeon. The cost should be the same.
Where are you located and what’s the price for this procedure? A lot will chin lipo to sculpt the jaw line
Hello Dr! Thank you for your video. My face is on the rounder side but my issue isn’t the buccal fat, it’s my thicker perioral mounds. I’m 22 but for some reason I have perioral mounds that move when I speak & they make my face bulky. Even when I feel them by putting my thumb on the outside & the index on the inside, you can feel how much fuller they are to my actual buccal cheek area. There is one board certified doctor who performs perioral mound microlipo on them but here where I live in NYC, doctors say they don’t recommend it. What are your thoughts or what advice could you give me? Thank you for your time :)
is it possible remove only 20-25% of buccal fat?
Yes of course
Besides the cheek volume going down. Will the procedure affect under the chin and, jawline/jowl area? I find that not only do i have bigger cheeks, i have a recessed chin. Hoping to reduce drooping under chin to make my chin look more in proportion. Im 23, so not much drastic aging to face.
Do you recommend this procedure for someone with asymmetry when they smile? I have one side that is slightly larger and when I smile, that area becomes much more pronounced on that one side. Would that still involve a removal of the entire fat pad, or could a little bit be removed to only restore symmetry? If not, are there any home exercises or massage techniques that would work to reduce one side? Thank you.
These are good questions and it’s hard to offer a meaningful answer without seeing you in person.
I had the same issue Stacy, and I had this procedure done last thursday. On my bigger cheek the doctor removed 0,5 more, It came out that way. So I believe it will look much more even although my teeth need to be more aligned as well. I'll let you know how it looks in a couple of weeks once the swelling goes down if you'd like :)
@@GinniAimee hi, how is it now?
I had facial asymmetry and masseter botox (5 ml more on 1 side) fixed it
I recently had buccal fat pad removal and it was very painful. During the process. I felt the cutting and pulling. On the right I saw a lump of fat taken out but it was so painful . On the left side During the process I screamed and yelled. The surgeon stopped. I do not believe the fat pad was removed on the left . Now I look uneven. Why was it painful. If local anesthesia was used?
I don’t know what happened but maybe your surgeon was not skilled at this procedure?
great video doc
Luna Lytele thanks
What is the buccal removal cost at the Zelken Institute?
I Wacht your videos for my listening english class and because interessant make
😂😂😂 yep, me too need some fat injection but i only trust my self to do it😂😂
Hey doc, who’s the doctor you mentioned in New York that takes out the entire fat pad in
Not sure what you are asking but Alan Matarrasso may be the one
I live in the uk and am seriously considering getting this done but struggling to find info, is there anywhere in the uk you would recommend?
Many thanks
Go to Turkey, much cheaper! Clinic Center is a good company
Should x-rays be taken before the buccal removal to look at persons anatomy? If one side is flatter than the other, than why would this be a good idea?
X-rays wouldn’t show 3 D anatomy and would not be helpful. A CT or better yet and MRI could be useful but may be overkill. I certainly do not require this type of imaging as my physical exam is generally sufficient in telling me all I need to know.
I can’t find many reviews by men who have had this surgery.
Men do very well with this procedure
is 16 a young age to get this done? I feel like my face structure is exactly what you said would be a good candidate.
Seems a little young but feasible if you’ve reached skeletal maturity (post puberty and stopped growing)
I’m also 16, wait until you’re 18 minimum cuz like the guy said your face is still growing, at 16 there’s still some to go and also if you went to puberty late, if you’re tryna get that look go for cheek bone filler or Chin filler, they last like 6 months and make u look more structured
@@andrechartier9689 ok thanks for the info! I'll probably wait until I'm 18 to get it done :))
hi doctor! I just realized that what bothers me is the fat / muscle behind the imaginary line you drew. Near the mouth I have almost no fat. My dream was to do buccal fat removal, but do you think that in my case I am not a good candidate?
Larissa Ayoub id really need to see you...
I am considering the procedure, do you recommend anyone in Texas?
Thanks
There are a lot of great surgeons in Texas. Rod Rohrich comes to mind, and Byrd if he’s still practicing.
Dr Ira Savestsky.
I live in australia and am struggling to find someone to do it for me. Went to a surgeon for a consultation about it and he turned me away saying I’m not a candidate despite most of my facial chubbiness being anterior
Reading all these comments makes me want to move to Australia! Bryan Mendelson is one name that comes to mind.
I had surgery yesterday and now I can’t pucker my right lip…. Is it a waiting game for movement to come back?
This is certainly something to discuss with your plastic surgeon. But I have seen this is my own patients, and the movement comes back.
Hey Doc, I'd be interested if theres any courses or procedure guidelines for this surgery you recommend, coming from a dental surgeon.
RakanXYZ hi- not that I know of, but you can always shadow
I don't have cheek bones, like almost I don't, but I really have fatty face, even when I'm
weighing 50 kg ... I don't know if it's a good option for me, or they just tell me yes to sell me something
Hi Dr. Do you happen to know a reputable surgeon in south Florida that you could recommend?
There are many. Miguel Medina comes to mind.
@@jonathanzelkenmd I wish you were in Florida
So if the supreme court justice you talk about had gotten done the procedure when she was young...she would not have hanging skin now? ...u say if u take her fat out she will have hanging skin...so if a young person gets it done will they have hanging skin when they get old?
Jack this is a great question! I do think the patient would still have hanging skin but the downward force would be somewhat alleviated, and the fullness of the prolapsing fat pad less apparent. Therefore this (late) Supreme Court justice would be expected to look better, but still might benefit from a facelift in her veteran years.
She just passed 💔
KiaaLuXe i know, God bless her soul :(
Would you say that removing buccal fat before aging could prevent sagging jowls in the future? Or would it do the opposite--increase the chance of sagging skin?
I do not think buccal fat removal would prevent aging or accelerate it.
@@jonathanzelkenmd Did you mean buccal fat removal had no effect on aging nither negative nor positive..
How much you charge for this
I have obviously noticeable buccal fat, thanks to genetics on my mother's side, however I don't have prominent cheekbones. They're rather flat. And my jaw/masseter is average in fullness. Am I automatically not a good candidate for buccal fat pad removal?
Not necessarily. You can do things to augment other deficiencies. It’s best to seek the opinion of your board certified plastic surgeon.
So if you have a jowl appearance.. not due to loose skin, but due to your chubby cheeks, and are looking for a “v” shaped jawline. Cheek/jowl lipo would be best as opposed to buccal fat removal?
It truly depends on your exam.
Would someone with TMJ issues be a good candidate to get buccal fat removal? I have a dislocated disc on my joints but I’m afraid to do surgery. I bite the inside of my cheeks a lot & was wondering if doing this procedure and removing excess fat would help alleviate pain?
Its a fantastic question. I don’t know. My instinct is no, it won’t help, and this may worsen the situation potentially. However, simultaneously injecting the masseter and botox, which may confer a synergistic cosmetic effect, would probably help reduce symptoms of TMJ.
@@jonathanzelkenmd I truly appreciate your honesty and help with this. Injecting Botox around the nerve does sound like a great alternative I will contact your office today to schedule an appointment. Thank you soo much
How much
Estimate?
For buccal removal?. $. Running
What if you don’t have have good cheekbone structure but use the fat from the buccal fat procedure and graft it in the cheekbones ?
Great thought. Yes but there are better options.
@@jonathanzelkenmd thank u for the reply !
I had this done on one side to mask or correct facial asymmetry. I had tremendous swelling/hematoma. My question is - How long for it to heal entirely?
Chris, you'd really need to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
@@jonathanzelkenmd will do, but as a Doctor specializing in this area is a 6 month to a year healing process unusual?
@@DrewPWebos seems unusual yes
@@jonathanzelkenmd ok thanks
@@jonathanzelkenmd dont get me wrong, its been 6 month and still feel and see so.e residual/surgical swelling and some tension inside but it feels as if it is subsiding. I did hear another surgeon say very adamantly that full healing takes a year since the area inside needs to close up by filling the gap that exists after the removal.
so if I understand correctly, in some patients the bulging of the buccal fat pats could contribute to jowling and sagging of the lower face right? So the removal in younger patients could be beneficial for avoiding those negative effects in a more mature age? Is this often done together with a lifting of any kind (For example ultherapy)?
I think this is certainly possible. I’ve seen this phenomenon in older patients who undergo buccal fat removal. I often remove buccal fat during a deep plane facelift or even a SMASectomy facelift, Facetite, and yes it could also be done with Ultherapy.
@@jonathanzelkenmd thanks!
This was so helpful thank you!!
Our pleasure! Thank you
How about perioral mounds?
We are on it! :)
Who is the good surgeon in NYC that you respect for this procedure?
NYC is way easier for me to get to 😓
Dr Matarasso
Where r u located?
Newport Beach CA
I'm a victimv of a bad fatgrafting
The fat injected got down on mandibular aerea
Can you get rid it by this procedure or the liposuccion is better in this case?
Samir Askali without seeing you, my guess is liposuction
@@jonathanzelkenmd is kind of you to answer me
There is not nerves domage risks?
Thank you alot
Samir Askali of course there are risks but they are acceptably low
@@jonathanzelkenmd thank you very much
Hey there, I got this procedure done with a doctor in Newport Beach 12 days ago and I had a complication with bleeding when i was there. In your opinion with this type of complication, would you consider it normal to have restrictions with opening the mouth. I can open as wide as the width of my index finger. It’s very awkward when i try to eat.
Hi there, this sounds very concerning and I have not seen this. Please discuss this with your plastic surgeon. If he or she is not board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery I would be happy to see you to ensure that there are no long term complications.
@@jonathanzelkenmd He is board certified and I just spoke with him but he is not suprised due to the cleaning out of the blood and having to reopen again. Says it spread to the jaw. Not sure how I feel with the explanation. If you don’t mind I might give it a few more days and give you guys a call.
@@missnatz sorry to pry, but did he say he was board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? This sort of complication should not occur.
@@jonathanzelkenmd Diplomat of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, as well as the American Board of General Surgery (as stated on his website) I did not ask since I found all the information online and I saw a plaque when I was in there but regretfully I did not ask to hear it from him. To add, this was on the right cheek. He did say this was unsual for him and has never occured in his 10 years of doing the procedure. I do have another follow up two weeks from now but he does not seem concerned enough to see me right away probably because no other bleeding has occured and my swelling is going down.
@@jonathanzelkenmd By the way, I appreciate you taking the time to answer questions for people that ARE NOT your patients. Says a lot about you and I wish I had discovered you prior.
Hi. I had this done and now have dents in my face. Regret it. Is there anything I can do to fix this ?
Sorry to hear this, you should consider discussing your concerns with your plastic surgeon. If he or she is unavailable I’d be happy to examine you to determine why you are unhappy with the results
Hello dr , I have done my buccal fat removal 8 months ago but I can’t tell the difference and two of the other surgeons suggested me to have buccal fat removal for the second time assuming that the first operation went unsuccessful and there is great variety of fat excess left !
I would really appreciate if you please tell me your opinion on this issue 🙏🏻
A second opinion by a surgeon who routinely performs buccal fat removal may be warranted. Did the first surgeon take pictures?
@@jonathanzelkenmd yes he did before operation but still nothing changed. So my question is can buccal fat removal be done second time ? Also I sent you pictures on Instagram direct messages :)
Omg I don’t know you could take out MORE buccal fat? I thought it was 1 pad. I had the procedure done like 16 years ago but it didn’t make it v shaped enough. I had to exercise a lot and use firming cream to get it where I want
Wow 16 Years ago! Did you notice prematurely aging?
@@Wingomon not at all. I don't think the procedure is aggressive enough. Its more of slight change. My face was bigger than average persons and not gaunt to begin with
can you just have this fat pad reduced but not taken away fully?
Certainly
So wait, if we have posterior fat is this procedure good for us or not?
Possibly. It depends on your goals and anatomy.
I kind of wanna send you a photo of my face, so you can tell me if I'm a good candinate or not 😅
I'm still considering
This is perfect! I wanna look young.
Roefan Akinamoto great! Not a rejuvenation procedure, more of a facial contouring procedure
You do look young!! 🤗
Do you rate Endolift or better to go for buccal fat removal?
I have not heard of it.
Must be done precisely by someone who does many of these.
Absolutely
I have problem with moving my lips after this procedure now it’s been 5 hours since I left the surgery room and I’ve noticed it immediately there’s a weak spot around my upper left lip and left nostril. What is this symptom omgg will it go back to normal? Is this nerve damage ? Please respond anyone or the doctor
Bennie, I am not sure what part of the world you live in or who your surgeon is, but you really need to discuss this with your surgeon.
A very important talk. Thanks
Which is the Doctor in NYC that you mentioned in the video ? I am interested in this procedure
Alan Matarasso
@@jonathanzelkenmd is he a doctor you would trust to remove your buccal fat?
@@minkycat66 of course
@@jonathanzelkenmd I was curious about this doctor so I went on realself. He has some good reviews and some really bad reviews. One too many in my opinion. For that reason I don't think I would choose him now.
@@minkycat66 sometimes the more famous you are the more negative reviews you attract, but I understand. My friend Dr Richard Reish is also in NYC - see if he offers this procedure. Or you can always fly out to California :)
I have an inquiry regarding the importance of BFP and the alternatives to it's removal. I would certainly benefit from BFP reduction however I have read about the importance of BFP in reconstructive surgery, e.g. bone grafting. Is this an exclusive property for BFP or is it a generic property for several fat pads in our bodies?
And is it possible to aesthetically relocate it instead of reducing it?
There are creative reconstructive procedures that benefit from BFP but they are relatively uncommon. Like cleft palate repair, some mouth and dental procedures. These are not typical operations and I wouldn’t let it be a deterrent to fat pad reduction.
I’ve dimples on both cheeks, is there any risk of losing it if I get this done ?
There’s always a risk but it’s unlikely and the dimples may even become more pronounced
my biggest fear is they don't take enough away and its a waste of money
I like this dr!
Do you recommend a buccinator myectomy?
It’s always an option and I do offer it. In my experience it works best with bichectomy or a history of bichectomy.
Do some people have larger amounts than other and that’s why they have chubbier faces ? In the anterior section
Yes there is variability yet not much of it between genders, races, ages, BMI etc. the impact of buccal fat depends more on its native position and surrounding architecture than absolute size.
How much does it cast Sir