Buccal fat saved my life, teeth, and face. Had someone accidentally shoot me in the face. The bullet entered my smile line, tunneled in my cheek, shattered my jaw, and exited behind my ear. Other than a tiny dimple in my smile line, you can't tell anything happened. I love my buccal fat.
I recently spoke to a hair dresser and he said something to me that really made me rethink my look. I said “if I don’t straighten my hair it’s wild and all over the place” he said “Then let it be wild and all over the place, this is your hair style.” Since then I approach everything on my body this way. As long as you’re healthy work with your unique beauty. Not saying plastic surgery is wrong, if it makes you feel good do it! :)
I can definitely understand ! I have curly hair and I always wondered why my curls would never be as defined as all these girls on instagram. It made me very sad. Now I realise that to have definition, I have to abandon volume and it makes my face horribly flat. I am now very happy with my wild poof of hair !
@@427skies I have a lot of hair but it's thin so definition makes it look really flat. I just decided to prioritize volume over definition. But I do feel like I have a dry hair issue with the recent state of my ends. Do you know how I could fix that ?
Another baby-faced woman here. I hated being called 'cute' up until my late twenties, having to show my ID until my early thirties. I wanted to have cheekbones so badly and no matter how much I worked out & how skinny I got, my cheekbones wouldn't show up. I just turned 43 and finally I get to see definition & structure. People also always get my age wrong (~10 years younger) and that's what a baby face will help you with as you age. I've never been happier with how I look. Also: use your SPF! 👌🏻
Story of my life. I was 23 being mistaken for a 16-year-old. I'm 33 now and not much has changed and not a single wrinkle in sight. Just have to accept this reality
Same lol I’m almost 40 and my round face and cheeks are still here lol I hated it as a teen and in my 20s, but now I love it so muchhhhh!! Aging slower and less wrinkles 😊
:( I wish that were me. My face has always been suuuuuper chubby, even though I'm, genetically, very skinny (115 lbs at 5'8.) In my 20s I used to be ok with my chubby cheeks, but now, in my mid 30s, the gravity is taking its toll and all that plumpiness is kinda dropping around the sides of my mouth, dragging my mouth corners and creating horrible wrinkles. Sometimes it looks like I have a blonde moustache. I know I should be ok with it and not get lost in the vanity of it all. But it's been years since I was able to look in the mirror for more than 10 seconds and not feel like I'm deformed...
I actually do NOT see it as him being uncomfortable with his skill. I see that he is wise in deciding not to do a very risky surgery that is very uncomfortable for the patient and may ultimately be something that does not have the desired results. Additionally, not sure if he is going to mention it yet - but I see that does not “age” well.
@@pou618 don't sweat it, your comment was easy to understand and grammar doesn't matter as much in informal conversational settings. Funny thing is they didn't even correct you correctly lol! 'whose' is possessive, they meant to say 'who's' which is a contraction of 'who is'.
@@Ultamami how is "that's/that is" not correct? "A doctor that is not feeling confident" makes complete sense. "Who is" (not whom, whom is possessive) would be more proper of grammar, because "that" implies an object whereas "who" implies an individual; but otherwise the same point is made, and "that is" sounds more like natural speech where as "who is" would sound more formal. Honestly, if you're gonna be One Of Those People at least be correct.
I had a consultation for buccal fat removal when I was 20 and the surgeon said no, to give it time for my baby fat to go away. By 26, I finally started to see my facial structure showing and I was satisfied. Now in my late 30s I'm starting to look slightly hollow in that area. I'm so glad I didn't do the surgery. I can't even imagine how gaunt I'd look at this point.
PEOPLE DONT REALIZE THAT THE SAFEST WAY TO HAVE A MORE SCULPTURED FACE IS TO JUST EXERCISE, SPECIFICALLY RUNNING. WHEN HAVE YOU EVER SEEN. A MARATHON RUNNER OR SPRINTER WITH A FULL FACE.??ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE A GOOD FACIAL STRUCTURE. IVE TRIED THIS LAST YEAR AND NOW I CAN SAY MY FACE IS SLIMMER. AND ALSO REMOVE SUGAR AND HAVE A CALORIC DEFICIT
@@dggjr1759 not true for everyone. At 100 pounds I'm very thin and tiny and had a full face. People carry weight genetically in different areas of their body.
I have a HUGE amount of respect for you as a plastic surgeon who did a surgery, encountered a complication, was not only completely honest but also made sure to completely eliminate it from practice to prevent recurrence OVER a surgeon who denies their complications, continues to perform risky surgery, or claims that just because nothing HAS never gone wrong that nothing WILL
So much respect for this video. Usually we think of doctors/surgeons like people who CAN NEVER make a mistake, so seeing a human talking about his fears, insecurities and anxiety is just amazing. Huge congrats for staying humble!
Some of us have also come to think of them that way because a lot of them get nasty or sarcastic when questioned. Many don't like to admit that they don't know everything about their field. It's ridiculous. 🥴👍🏼
@@HerHallOfMirrors94 haha, welcome to the world of surgeons! They tend to be a certain ilk, much like IT guys, you can always tell the IT table at a Christmas doo😄
@@jjba3571 Speaking for myself, I’ve always felt my round full face makes me look heavier in pictures than what I am. So the thought of a thinner, more defined face made me feel like I’d achieve the right look. But I agree, people always think I’m in my 20s when I’m almost 40 😱
My grandfather was a plastic surgeon, but his specialty was reconstructive plastic surgery. He helped so many burn victims, gunshot wound victims, cleft palates, etc. My aunt took off after him and also dedicated her life to helping accident victims. Now my cousin is on the same path. Plastic surgery gets a rap like it’s for vanity only, but I’ve witnessed first hand what a surgeon can do to help and improve patients lives
Agreed. A friend had her horribly ripped ear (dog attack) repaired by the "on call" ED plastic surgeon resident. She patiently used 147 stitches to reconstruct my friend's ear. The end result was wonderful, a barely perceptible "scar" due to unavoidable tissue loss. The before/after photos are amazing.
Oh wow. That’s awesome! Did you end up following your grandfathers footsteps and becoming a plastic surgeon as well? My friend had a similar situation. Her dad was an optometrist - an eye doctor - and she ended up following suit, and so did her sister. She’s 26, and is making the big bucks. Lol. Which is awesome. Kind of cool how one family member falls into a profession, and then other family members follow suit. 💕
I was part of an accident as a toddler and a plastic surgeon reconstructed the tip of my nose. I've always had a scar, but am so thankful to the surgeon that that is all.
I've work with dental surgeons for years now and I remember when they did this procedure for practice, like between them, assistants, friends, family and they asked me because I have a roundish face and I said no out of fear, fear of something going wrong, fast aging, sagging etc and everyone made fun of me. Now they regret it and I'm thankful for once trusting my intuition
The fact that they were doing this illegally, and then making fun of you for not doing it, is highly concerning!!! I’m glad you listened to yourself and not others!!!
I will NEVER forget the pain that I have felt when the surgeon pulled out the fatpad. It was horrible, and I wish I had seen this video earlier since I was worried that my surgeon hadnt given me enough local anaesthesia. Even though I'm very happy with my buccal fat removal, I can tell anyone considering this procedure: you WILL look older and maybe more masculine. And during the removal, you will suffer unfortunately.
I think it’s easy to forget that doctors are human…I appreciate how you talked about the anxiety around buccal fat removal. As a patient you want your surgeon to feel as ease, and if a type of surgery is causing uncertainty then best not to do it. Much respect for that approach!
Agree but sometimes this is due to doctors being unwilling to admit they're human. I have encountered a couple of family docs who were extremely arrogant with a terrible exam table manner.
jesus! i still have nightmares when i accidentally exposed my patient's buccal fat. i still get panicked whenever i think about it. it was a nightmare for me. the goal was to remove the 3rd molar, not remove his fat. thank God i was not so stupid and cut the fat.
@@noshrinkingviolet007 Arrogant doctors are scourges to their profession. Of what use are they to their patients, if they cannot connect with them as humans (instead of as 'cases'; or pathologies)? In my opinion, they may do more harm than good.
Always had a baby face and hated it. Like most young women I wanted a more chiseled sexy look. Now I am 28 and thank god I did not mess with my face! People still think I am 22 and I get complimented on my defined cheeks all the time... like people put filler in their face to get my cheeks. Please Please wait until your mid 20s to start permanently changing your appearance! You are literally not grown until 25 and beauty trends change so fast. Thanks Dr.Linkov for sharing!
Thanks a lot for this comment. I’ve been very insecure about my cheeks for years and seriously considering buccal fat removal. Until now nothing could change my mind but thanks to your comment and this video I’m slowly starting to reconsider this decision and will try to accept my baby face more :)
Same, I wanted a buccal fat removal so bad, but was never able to do it and now I'm so glad! Now at 27 most of that fat is gone, but whatever little is left makes me look very youthful, people also think I'm 22/23. Also I've seen people who did it very young and after a couple years they need to inject fat into their faces to bring back support and structure.
so true, so many female celebrities get this procedure to give them sculpted cheek bones and it matures their face, but as they age it makes them look way older
Same here! In my twenties I was complaining about my round face and that my face would loose fat the last. Now I am beginning of 30 and I am so thankful to have this genetics. I look like 20. It is a blessing. Ladies dont freak out too much on your appearance. Your view on the things might change in the future.
I have strong feelings on this, I was bullied about my nose for years, or so I felt, so I went to see a surgeon to finally fix it at 24. I don't know why but something kicked in when I was in his office which had pictures of children in Africa with Noma, a facial condition that eats the tissue and causes disfigurement. I decided the bullies had the problem and not me, and I never looked back and didn't do it. If we could nurture our souls the way we do our looks..
What people say usually says more about themselves than others. You were totally right, it's those bullies who had the issue, not you and how you were born. 💙
I’m 32 and got this procedure done about 1.5 yrs ago. I’ve always had chubby cheeks and teased about it. I’m really glad my surgeon was conservative with the amount although at first I wasn’t sure if he took out enough. I go back and forth with being glad / regretting the change. My advice would be to please really think hard about any sort of plastic surgery- it’s rare to get 100% of the results that you want and get someone reputable
I would think at 30 that any buccal fat you have you're probably stuck with so a mild surgery at that time would make sense but anyone under 30 probably doesn't need this procedure.
@@agdorenthis is exactly what i wish more people talked about. our faces change so much as we age so it’s ridiculous people who are in their late teens and early 20s are even getting this done when their faces haven’t even fully matured
@@agdorenI totally agree. If you look at my pictures from high school you would have thought I weighed a ton. I weighed 92lbs. Fast forward to 27. Friends visited and said “you lost your cheeks!” I am a few months away from 58. I’ve actually had filler done a couple of times now. Not a lot. Now I’m told “you look so young”. No Botox. No other fillers. Looking gaunt when you get older really ages you.
I'm a 24 year old male who got this procedure done last year and it honestly ruined my face. I had very large cheeks previously and thought I was a good candidate but when the buccal fat was removed, it created hollows in the back part of my cheeks while the front part of my cheeks (jowl area and malar fat pad) remained just as full as before, giving me the appearance of jowls in my 20's. Please think twice before going through with this procedure and if the warnings online don't dissuade you from going through with it, then at the very least make sure you ask the surgeon to be conservative in the amount he/she removes. I asked mine to be slightly on the aggressive side and it was the biggest mistake of my life.
Oh no, sorry you are going through that. I lost my back teeth and now my cheeks are sunken in like people are desiring with this surgery. I dont care for the look
One thing people seem to ignore is that removing fat cushions is not a sculpting operation. The cushion is the shape it is, and the end result is determined by its natural shape, not by the surgeon's sculpting ability. This is very different from a nose job where bone, cartilage and muscle can be precisely shaped a certain way. There is never any telling what the final result will be when fat cushions get removed. Surgeons need to get better at communicating this to potential clients, or if they can't, they need to stop offering this service.
@@renzo9678 Fat transfer would involve messing around with what this video says shouldn't be messed around with. Fillers don't go deep enough, and if they tried that, they would again mess with what shouldn't be messed with, AND they would bulge and look lumpy.
1. Too much discomfort during surgery 2. Facial nerve, blood vessel, & parotid duck risk 3. Not achieving desired looks 4. Anxiety about the procedures 5. Lack of knowledge about long-term effects 6. Seniors stopped doing the surgery
There's something about the vulnerability and the experience he describes that really brings it home for me too. Often surgeons are kind of condescending. I don't see that in him & it's beyond refreshing! Mutual respect for this doctor!
This surgery became a fever 5 years ago, here in Brazil (A LOT of people were doing it, especially because it wasn't as expensive as other procedures). Now, there are MANY people complaining of sagging on their face, speeding up aging looks
This makes sense. When whatever part of your facial anatomy is removed, the result is saggy skin since the skin was there to cover everything. I did jaw Botox and experience that first hand, after the muscle was weak, my face is very saggy. Now, think about a significant about if fat that define your facial profile is removed, where skin is going to go? Sagging
@@tadasrirathung9492 thank you for being brave and selfless by sharing your experience. I've been skeptical about Botox for years regarding its mechanism. You're right, it essentially paralyzes the muscle, and therefore, it atrophies in the long run. What's unfortunate is that face exercises are futile once atrophy occurs, because it's not like we can do facial weight lift training to regain its muscle. There are also plenty of examples to look at of folks that have worn off Botox who can't afford maintenance. It's tragic for the ones that are in their 40's and above in particular, since they're less resistant to progressive atrophy effects...the aging from atrophy is aggressive in this group. What's mind boggling is that we'll soon have examples of teens and twenty something year olds as well. I wonder if the effects would be as drastic as their older counterparts.
Timing coincidences with Bella Hadids fame exploding. She is the poster child of buccal fat removal. Just prooves that copying your idols will do no good.
There was literally a commercial FOR buccal fat removal right before this video! The advertisers need to get their stuff together, cause not all key worlds go with products.
When you're describing the feeling of knowing that you have that on your schedule and having these uncertainties, it really humanizes you, and surgeons in general. Thank you for that. We tend to think of surgeons as capable of super human feats, and you are, in many cases. But it's good to see you tapping into your intuition (those pre surgical butterflies) Tapping into those emotions and then honoring them by saying "hey this is a no go. I don't like how I feel." That's true power. Your surgeon expresses their concerns and issues a denial bc he cares about you, in totality, as a human being. If someone that educated is telling you no, there's a good reason. Well done doctor. Well done. 💖
I turned 40 last year. I'm so glad this wasn't a trend in my 20s. I look in the mirror now and can see an obvious loss of facial fat - I've reached that stage we all used to joke about 'choose between your face and your butt'. Everyone having this done now is going to regret it later, trust me.
Love how this surgeon actually speaks about something that happen. Surgeons hardly ever admit any complications they have encountered. Every Doctor has some sort of issue in their career big or small and it's usually not even their fault it's just the risk you take when going under the knife. Big props to him!
Yep, you can go to the best surgeon in the world and still have complications, because no one can predict how your body will react to surgery, it's trauma to the body.
I’m 45 and have no intention of having plastic surgery. I find it quite scary. But I truly enjoy your videos. I find it interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience with us ❤
Wow Dr Gary. Theatre/icu nurse here. How refreshing listening to a surgeon explain why they aren’t comfortable doing a particular surgery and admitting they are human. Totally respect.
didn’t have this surgery but did have a parotidectomy to remove a tumor and 6 years later I still have some numbness in the lower part of my jawline as well as some nerve damage. My point is - like you said, it’s a very vascular area and even though I had a fantastic surgeon there are so many things that can go wrong. Not with the risk IMO
My aunt had the same surgery to remove a tumor this past year and one side of her face was left completely paralyzed and one of her eyes was left open because the surgery resulted in a damaged nerve. After doing a nerve transplant she’s going through physical therapy to recuperate control over her face.
It's really important for a doctor to be comfortable performing the surgery. Once my dad was finishing a c section and a nurse burst into the OR and told him if he could help other doctor that was having trouble with his surgery. He walks into the room and sees the patient basically bleeding to death with a huge pool on the floor and the doctor was just grabbing his head like "wtf is going on". So my dad gets there and starts putting clamps everywhere to try to find the source of the bleeding while asking for blood so the patient didn't die. Then the other doctor regained composure and managed to assist my dad. I don't remember what kind of surgery it was originally, but the bleeding was in the instestines and my dad is a ginecologist so yeah, not necessarily his field. They managed to stabilize the patient and she lived. As a doctor you have to be absolutely in control if the situation, imagine if you got anxious before the procedure and something like this happens, if you find yourself in a pool of blood and if you don't act quickly enough then you will have a tremendous lawsuit... No thanks!! If you are not comfortable I find it very good for you not to do this procedure anymore. My dad stopped delivering because he just didn't want to be woken in the middle of the night anymore. Not every doctor has to do every kind of procedure 👍
My brother 'lost his girlfriend, for an unexpected 'bleed' during surgery for something else (in Mexico). He went down to Mexico, and he did, which I thought would cause him too much grief to even go again, He fell of the wagon, and died there himself. So sad. In surgery I have known so many where something happened and they didn't make it. Loved ones are so hurt.
Working for today’s beauty industry I’ve notice that there’s a lot of vanity and surgeons that are all about the money . Seen how this surgeon is passion about his job makes me have more respect towards him!!
Reason #5 is a HUGE consideration. I've been reviewing a few types of cranio-facial surgical procedures (I need some restoration[s] due to fractures: Orbital, zygomatic), and in my viewing I've seen some techniques which have given me pause to wonder how well these applications will translate, over time. Your videos are so-appreciated, Dr.. Comprehensive, direct, balanced, and HUMAN, the approaches to your Craft AND to education re: same, are invaluable. Thank you for all that you do.
@@drgarylinkov Hello Dr I’m 56 & have full face and no definition I’m in Virginia and now getting a necklift surgery and my Dr recommended buccal fat removal alongside necklift. Question will removing buccal fat expedite the upper face slide down meaning upper cheeks fat and muscles?
When I was 20 I seriously considered having this surgery since even though I was underweight I always had big chubby cheeks. My mother and grandmother also had big cheeks which sagged down as they aged. I was convinced I needed it! Now that I'm older, I'm so happy I didn't go through with it cause my face eventually balanced out and I still look young. Thanks Dr. Gary for raising awareness on this surgery ❤️
@@jonathanogobochie9913 I would say around 23-25 I started looking more and more "gaunt". I'm in my 30s now and people still think I'm in my early 20s. I think if you were to have this surgery it would be best later in life when you have very noticeable buccal fat sagging. Like maybe in your 50s?
“even though i was underweight i always had big chubby cheeks” ugh omg same 😓 i’m still pretty young but it sucks seeing other people who are underweight and having a sculpted face compared to me, but i’m trying to learn how to accept myself
This video is a perfect example of why I will watch anything you put out. My face is lean, I don't need a hair transplant (for example) but your thoughtful, informative, balanced views on plastic surgery are such a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
Totally agree! It’s clear that he not only has a passion for what he does, but he also cares immensely about his patients. The level of ethics with which he approaches his job is what you need from every surgeon, especially those who do elective surgeries.
His voice is literally ASMR soooo soothing. I just feel calmed listening lol. Anyway ... Can we just appreciate his *HONESTY* !!!!!! like foreal. These are the surgeons I trust.. I love that u said you didn't enjoy risking your mental health to do these procedures!!!
I had pretty round cheeks until my 30s, and if I’d had access to this sort of surgery I might have done it - but I didn’t. Now at 42 I’ve naturally lost so much facial fat that I have a rather “editorial” look. Thank goodness for my buccal fat, without which I’d be downright skeletal-looking. I know I’ll probably get there in a couple decades, but it’s nice to get some additional time with a more youthful face.
Always had a rounder “Asian-like” face, now that I’m almost 40 my face is starting to thin out and I love it! My cheeks are still full too but I know losing fat in your face as you age is natural.
I’ve always had quite a round face and quite full cheeks especially with my high cheekbones, it just accentuates it even more. And for years I thought I’d want this surgery because ‘it must be easy and quite straightforward and a solution to this major insecurity of mine’. Because all of social media growing up, I wanted those more hollowed out model-like cheeks/defined jawline. But after watching this video, I realised that the risks aren’t even worth it. Thank you for this! It’s really made me think twice about how I look at myself
@@ALT-vz3jn agree completely, same age as you and I now have finally lost my chubby cheeks and now I look still in my 20s and those I went to school with look really tired and worn now. SPF50 and a decent night cream are my secrets.
@@ALT-vz3jn Fat goes down anyway, but you don't end up with sculpted cheeks at a later age. You 'may' seem younger to some for a while. Think Sally Field.
You’ll be so happy you had a round face later on, when you’re older...I FINALLY have cheek bones at nearly 50, look decades younger, and finally feel attractive!
I had buccal fat removal complications too and at the time, not much information was out about this procedure (this was about 3-4 years ago) and at the time, I was told it’s just a ‘simple procedure’ with the risks being ‘possible assymetry’ etc. my surgeon didn’t tell me everything (even though he was a cranial facial surgeon). I do not regret it and Luckily, it didn’t do anything very dangerous but I cannot chew on the left side anymore. I’m glad that you are putting this information out there for anyone considering it.
@@checkthefishbox8556 no feeling it’s really numb. Not sure why but I’ve gotten use to it and just happy that my facial symmetry has returned. It was really bad.
My friend had it done in the DR and as you said she was shocked and unprepared for how much pain she felt, she also had chin lipo. She then had these daily massages to reduce swelling and liquid and she said it was the worst. I myself consulted that doctor and he never told me about the very painful part of it
As a colleague I very much respect you for being honest about your own complications and insecurities around performing certain surgeries. Presenting only your best results and neglecting to mention things that did not go so well on social media seems unethical to me. And we all know none of us only have great results and are never nervous.
I'm so glad I didn't know about this procedure when I was in my early twenties. I've always had a "chubby" looking face due to my cheeks (even though I was very skinny) and very much disliked them. Now that I'm my thirties, I am noticing a loss of volume around that area and my face looks so much more sculpted due to that (also, recent weight loss helped). I love it. If I had done this procedure, I'm sure I'd look weird now!
so true, so many female celebrities get this procedure to give them sculpted cheek bones and it matures their face, but as they age it makes them look way older
I'm 30 and still have them they drop and looks like I don't have a jaw line..I don't have double chin it's just that..I think because they are so heavy they look like🐶..all my family older family have them and they have their buccal hanging I don't want to have that look they look older than people that don't have buccal fat naturally o big cheeks
Refreshing to hear a doctor and your thought process and concern for the patient. I know when I leave work I think about my patients as a nurse so I can only imagine the distress you go through as a doctor after a surgery and the outcome isn’t what was intended. I’m glad after a few months your patient regained her mobility in her face. I can appreciate why you just decided against doing it. Too high risk.
Good on you for sticking with your principles and ditching a surgery you didn't feel comfortable with rather than continue doing it for cash at the risk of your patients' well being.
I love honesty and consider that to be the top quality, especially in the medical field. There are risks in every procedure, but knowing them, and discussing then openly with your doctor is a top priority! Thank you Dr.Gary for opening up, and for choosing to put the patient #1!
Soooo glad you made this. The only thing I've seen doctors talk about before is the reluctance to do this with people without prominent cheekbones. This was much, much more detailed, so thank you for taking the time to talk us through it.
This is one of those surgeries that was always at the top of my list to get because I love the chiseled face look. I have a heart shaped face that is definitely more round when I'm heavier. I opted out not to do it due to videos like yours. I realize that initially it might look good and give you confidence but later on, there could be a lot of regrets with what you did to your face. I'll just stick to contouring my face with makeup on occasion. Not invasive and you can wash it off lol.
Such a smart decision- especially since trends and beauty standards are moving and changing at such a rapid pace due to social media compared to past generations
About 7 years ago I had my wisdom teeth taken out , and I had some complications and needed 3 bone grafts in my jaw. As a result of these I had some temporary nerve damage in my face. One side of my lips and the area around it was totally numb or tingly for about a month or so. It was very uncomfortable and I was pretty freaked out cause I didnt' know if it was going to be permanant. I was very relieved when my face finally felt normal again. I appreciate your care for your patient greatly, and that their experience impacted you so much. I feel like because with our hands and mirrors we can't descern how much complicated stuff is happening inside our cheeks/ surrounding facial area the risks of a deceptively simple procedure are not inherantly apparent or considered by the average person. Having a doctor detail it all was incredibly helpful, thank you.
I had this surgery done 16 years ago at the age of 20. I can say the results were pretty drastic for me as I naturally had very full cheeks on top of baby fat. The hallows themselves were nice but I was left with the fat around the buccal. It made me look way older as if I was in my 30’s. Now at 36 I have so much excess skin in my jowls. I look 10 years older and have a very unnatural aging to my midface. Can a facelift restore the unnatural sagging from this procedure? I’m so glad you mentioned this procedure and the real risks of this on a young face. I didn’t think anyone still preformed this.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m 20 years old now, and very interested in Buccal fat removal. I keep hearing about people’s experiences with them feeling like they look more aged, but then again there also a lot of people who have had good experiences and some whom I think look pretty good with their results
Thank you for sharing your experience! I am 23 yet had a doctor (who had my file with all my information on it) think I just turned 18. Sometimes people seem to think I'm even younger due to my baby face. While I didn't have any procedure in mind to fix it, It is something I have considered changing. Your story, and the video, has helped me decide to focus more on making my face look less feminine instead of worrying about the extra fat. (I'm non binary and my end goal is to be androgynous so I can use clothing or makeup to present one way or the other)
I wish more Dr's were as ethical as you. It's truly refreshing to hear a Doctor saying that if "they don't enjoy it they don't do it, regardless of the money". That says a lot about what kind of doctor you are. Sometimes, plastic surgeons get an ego thinking they can do any surgery. I like the fact that you recognized that it wasn't for you. You won yourself another subscriber!!
Hi there! I had buccal fat removal a few years ago. I’m a 33 year old male who had facial atrophy and I had a lot of fat to my lower face. I’ve always felt insecure about how I looked. After getting my surgery though, my face is more symmetrical, the lower half of my face isn’t heavy anymore, it really slimmed out and went from looking square to more round. My jaw line has become more defined and I also am told by my family that it revealed my smile. A nice bonus is that it really defined my cheekbones! Everyone’s case is different but buccal fat removal surgery was the best decision for me and I am so glad I went forward with it. It is good to do research and watch videos like this but do your rounded research. Get information from all sides and be confident this is what you want :)
@@angelma6180 Judging by your profile picture, you are already very beautiful just the way you are! Your face looks very nice the way it already is, so honestly it’s probably not a good idea or worth the risk of doing a surgery like this that can have bad side effects or permanently disfigure your face. I have a round face too and used to be insecure about it, but the older I get the more thankful I am for my naturally round face & cheeks because it makes me look younger!
I have a similar issue. Major facial atrophy and I have oversized fat pads on my lower face. This stuff is partially genetic and partially due to severe TMD that affected the bone-growth and facial musculature. It's not cute and youthful and I deal with a lot of asymmetry as well. I'm going to be having this done soon. I think if it weren't for my atrophy it wouldn't bother me so much. My lower face sticks out about 30% more than my upper face when I smile and I'm average weight. I'm happy to hear that lots of people are embracing their cheeks but I'm not one of those people.
Finally someone on my side. I had it done three years ago. I still have big cheeks but i am more contoured now and i have a nice jaw shape. So in a way it helped me in fact it seemed lacking to me cuz how they describe it now is insane as if everyone has the same results
I'm sure these videos help the majority of people, but im in the same boat as you. Only a small percentage of us are actually good candidates for this surgery. I'm happy with my results, and people don't notice I've had anything done bc I still have a round face.
Well to be fair, almost everything has a negative to it. Its always up to the personal assessment of suffering. At least dont do it, if you dont think about doing it every day. If so : do it. And just because this surgeon has anxiety, that doesnt mean the other surgeons are actually lying. It could be an easy operation for them. The only fact that speaks against this operation is, that many experienced doctors allegedly stopped doing this. On the other hand, every experienced doctor will logically stop their operations at some point because they accumulate negative experiences over time. Meaning a knee surgeon will stop doing knee surgeries after 30 years (because he did it for 30 years) and probably tell that it is risky.
I have so much respect for you coming out and saying this. You are exactly the kind of healthcare professional we need in practice these days. This is wonderful to hear that- hey plainly this is why I stopped doing this and here are complications. Love it!! I sincerely hope more doctors and people follow suit.
It’s a sign of a great surgeon who advises against getting certain procedures. When you’re an older lady like me, you’ll be glad you have some fullness in the face - it’s what helps you look naturally more youthful versus pillow face from fillers.
Dr Linkov is one smart honest surgeon, I love the fact that he presented 6 reasons why stopped doing this procedure and gave explanation for each reason. I learn a lot just by watching his videos.
Well i got a nose job and I’m so glad i did!! People will always tell you that you look fine the way you are and all that !! But in reality is you doing it for yourself and not anyone else.
I really appreciate your honesty! I had considered getting plastic surgery in the future, but after watching your channel I feel like I should accept myself more as I am and that plastic surgery is not risk free. I especially like that you shared what could go wrong and your personal experience. Thank you for being very honest and sharing your knowledge with us!
The transparency in this video is the most refreshing and honorable thing I’ve ever heard come from a surgeons mouth. Your integrity is first class and you have my respect dear sir 🥇🙌🏼 Btw, I live in NYC and I’ll be checking you out for my next procedure.
Kudos to you. Not every doctor out there is willing to admit their limits. The fact that you are able to articulate that a certain service is just not yours to provide shows a really high level of the type of humility that EVERY doctor should have. Your patients are lucky to have you.
Sir, i have to say, you look absolutely gorgeous with no hair (not saying you were looking worse with hair), your facial features (eye shape, jawline etc.) had became more visible and you look like a statue made by Michelangelo! Absolutely stunning!
Your honesty as a doctor/surgeon is very refreshing. It shows how secured you are as a doctor even tho you're talking about our insecurity about doing the procedure. I appreciate your sharing, it is much appreciated!
I really appreciate this nuanced and intelligent take! It’s awesome to see someone putting their own mental health and the mental and physical well-being of their patients ahead of money - real integrity move!
I really appreciate your description (and honesty), Dr. Linkov. So many people just consider what they look like currently and not what they may look like in 20-30 years. I've seen many who had baby face fat when young adults, look younger when older. Be thankful for youthful features, even with self-perceived imperfections (you'll wish for those days in the future).
I really appreciate this frank discussion. I was interested in a procedure that many surgeons have stopped offering. Understanding why a surgeon makes this choice has given me a lot of empathy and gratitude. Thank you for educating me.
I love watching your videos for your honesty and intelligence. I feel it's easy to get caught up in analyzing our faces and thinking all these procedures we see celebrities do could be for us. Many of your videos have discouraged me from contemplating procedures for the future. I know that isn't your goal, but I appreciate it.
@@drgarylinkov a thought I keep returning to when seeing pre and post photos is...but they looked so good before! It's so important for someone like you to be the voice of reason for prospective patients. I think this type of medical intervention will become (if it hasn't already) extremely relevant as we approach a more visually motivated culture. We're not meat Legos, and you're not a therapist--but your authority could have a lifelong impact on someone's psychological health.
Hi Dr. Linkov, I just discovered your channel yesterday and I am very impressed with your knowledge, your straight-forward approach, and you seem so relaxed and comfortable in front of the screen, or camera, whatever you are in front of, that you make this a very pleasant viewing. And you make it interesting and your voice is soothing, unlike some other plastic surgery commenters who are just too loud or animated. So, I've just subscribed and look forward to more! Thank you.
Don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard such a down to earth Dr/Surgeon! Everyone is trying to sell you something. I’m a new fan! Thanks for this video! I look forward to more
I just recently went to a Facial Feminization consultation and my surgeon suggested buccal fat removal but I’m glad I was firm on not wanting it because at the time I was just was not convinced I needed it and this video solidified that! I just recently stumbled on this channel preparing for my surgery and wow! Great videos, excellent formatting!!! Any plans to do a video on FFS procedures? I understand that may not be a procedure you do but I think it could be insightful regardless!
Obviously I don’t know what you look like, but it’s interesting to me that your doctor would suggest this as part of feminization surgery, because I really don’t like how gaunt my face looks because I think it makes me look manly. I personally love girls with round faces (probably because you like what you don’t have lol) and I really hope this “trend” doesn’t catch on!!!!
@@taylorgayhart9497 I had asked what were their suggestions, however I already knew what I wanted and didn’t want I just wanted their input. I completely agree and it’s what I told them, I like the ‘adorableness’ of not having super contoured cheeks! I’m not really a fan of the look, but sometimes trans femme ppl feel like they may need these things to feel safe or feminine. To each is their own but it is always good to be informed
Hope your ffs procedures go well in the future! As a round faced afab nb, I’ve always felt the pressure to lose the face fat to look less feminine so it’s interesting they recommend it for a feminization procedure. Depending on jaw shape it might be why?
I have no idea why RUclips recommended this vid, but I was riveted tbh. So nice to see a surgeon admit to bad experiences, and to hear you say it was also partially a mental health decision for you was so interesting. Ty for sharing!
I'm so glad you made this video. For some reason I was under the impression this was a pretty easy procedure. So glad I have been disabused of that notion.
Thank you for highlighting this topic. I'm Dentist and I'll never forget the day when I found out about buccal fat removal surgery. My dad who was a Otorhinolaryngologist told me first about it. He also did Plastic surgery when it was needed. But when I found out about this... It seemed to me so useless... Because I thought Plastic surgery had the purpose to help when needed. The women I saw taking the surgery were beautiful and young, and after the surgery many times they looked like aliens, unnatural and strange. And I know it was a risky surgery to do too.
Anyone who gets these facial fat removed, age about 10 years. No matter the surgeon. I respect this surgeons honesty. If I could afford some tweaks here and there, I’d go to this Dr.
I really appreciate your perspective and honesty about your anxieties when it comes to this surgery. It’s important to go to a surgeon who has a lot of experience and is extremely confident performing the specific surgery you’re looking for. I had it done 3 years ago when I was 24. I sure as hell don’t look like Bella Hadid but I’m very happy with the results. I’m hoping my lack of buccal fat pads won’t ruin my face when I’m older though!
Hi Dr, I have such respect and admiration for you specifically because you have made decisions based not only what you feel would not be in the best interest for your practice but also on what you know is often not in the best interest for your patients. I’ve been an RN for more years than I care to admit 😊 and have worked Peri-op for going on 9 of those years. Working with Surgeons like you are a breath of fresh air. Ty for putting out informative and entertaining videos. 😁
I’ve been wanting to have this done for years and this helped bring me to my final decision. The risks aren’t worth a little bit of fullness in my lower face. Thank you for explaining this in such detail!
I've grown accustomed to my round face over the years and even in my mid-30s I still get mistaken for a teenager. I think buccal fat makes a good cushion! I'm glad doctors like you are saying no to certain surgeries in the cosmetic arena. I can only imagine the ones with practices in places like New York and Los Angeles who feel the pressure and temptation of extra money and networking to perform surgeries on high-profile clients. Those who follow trends usually have to follow the upkeep afterwards. It's sad. I appreciate your commentary, Dr. Linkov!
Its terrifying to see how many young people are getting good done consideration to how it will age them. I've seen some photos of gorgeous young women who get this done and it ages them 10 yrs
Very informative! Thank you. I had a bichectomy 3 months ago and I'm very pleased with my results but it hurt like a b*tch! Nothing could have prepared me for that amount of pain. I did a lot of research but this video has taught me more than any if that. Also, thank you for giving me confidence boost by showing me you can still look young and sexy while having no hair as I, too, have alopecia.
Thank you for being so candid. Excellent content. I have a lot of respect for my PS (who's been practicing for 25 years), and I couldn't understand why he doesn't perform the procedure. Well, now I know.
I almost got this surgery, went to the consultation and everything. My mom convinced me not to go through with it. A few years later, I started getting Botox in my jaw to help with jaw clenching and grinding. It slimmed my face SO MUCH. Turns out, it was my jaw muscle that was making my face look too round. The botox caused the muscle to shrink and my face looks thin. I was 100% convinced it was the buccal fat… the surgeon I went to didn’t even mention that it could be the muscle. Looking back I am so grateful that I didn’t go through with it.
This was quite informative I had some facial paralysis when I was 18. Bells palsy due to a bad fall I had in a bath tub (hit my neck). Luckily for me I regained full function of my face due to the treatment I was given, but have a bit of asymmetry which I don't mind. Nice to learn about the nerves in the face.
Hey Dr Gary Linkov, Vet student here. This is super interesting and I found your explanation of anatomy really helpful. Please walk us through the pros and cons of other surgeries because I love to learn! Thank you and great video!
Buccal fat saved my life, teeth, and face. Had someone accidentally shoot me in the face. The bullet entered my smile line, tunneled in my cheek, shattered my jaw, and exited behind my ear. Other than a tiny dimple in my smile line, you can't tell anything happened. I love my buccal fat.
Really amazing. Thanks for sharing.
The body puts fats, bones and hair where protection is needed. It's just fascinating
holy cow! so glad you're okay now
Oh my goodness. Thank u for sharing your story. God Bless Buccal Fat:)
@@mustangnawt1 lol
I recently spoke to a hair dresser and he said something to me that really made me rethink my look. I said “if I don’t straighten my hair it’s wild and all over the place” he said “Then let it be wild and all over the place, this is your hair style.” Since then I approach everything on my body this way. As long as you’re healthy work with your unique beauty. Not saying plastic surgery is wrong, if it makes you feel good do it! :)
I can definitely understand ! I have curly hair and I always wondered why my curls would never be as defined as all these girls on instagram. It made me very sad. Now I realise that to have definition, I have to abandon volume and it makes my face horribly flat. I am now very happy with my wild poof of hair !
@@maelyssferreiro2539Your hair is too dry probably
Its definitely better to work with what you have instead of against it!
@@427skies I have a lot of hair but it's thin so definition makes it look really flat.
I just decided to prioritize volume over definition.
But I do feel like I have a dry hair issue with the recent state of my ends. Do you know how I could fix that ?
“As long as you’re healthy”
Noted. 👎
Another baby-faced woman here. I hated being called 'cute' up until my late twenties, having to show my ID until my early thirties. I wanted to have cheekbones so badly and no matter how much I worked out & how skinny I got, my cheekbones wouldn't show up. I just turned 43 and finally I get to see definition & structure. People also always get my age wrong (~10 years younger) and that's what a baby face will help you with as you age. I've never been happier with how I look. Also: use your SPF! 👌🏻
Story of my life. I was 23 being mistaken for a 16-year-old. I'm 33 now and not much has changed and not a single wrinkle in sight. Just have to accept this reality
@@dollyrevenge98 poor you 😅 sorry I can't feel bad for someone in their 30s with no wrinkles
Same lol I’m almost 40 and my round face and cheeks are still here lol I hated it as a teen and in my 20s, but now I love it so muchhhhh!! Aging slower and less wrinkles 😊
:( I wish that were me. My face has always been suuuuuper chubby, even though I'm, genetically, very skinny (115 lbs at 5'8.)
In my 20s I used to be ok with my chubby cheeks, but now, in my mid 30s, the gravity is taking its toll and all that plumpiness is kinda dropping around the sides of my mouth, dragging my mouth corners and creating horrible wrinkles. Sometimes it looks like I have a blonde moustache.
I know I should be ok with it and not get lost in the vanity of it all. But it's been years since I was able to look in the mirror for more than 10 seconds and not feel like I'm deformed...
I am super cute and love my buccal fat!
Wow. A doctor that's honest about not feeling confident in his surgical skill and stops doing the procedure. Bravo
I actually do NOT see it as him being uncomfortable with his skill. I see that he is wise in deciding not to do a very risky surgery that is very uncomfortable for the patient and may ultimately be something that does not have the desired results. Additionally, not sure if he is going to mention it yet - but I see that does not “age” well.
*whose, not that's 😉👍🏻
@@Ultamami Don't you have anything better to do?
@@pou618 don't sweat it, your comment was easy to understand and grammar doesn't matter as much in informal conversational settings. Funny thing is they didn't even correct you correctly lol! 'whose' is possessive, they meant to say 'who's' which is a contraction of 'who is'.
@@Ultamami how is "that's/that is" not correct? "A doctor that is not feeling confident" makes complete sense.
"Who is" (not whom, whom is possessive) would be more proper of grammar, because "that" implies an object whereas "who" implies an individual; but otherwise the same point is made, and "that is" sounds more like natural speech where as "who is" would sound more formal.
Honestly, if you're gonna be One Of Those People at least be correct.
I had a consultation for buccal fat removal when I was 20 and the surgeon said no, to give it time for my baby fat to go away. By 26, I finally started to see my facial structure showing and I was satisfied. Now in my late 30s I'm starting to look slightly hollow in that area. I'm so glad I didn't do the surgery. I can't even imagine how gaunt I'd look at this point.
Thank goodness you had a doctor that wasn't in it for the money!
PEOPLE DONT REALIZE THAT THE SAFEST WAY TO HAVE A MORE SCULPTURED FACE IS TO JUST EXERCISE, SPECIFICALLY RUNNING. WHEN HAVE YOU EVER SEEN. A MARATHON RUNNER OR SPRINTER WITH A FULL FACE.??ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE A GOOD FACIAL STRUCTURE. IVE TRIED THIS LAST YEAR AND NOW I CAN SAY MY FACE IS SLIMMER. AND ALSO REMOVE SUGAR AND HAVE A CALORIC DEFICIT
@@dggjr1759 not true for everyone. At 100 pounds I'm very thin and tiny and had a full face. People carry weight genetically in different areas of their body.
@@marissac713 Did you exercise or was on a strict diet?? I’ve also been thin all my life and even still was struggling with a full face, until now
@@dggjr1759 eating healthy and working out helps to have less bloat but my face is definitly still round lol
Everyone wants to know about his surgeries, I just want to know his skincare routine
Lots of SPF
Please!
Yes please, I thik you skin looks amazing!!
Yup 😂🙌🏿
p
I have a HUGE amount of respect for you as a plastic surgeon who did a surgery, encountered a complication, was not only completely honest but also made sure to completely eliminate it from practice to prevent recurrence OVER a surgeon who denies their complications, continues to perform risky surgery, or claims that just because nothing HAS never gone wrong that nothing WILL
Ethics should be goal #1 for a HCP that will be cutting into you!!
So much respect for this video. Usually we think of doctors/surgeons like people who CAN NEVER make a mistake, so seeing a human talking about his fears, insecurities and anxiety is just amazing. Huge congrats for staying humble!
No, we think of them as people who SHOULDN'T make mistakes, which is worse.
Trust is in his hands
Some of us have also come to think of them that way because a lot of them get nasty or sarcastic when questioned. Many don't like to admit that they don't know everything about their field. It's ridiculous. 🥴👍🏼
@@HerHallOfMirrors94 haha, welcome to the world of surgeons! They tend to be a certain ilk, much like IT guys, you can always tell the IT table at a Christmas doo😄
@@teaspoonsofpeanutbutter6425 😅
As a round faced woman who has always dreamed of a more chiseled face, I thank you for your honesty. You have changed my mind.
I didnt knew having afuller face wanst seen good in america, think that later you will look younger than your peers
@@jjba3571 Speaking for myself, I’ve always felt my round full face makes me look heavier in pictures than what I am. So the thought of a thinner, more defined face made me feel like I’d achieve the right look. But I agree, people always think I’m in my 20s when I’m almost 40 😱
Ya same
I like my round face because it makes me feel younger and more innocent looking, which I’d prefer over looking intimidating, dramatic, or defined.
@@1rage17 Cool
My grandfather was a plastic surgeon, but his specialty was reconstructive plastic surgery. He helped so many burn victims, gunshot wound victims, cleft palates, etc. My aunt took off after him and also dedicated her life to helping accident victims. Now my cousin is on the same path. Plastic surgery gets a rap like it’s for vanity only, but I’ve witnessed first hand what a surgeon can do to help and improve patients lives
Agreed. A friend had her horribly ripped ear (dog attack) repaired by the "on call" ED plastic surgeon resident. She patiently used 147 stitches to reconstruct my friend's ear. The end result was wonderful, a barely perceptible "scar" due to unavoidable tissue loss. The before/after photos are amazing.
Oh wow. That’s awesome! Did you end up following your grandfathers footsteps and becoming a plastic surgeon as well? My friend had a similar situation. Her dad was an optometrist - an eye doctor - and she ended up following suit, and so did her sister. She’s 26, and is making the big bucks. Lol. Which is awesome. Kind of cool how one family member falls into a profession, and then other family members follow suit. 💕
well said.reconstructive surgery helped me to live a normal life
That’s wonderful
I was part of an accident as a toddler and a plastic surgeon reconstructed the tip of my nose. I've always had a scar, but am so thankful to the surgeon that that is all.
I've work with dental surgeons for years now and I remember when they did this procedure for practice, like between them, assistants, friends, family and they asked me because I have a roundish face and I said no out of fear, fear of something going wrong, fast aging, sagging etc and everyone made fun of me. Now they regret it and I'm thankful for once trusting my intuition
Such a gross request, yikes
The fact that they were doing this illegally, and then making fun of you for not doing it, is highly concerning!!! I’m glad you listened to yourself and not others!!!
*worked
Why would dental surgeons learn and practice this procedure??
What?! Plastic surgery like... apprentice tattoos?! Absolutely not, that's insane to me
I will NEVER forget the pain that I have felt when the surgeon pulled out the fatpad. It was horrible, and I wish I had seen this video earlier since I was worried that my surgeon hadnt given me enough local anaesthesia. Even though I'm very happy with my buccal fat removal, I can tell anyone considering this procedure: you WILL look older and maybe more masculine. And during the removal, you will suffer unfortunately.
This comment was really intense. Made me squeamish. But I appreciate the raw honesty. These perspectives are necessary
Ew. Sorry that just grossed me out. He pulled it out like a steak?
@@melonie_peppers i can’t handle this comment it’s making my skin crawl 😭😭a steak 😭😭😭
Your face don't look hollow though
@@shabnamsuhrab82 It will when she's older. 😬😬😬
I think it’s easy to forget that doctors are human…I appreciate how you talked about the anxiety around buccal fat removal. As a patient you want your surgeon to feel as ease, and if a type of surgery is causing uncertainty then best not to do it. Much respect for that approach!
I agree , why take your self threw that , all money isn't good money
I concur!
Agree but sometimes this is due to doctors being unwilling to admit they're human. I have encountered a couple of family docs who were extremely arrogant with a terrible exam table manner.
jesus! i still have nightmares when i accidentally exposed my patient's buccal fat. i still get panicked whenever i think about it. it was a nightmare for me. the goal was to remove the 3rd molar, not remove his fat. thank God i was not so stupid and cut the fat.
@@noshrinkingviolet007 Arrogant doctors are scourges to their profession. Of what use are they to their patients, if they cannot connect with them as humans (instead of as 'cases'; or pathologies)? In my opinion, they may do more harm than good.
Always had a baby face and hated it. Like most young women I wanted a more chiseled sexy look. Now I am 28 and thank god I did not mess with my face! People still think I am 22 and I get complimented on my defined cheeks all the time... like people put filler in their face to get my cheeks. Please Please wait until your mid 20s to start permanently changing your appearance! You are literally not grown until 25 and beauty trends change so fast. Thanks Dr.Linkov for sharing!
Thanks a lot for this comment. I’ve been very insecure about my cheeks for years and seriously considering buccal fat removal. Until now nothing could change my mind but thanks to your comment and this video I’m slowly starting to reconsider this decision and will try to accept my baby face more :)
At 35 I look 26 please don’t remove your cheeks
Same, I wanted a buccal fat removal so bad, but was never able to do it and now I'm so glad! Now at 27 most of that fat is gone, but whatever little is left makes me look very youthful, people also think I'm 22/23. Also I've seen people who did it very young and after a couple years they need to inject fat into their faces to bring back support and structure.
so true, so many female celebrities get this procedure to give them sculpted cheek bones and it matures their face, but as they age it makes them look way older
Same here! In my twenties I was complaining about my round face and that my face would loose fat the last. Now I am beginning of 30 and I am so thankful to have this genetics. I look like 20. It is a blessing. Ladies dont freak out too much on your appearance. Your view on the things might change in the future.
I have strong feelings on this, I was bullied about my nose for years, or so I felt, so I went to see a surgeon to finally fix it at 24. I don't know why but something kicked in when I was in his office which had pictures of children in Africa with Noma, a facial condition that eats the tissue and causes disfigurement. I decided the bullies had the problem and not me, and I never looked back and didn't do it. If we could nurture our souls the way we do our looks..
Good to see your confidence 👍🎉
What people say usually says more about themselves than others. You were totally right, it's those bullies who had the issue, not you and how you were born. 💙
Aw I love you
Just: wow ✊🙏
I’m 32 and got this procedure done about 1.5 yrs ago. I’ve always had chubby cheeks and teased about it. I’m really glad my surgeon was conservative with the amount although at first I wasn’t sure if he took out enough. I go back and forth with being glad / regretting the change. My advice would be to please really think hard about any sort of plastic surgery- it’s rare to get 100% of the results that you want and get someone reputable
I would think at 30 that any buccal fat you have you're probably stuck with so a mild surgery at that time would make sense but anyone under 30 probably doesn't need this procedure.
Why do u regret?
@@agdorenthis is exactly what i wish more people talked about. our faces change so much as we age so it’s ridiculous people who are in their late teens and early 20s are even getting this done when their faces haven’t even fully matured
Agreed. I wanted boobs for 20 years and finally got them. They look good, but the shape was nicer before.
@@agdorenI totally agree. If you look at my pictures from high school you would have thought I weighed a ton. I weighed 92lbs.
Fast forward to 27. Friends visited and said “you lost your cheeks!”
I am a few months away from 58. I’ve actually had filler done a couple of times now. Not a lot. Now I’m told “you look so young”. No Botox. No other fillers.
Looking gaunt when you get older really ages you.
I'm a 24 year old male who got this procedure done last year and it honestly ruined my face. I had very large cheeks previously and thought I was a good candidate but when the buccal fat was removed, it created hollows in the back part of my cheeks while the front part of my cheeks (jowl area and malar fat pad) remained just as full as before, giving me the appearance of jowls in my 20's.
Please think twice before going through with this procedure and if the warnings online don't dissuade you from going through with it, then at the very least make sure you ask the surgeon to be conservative in the amount he/she removes. I asked mine to be slightly on the aggressive side and it was the biggest mistake of my life.
Oh no, sorry you are going through that. I lost my back teeth and now my cheeks are sunken in like people are desiring with this surgery. I dont care for the look
One thing people seem to ignore is that removing fat cushions is not a sculpting operation. The cushion is the shape it is, and the end result is determined by its natural shape, not by the surgeon's sculpting ability. This is very different from a nose job where bone, cartilage and muscle can be precisely shaped a certain way.
There is never any telling what the final result will be when fat cushions get removed. Surgeons need to get better at communicating this to potential clients, or if they can't, they need to stop offering this service.
Are you looking for any kind of solution? Maybe fillers o fat transfer?
@@renzo9678 Fat transfer would involve messing around with what this video says shouldn't be messed around with. Fillers don't go deep enough, and if they tried that, they would again mess with what shouldn't be messed with, AND they would bulge and look lumpy.
same thing here
1. Too much discomfort during surgery
2. Facial nerve, blood vessel, & parotid duck risk
3. Not achieving desired looks
4. Anxiety about the procedures
5. Lack of knowledge about long-term effects
6. Seniors stopped doing the surgery
A+ (except for the duck part, 🦆, 😉)
@@drgarylinkov at least you're not a quack
Dr. Linkov seems to have a rare quality--compassion. Appreciate his viewpoint.
The amount of respect I have for you after admitting to things that went wrong is immeasurable.
There's something about the vulnerability and the experience he describes that really brings it home for me too. Often surgeons are kind of condescending. I don't see that in him & it's beyond refreshing! Mutual respect for this doctor!
This surgery became a fever 5 years ago, here in Brazil (A LOT of people were doing it, especially because it wasn't as expensive as other procedures). Now, there are MANY people complaining of sagging on their face, speeding up aging looks
This makes sense. When whatever part of your facial anatomy is removed, the result is saggy skin since the skin was there to cover everything. I did jaw Botox and experience that first hand, after the muscle was weak, my face is very saggy. Now, think about a significant about if fat that define your facial profile is removed, where skin is going to go? Sagging
@@tadasrirathung9492 thank you for being brave and selfless by sharing your experience. I've been skeptical about Botox for years regarding its mechanism. You're right, it essentially paralyzes the muscle, and therefore, it atrophies in the long run. What's unfortunate is that face exercises are futile once atrophy occurs, because it's not like we can do facial weight lift training to regain its muscle. There are also plenty of examples to look at of folks that have worn off Botox who can't afford maintenance. It's tragic for the ones that are in their 40's and above in particular, since they're less resistant to progressive atrophy effects...the aging from atrophy is aggressive in this group. What's mind boggling is that we'll soon have examples of teens and twenty something year olds as well. I wonder if the effects would be as drastic as their older counterparts.
Muito legal ver outros brasileiros por aqui 😊
The biggest problem is that dentists are allowed to perform that procedure here. They're not qualified
Timing coincidences with Bella Hadids fame exploding. She is the poster child of buccal fat removal. Just prooves that copying your idols will do no good.
There was literally a commercial FOR buccal fat removal right before this video! The advertisers need to get their stuff together, cause not all key worlds go with products.
Interesting. Yeh that advertiser probably wouldn’t be happy to know they were paired with this video lol.
@@drgarylinkov 😁
I got an ad for buccal fat removal on this video too! XD
😭🤣
I got an ad for a Gua sha implement going over jaw area.
When you're describing the feeling of knowing that you have that on your schedule and having these uncertainties, it really humanizes you, and surgeons in general. Thank you for that. We tend to think of surgeons as capable of super human feats, and you are, in many cases. But it's good to see you tapping into your intuition (those pre surgical butterflies) Tapping into those emotions and then honoring them by saying "hey this is a no go. I don't like how I feel." That's true power. Your surgeon expresses their concerns and issues a denial bc he cares about you, in totality, as a human being. If someone that educated is telling you no, there's a good reason. Well done doctor. Well done. 💖
🙏
I turned 40 last year. I'm so glad this wasn't a trend in my 20s. I look in the mirror now and can see an obvious loss of facial fat - I've reached that stage we all used to joke about 'choose between your face and your butt'. Everyone having this done now is going to regret it later, trust me.
U r more than a doctor, a caring human being who takes pride in his job
I try 🙏
Love how this surgeon actually speaks about something that happen. Surgeons hardly ever admit any complications they have encountered. Every Doctor has some sort of issue in their career big or small and it's usually not even their fault it's just the risk you take when going under the knife. Big props to him!
Exactly. I love doctors that actually tell you that you souldnt do it.
They act as if nothings wrong when im complaining with post symtpoms
Yep, you can go to the best surgeon in the world and still have complications, because no one can predict how your body will react to surgery, it's trauma to the body.
I’m 45 and have no intention of having plastic surgery. I find it quite scary. But I truly enjoy your videos. I find it interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience with us ❤
I am 30 and same ❤️
Wow Dr Gary. Theatre/icu nurse here. How refreshing listening to a surgeon explain why they aren’t comfortable doing a particular surgery and admitting they are human. Totally respect.
didn’t have this surgery but did have a parotidectomy to remove a tumor and 6 years later I still have some numbness in the lower part of my jawline as well as some nerve damage. My point is - like you said, it’s a very vascular area and even though I had a fantastic surgeon there are so many things that can go wrong. Not with the risk IMO
Exactly right.
My aunt had the same surgery to remove a tumor this past year and one side of her face was left completely paralyzed and one of her eyes was left open because the surgery resulted in a damaged nerve. After doing a nerve transplant she’s going through physical therapy to recuperate control over her face.
@@GamerTubeAwesome Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that she had to go through that. I really hope she gets a full recovery. (I'm the OP lberg04)
@@Leslie-zp3ht thank you so much
Me too i still have numbness in my tummy and some part of my v
It's really important for a doctor to be comfortable performing the surgery. Once my dad was finishing a c section and a nurse burst into the OR and told him if he could help other doctor that was having trouble with his surgery. He walks into the room and sees the patient basically bleeding to death with a huge pool on the floor and the doctor was just grabbing his head like "wtf is going on". So my dad gets there and starts putting clamps everywhere to try to find the source of the bleeding while asking for blood so the patient didn't die. Then the other doctor regained composure and managed to assist my dad. I don't remember what kind of surgery it was originally, but the bleeding was in the instestines and my dad is a ginecologist so yeah, not necessarily his field. They managed to stabilize the patient and she lived. As a doctor you have to be absolutely in control if the situation, imagine if you got anxious before the procedure and something like this happens, if you find yourself in a pool of blood and if you don't act quickly enough then you will have a tremendous lawsuit... No thanks!! If you are not comfortable I find it very good for you not to do this procedure anymore. My dad stopped delivering because he just didn't want to be woken in the middle of the night anymore. Not every doctor has to do every kind of procedure 👍
My brother 'lost his girlfriend, for an unexpected 'bleed' during surgery for something else (in Mexico). He went down to Mexico, and he did, which I thought would cause him too much grief to even go again, He fell of the wagon, and died there himself. So sad. In surgery I have known so many where something happened and they didn't make it. Loved ones are so hurt.
I would say that basically being responsible for someone's death when you're supposed to do the opposite is more important than a lawsuit...
@@MrCorny-mb7yx right? Kind of jarring to read that...
@@MrCorny-mb7yx that´s what I tought too, f the lawsuit someone died
Working for today’s beauty industry I’ve notice that there’s a lot of vanity and surgeons that are all about the money .
Seen how this surgeon is passion about his job makes me have more respect towards him!!
Reason #5 is a HUGE consideration. I've been reviewing a few types of cranio-facial surgical procedures (I need some restoration[s] due to fractures: Orbital, zygomatic), and in my viewing I've seen some techniques which have given me pause to wonder how well these applications will translate, over time. Your videos are so-appreciated, Dr..
Comprehensive, direct, balanced, and HUMAN, the approaches to your Craft AND to education re: same, are invaluable.
Thank you for all that you do.
👍🏼💪
@@drgarylinkov Hello Dr I’m 56 & have full face and no definition I’m in Virginia and now getting a necklift surgery and my Dr recommended buccal fat removal alongside necklift.
Question will removing buccal fat expedite the upper face slide down meaning upper cheeks fat and muscles?
When I was 20 I seriously considered having this surgery since even though I was underweight I always had big chubby cheeks. My mother and grandmother also had big cheeks which sagged down as they aged. I was convinced I needed it! Now that I'm older, I'm so happy I didn't go through with it cause my face eventually balanced out and I still look young. Thanks Dr. Gary for raising awareness on this surgery ❤️
By what age did you notice the loss of fat in your face just wondering?
@@jonathanogobochie9913 I would say around 23-25 I started looking more and more "gaunt". I'm in my 30s now and people still think I'm in my early 20s. I think if you were to have this surgery it would be best later in life when you have very noticeable buccal fat sagging. Like maybe in your 50s?
@@zyferion ok thank you for replying it meant a lot since I was always seriously considering getting this done .
“even though i was underweight i always had big chubby cheeks” ugh omg same 😓 i’m still pretty young but it sucks seeing other people who are underweight and having a sculpted face compared to me, but i’m trying to learn how to accept myself
Why are women obsessed with looking young and innocent?
This video is a perfect example of why I will watch anything you put out. My face is lean, I don't need a hair transplant (for example) but your thoughtful, informative, balanced views on plastic surgery are such a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
I couldn't agree more!
Thank you for kind words!
Totally agree! It’s clear that he not only has a passion for what he does, but he also cares immensely about his patients. The level of ethics with which he approaches his job is what you need from every surgeon, especially those who do elective surgeries.
His voice is literally ASMR soooo soothing. I just feel calmed listening lol.
Anyway ...
Can we just appreciate his *HONESTY* !!!!!! like foreal. These are the surgeons I trust.. I love that u said you didn't enjoy risking your mental health to do these procedures!!!
I had pretty round cheeks until my 30s, and if I’d had access to this sort of surgery I might have done it - but I didn’t. Now at 42 I’ve naturally lost so much facial fat that I have a rather “editorial” look. Thank goodness for my buccal fat, without which I’d be downright skeletal-looking. I know I’ll probably get there in a couple decades, but it’s nice to get some additional time with a more youthful face.
Always had a rounder “Asian-like” face, now that I’m almost 40 my face is starting to thin out and I love it! My cheeks are still full too but I know losing fat in your face as you age is natural.
I’ve always had quite a round face and quite full cheeks especially with my high cheekbones, it just accentuates it even more. And for years I thought I’d want this surgery because ‘it must be easy and quite straightforward and a solution to this major insecurity of mine’. Because all of social media growing up, I wanted those more hollowed out model-like cheeks/defined jawline. But after watching this video, I realised that the risks aren’t even worth it. Thank you for this! It’s really made me think twice about how I look at myself
Believe me, you’ll bo so happy to have that precious facial fat once you hit 45… people don’t realize how much facial volume you lose after that age.
@@ALT-vz3jn agree completely, same age as you and I now have finally lost my chubby cheeks and now I look still in my 20s and those I went to school with look really tired and worn now.
SPF50 and a decent night cream are my secrets.
@@ALT-vz3jn Fat goes down anyway, but you don't end up with sculpted cheeks at a later age. You 'may' seem younger to some for a while. Think Sally Field.
@@ALT-vz3jn won't the skin sag as u age
You’ll be so happy you had a round face later on, when you’re older...I FINALLY have cheek bones at nearly 50, look decades younger, and finally feel attractive!
I had buccal fat removal complications too and at the time, not much information was out about this procedure (this was about 3-4 years ago) and at the time, I was told it’s just a ‘simple procedure’ with the risks being ‘possible assymetry’ etc. my surgeon didn’t tell me everything (even though he was a cranial facial surgeon). I do not regret it and Luckily, it didn’t do anything very dangerous but I cannot chew on the left side anymore. I’m glad that you are putting this information out there for anyone considering it.
Why can't you chew on that side? Pain or no feeling?
@@checkthefishbox8556 no feeling it’s really numb. Not sure why but I’ve gotten use to it and just happy that my facial symmetry has returned. It was really bad.
Was it unbearably painful?
@@krystalzwiesineyil.chindor5206 No. Didn’t hurt at all.
My friend had it done in the DR and as you said she was shocked and unprepared for how much pain she felt, she also had chin lipo. She then had these daily massages to reduce swelling and liquid and she said it was the worst. I myself consulted that doctor and he never told me about the very painful part of it
As a colleague I very much respect you for being honest about your own complications and insecurities around performing certain surgeries.
Presenting only your best results and neglecting to mention things that did not go so well on social media seems unethical to me.
And we all know none of us only have great results and are never nervous.
I'm so glad I didn't know about this procedure when I was in my early twenties. I've always had a "chubby" looking face due to my cheeks (even though I was very skinny) and very much disliked them. Now that I'm my thirties, I am noticing a loss of volume around that area and my face looks so much more sculpted due to that (also, recent weight loss helped). I love it. If I had done this procedure, I'm sure I'd look weird now!
so true, so many female celebrities get this procedure to give them sculpted cheek bones and it matures their face, but as they age it makes them look way older
Wait til you hit 65, my face fat is all gone. I’m have a consultation for a face and lip lift.
People think I’m 10 years younger than I am and I blame my chubby cheeks! Keep them!
@@refreshingAnd Exactly! I also am told I look like I'm in my early twenties, lol! It's a curse at first and then a blessing
I'm 30 and still have them they drop and looks like I don't have a jaw line..I don't have double chin it's just that..I think because they are so heavy they look like🐶..all my family older family have them and they have their buccal hanging I don't want to have that look they look older than people that don't have buccal fat naturally o big cheeks
I love that you admit to having anxiety about that procedure. It's so honest!
Refreshing to hear a doctor and your thought process and concern for the patient. I know when I leave work I think about my patients as a nurse so I can only imagine the distress you go through as a doctor after a surgery and the outcome isn’t what was intended. I’m glad after a few months your patient regained her mobility in her face. I can appreciate why you just decided against doing it. Too high risk.
Good on you for sticking with your principles and ditching a surgery you didn't feel comfortable with rather than continue doing it for cash at the risk of your patients' well being.
Lots of respect for your honesty, especially in discussing a part complication!
Thanks!
@@drgarylinkov You're so welcome. And I'm sure I speak on behalf of all the other viewers, in saying that I'm a big fan of your content, keep it up! 😊
!!!
Really....if I were to ever have cosmetic surgery, I would want to be with this doctor!
@@drgarylinkov I have a question do you recommend cool sculpting or kybella to remove jowls & double chin for women over 50?
I love honesty and consider that to be the top quality, especially in the medical field. There are risks in every procedure, but knowing them, and discussing then openly with your doctor is a top priority! Thank you Dr.Gary for opening up, and for choosing to put the patient #1!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ETHICS ❤❤❤ We need more doctors like you
Soooo glad you made this. The only thing I've seen doctors talk about before is the reluctance to do this with people without prominent cheekbones. This was much, much more detailed, so thank you for taking the time to talk us through it.
Why not to ppl without prominent cheeckbones?
@@bbygrlpt2 i'm guessing that maybe the results don't look so good in people without prominent cheekbones? but idk tho
How awesome to see that a successful surgeon can still admit to having uncertainty and feeling vulnerable!
This is one of those surgeries that was always at the top of my list to get because I love the chiseled face look. I have a heart shaped face that is definitely more round when I'm heavier. I opted out not to do it due to videos like yours. I realize that initially it might look good and give you confidence but later on, there could be a lot of regrets with what you did to your face. I'll just stick to contouring my face with makeup on occasion. Not invasive and you can wash it off lol.
Exactly. Temporary things like makeup are better and you can’t regret them irreversibly thank god
Good call
I’m sure your face is perfect the way it is.
Such a smart decision- especially since trends and beauty standards are moving and changing at such a rapid pace due to social media compared to past generations
yep. i feel like the huge lips and huge ass thing is dying out@@bambiisbonkers
About 7 years ago I had my wisdom teeth taken out , and I had some complications and needed 3 bone grafts in my jaw. As a result of these I had some temporary nerve damage in my face. One side of my lips and the area around it was totally numb or tingly for about a month or so. It was very uncomfortable and I was pretty freaked out cause I didnt' know if it was going to be permanant. I was very relieved when my face finally felt normal again. I appreciate your care for your patient greatly, and that their experience impacted you so much. I feel like because with our hands and mirrors we can't descern how much complicated stuff is happening inside our cheeks/ surrounding facial area the risks of a deceptively simple procedure are not inherantly apparent or considered by the average person. Having a doctor detail it all was incredibly helpful, thank you.
I had this surgery done 16 years ago at the age of 20. I can say the results were pretty drastic for me as I naturally had very full cheeks on top of baby fat. The hallows themselves were nice but I was left with the fat around the buccal. It made me look way older as if I was in my 30’s. Now at 36 I have so much excess skin in my jowls. I look 10 years older and have a very unnatural aging to my midface. Can a facelift restore the unnatural sagging from this procedure? I’m so glad you mentioned this procedure and the real risks of this on a young face. I didn’t think anyone still preformed this.
Thanks for sharing. Oh yeh it’s more popular than ever now.
@@drgarylinkov Can you talk about what can be done if someone has had it done and it looks awful (but no actual damage was done)?
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m 20 years old now, and very interested in Buccal fat removal. I keep hearing about people’s experiences with them feeling like they look more aged, but then again there also a lot of people who have had good experiences and some whom I think look pretty good with their results
Thank you for sharing your experience! I am 23 yet had a doctor (who had my file with all my information on it) think I just turned 18. Sometimes people seem to think I'm even younger due to my baby face.
While I didn't have any procedure in mind to fix it, It is something I have considered changing. Your story, and the video, has helped me decide to focus more on making my face look less feminine instead of worrying about the extra fat. (I'm non binary and my end goal is to be androgynous so I can use clothing or makeup to present one way or the other)
Are you the girl on the pic? But you look great and young?!
I wish more Dr's were as ethical as you. It's truly refreshing to hear a Doctor saying that if "they don't enjoy it they don't do it, regardless of the money". That says a lot about what kind of doctor you are. Sometimes, plastic surgeons get an ego thinking they can do any surgery. I like the fact that you recognized that it wasn't for you. You won yourself another subscriber!!
I already had a tremendous amount of respect for you Dr., but now even more. Thank you for your honesty. It's very refreshing.
Hi there! I had buccal fat removal a few years ago. I’m a 33 year old male who had facial atrophy and I had a lot of fat to my lower face. I’ve always felt insecure about how I looked. After getting my surgery though, my face is more symmetrical, the lower half of my face isn’t heavy anymore, it really slimmed out and went from looking square to more round. My jaw line has become more defined and I also am told by my family that it revealed my smile. A nice bonus is that it really defined my cheekbones! Everyone’s case is different but buccal fat removal surgery was the best decision for me and I am so glad I went forward with it. It is good to do research and watch videos like this but do your rounded research. Get information from all sides and be confident this is what you want :)
I love this feedback:) Ill still do mine
@@angelma6180 Judging by your profile picture, you are already very beautiful just the way you are! Your face looks very nice the way it already is, so honestly it’s probably not a good idea or worth the risk of doing a surgery like this that can have bad side effects or permanently disfigure your face. I have a round face too and used to be insecure about it, but the older I get the more thankful I am for my naturally round face & cheeks because it makes me look younger!
I have a similar issue. Major facial atrophy and I have oversized fat pads on my lower face. This stuff is partially genetic and partially due to severe TMD that affected the bone-growth and facial musculature. It's not cute and youthful and I deal with a lot of asymmetry as well. I'm going to be having this done soon. I think if it weren't for my atrophy it wouldn't bother me so much. My lower face sticks out about 30% more than my upper face when I smile and I'm average weight. I'm happy to hear that lots of people are embracing their cheeks but I'm not one of those people.
Finally someone on my side. I had it done three years ago. I still have big cheeks but i am more contoured now and i have a nice jaw shape. So in a way it helped me in fact it seemed lacking to me cuz how they describe it now is insane as if everyone has the same results
I'm sure these videos help the majority of people, but im in the same boat as you. Only a small percentage of us are actually good candidates for this surgery. I'm happy with my results, and people don't notice I've had anything done bc I still have a round face.
I think it's really good that you stopped doing it, it tells me you are good at the things you do like to do and care about your patients!
Your honesty is so refreshing. I’ve seen way too many plastic surgeons talking about how easy this surgery is. They never mention the negatives.
Well to be fair, almost everything has a negative to it. Its always up to the personal assessment of suffering. At least dont do it, if you dont think about doing it every day. If so : do it.
And just because this surgeon has anxiety, that doesnt mean the other surgeons are actually lying. It could be an easy operation for them.
The only fact that speaks against this operation is, that many experienced doctors allegedly stopped doing this. On the other hand, every experienced doctor will logically stop their operations at some point because they accumulate negative experiences over time. Meaning a knee surgeon will stop doing knee surgeries after 30 years (because he did it for 30 years) and probably tell that it is risky.
I have so much respect for you coming out and saying this. You are exactly the kind of healthcare professional we need in practice these days. This is wonderful to hear that- hey plainly this is why I stopped doing this and here are complications. Love it!! I sincerely hope more doctors and people follow suit.
It’s a sign of a great surgeon who advises against getting certain procedures. When you’re an older lady like me, you’ll be glad you have some fullness in the face - it’s what helps you look naturally more youthful versus pillow face from fillers.
Margot Robbie is my reason for not wanting the surgery that I really coveted. It ages you so quickly. The exact opposite of what most people want.
Right. People still think shes lying about her age.
What's the story with Margot Robbie?
Yeah what’s the story behind it?
@@MomasBoyOnline she’s was 26 in suicide squad but I thought she was at least 30
Did she get it?
Dr Linkov is one smart honest surgeon, I love the fact that he presented 6 reasons why stopped doing this procedure and gave explanation for each reason. I learn a lot just by watching his videos.
Well i got a nose job and I’m so glad i did!! People will always tell you that you look fine the way you are and all that !! But in reality is you doing it for yourself and not anyone else.
Yep
I really appreciate your honesty! I had considered getting plastic surgery in the future, but after watching your channel I feel like I should accept myself more as I am and that plastic surgery is not risk free. I especially like that you shared what could go wrong and your personal experience. Thank you for being very honest and sharing your knowledge with us!
I think it's great you do surgeries you're comfortable with, and feel like doing. That's how we become best at our personal niches in our jobs 🙌
The transparency in this video is the most refreshing and honorable thing I’ve ever heard come from a surgeons mouth. Your integrity is first class and you have my respect dear sir 🥇🙌🏼
Btw, I live in NYC and I’ll be checking you out for my next procedure.
Really appreciate you opening up to your subscribers about your experience and keeping it real I respect that alot man
Never had any sort of cosmetic surgeries but I watch your videos because I find them incredibly educating and fascinating!
Super interesting. I don’t have a desire for cosmetic surgery but learning about the anatomy, procedure, and risks of procedure is fascinating.
It is very respectful of you to be honest about complications! You’re great!
Thank you very much for sharing your honest experience. This is the first time I've seen a doctor truly talking about their complications.
Kudos to you. Not every doctor out there is willing to admit their limits. The fact that you are able to articulate that a certain service is just not yours to provide shows a really high level of the type of humility that EVERY doctor should have. Your patients are lucky to have you.
Sir, i have to say, you look absolutely gorgeous with no hair (not saying you were looking worse with hair), your facial features (eye shape, jawline etc.) had became more visible and you look like a statue made by Michelangelo! Absolutely stunning!
Dr. Gary is so special. He seems so gentle and genuine. I am a fan.
Your honesty as a doctor/surgeon is very refreshing. It shows how secured you are as a doctor even tho you're talking about our insecurity about doing the procedure. I appreciate your sharing, it is much appreciated!
I really appreciate this nuanced and intelligent take! It’s awesome to see someone putting their own mental health and the mental and physical well-being of their patients ahead of money - real integrity move!
I really appreciate your description (and honesty), Dr. Linkov. So many people just consider what they look like currently and not what they may look like in 20-30 years. I've seen many who had baby face fat when young adults, look younger when older. Be thankful for youthful features, even with self-perceived imperfections (you'll wish for those days in the future).
I really appreciate this frank discussion. I was interested in a procedure that many surgeons have stopped offering. Understanding why a surgeon makes this choice has given me a lot of empathy and gratitude. Thank you for educating me.
Did you remove everything?
I love watching your videos for your honesty and intelligence. I feel it's easy to get caught up in analyzing our faces and thinking all these procedures we see celebrities do could be for us. Many of your videos have discouraged me from contemplating procedures for the future. I know that isn't your goal, but I appreciate it.
My goal is for people to feel more comfortable in their shoes, with or without surgery.
@@drgarylinkov a thought I keep returning to when seeing pre and post photos is...but they looked so good before!
It's so important for someone like you to be the voice of reason for prospective patients. I think this type of medical intervention will become (if it hasn't already) extremely relevant as we approach a more visually motivated culture. We're not meat Legos, and you're not a therapist--but your authority could have a lifelong impact on someone's psychological health.
Hi Dr. Linkov, I just discovered your channel yesterday and I am very impressed with your knowledge, your straight-forward approach, and you seem so relaxed and comfortable in front of the screen, or camera, whatever you are in front of, that you make this a very pleasant viewing. And you make it interesting and your voice is soothing, unlike some other plastic surgery commenters who are just too loud or animated. So, I've just subscribed and look forward to more! Thank you.
I’m shocked by this video, I had no idea that it was this risky. Thank you for your honesty.
Don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard such a down to earth Dr/Surgeon! Everyone is trying to sell you something. I’m a new fan! Thanks for this video! I look forward to more
I just recently went to a Facial Feminization consultation and my surgeon suggested buccal fat removal but I’m glad I was firm on not wanting it because at the time I was just was not convinced I needed it and this video solidified that! I just recently stumbled on this channel preparing for my surgery and wow! Great videos, excellent formatting!!! Any plans to do a video on FFS procedures? I understand that may not be a procedure you do but I think it could be insightful regardless!
Obviously I don’t know what you look like, but it’s interesting to me that your doctor would suggest this as part of feminization surgery, because I really don’t like how gaunt my face looks because I think it makes me look manly. I personally love girls with round faces (probably because you like what you don’t have lol) and I really hope this “trend” doesn’t catch on!!!!
@@taylorgayhart9497 I had asked what were their suggestions, however I already knew what I wanted and didn’t want I just wanted their input. I completely agree and it’s what I told them, I like the ‘adorableness’ of not having super contoured cheeks! I’m not really a fan of the look, but sometimes trans femme ppl feel like they may need these things to feel safe or feminine. To each is their own but it is always good to be informed
Hope your ffs procedures go well in the future! As a round faced afab nb, I’ve always felt the pressure to lose the face fat to look less feminine so it’s interesting they recommend it for a feminization procedure. Depending on jaw shape it might be why?
@@minakiel2930 I agree this surgery gives a masculine appearance. Strange to do it as part of feminisation
Are you male or female?
I have no idea why RUclips recommended this vid, but I was riveted tbh. So nice to see a surgeon admit to bad experiences, and to hear you say it was also partially a mental health decision for you was so interesting. Ty for sharing!
I'm so glad you made this video. For some reason I was under the impression this was a pretty easy procedure. So glad I have been disabused of that notion.
Thank you for highlighting this topic. I'm Dentist and I'll never forget the day when I found out about buccal fat removal surgery. My dad who was a Otorhinolaryngologist told me first about it. He also did Plastic surgery when it was needed. But when I found out about this... It seemed to me so useless... Because I thought Plastic surgery had the purpose to help when needed. The women I saw taking the surgery were beautiful and young, and after the surgery many times they looked like aliens, unnatural and strange. And I know it was a risky surgery to do too.
Anyone who gets these facial fat removed, age about 10 years.
No matter the surgeon.
I respect this surgeons honesty. If I could afford some tweaks here and there, I’d go to this Dr.
I really appreciate your perspective and honesty about your anxieties when it comes to this surgery. It’s important to go to a surgeon who has a lot of experience and is extremely confident performing the specific surgery you’re looking for.
I had it done 3 years ago when I was 24. I sure as hell don’t look like Bella Hadid but I’m very happy with the results. I’m hoping my lack of buccal fat pads won’t ruin my face when I’m older though!
How was the price for you?
Hi Dr, I have such respect and admiration for you specifically because you have made decisions based not only what you feel would not be in the best interest for your practice but also on what you know is often not in the best interest for your patients. I’ve been an RN for more years than I care to admit 😊 and have worked Peri-op for going on 9 of those years. Working with Surgeons like you are a breath of fresh air. Ty for putting out informative and entertaining videos. 😁
🙏
I’ve been wanting to have this done for years and this helped bring me to my final decision. The risks aren’t worth a little bit of fullness in my lower face. Thank you for explaining this in such detail!
I hope you read the rest of the comments too. I’m sure you’re beautiful, the way God made you.
I've grown accustomed to my round face over the years and even in my mid-30s I still get mistaken for a teenager. I think buccal fat makes a good cushion! I'm glad doctors like you are saying no to certain surgeries in the cosmetic arena. I can only imagine the ones with practices in places like New York and Los Angeles who feel the pressure and temptation of extra money and networking to perform surgeries on high-profile clients. Those who follow trends usually have to follow the upkeep afterwards. It's sad. I appreciate your commentary, Dr. Linkov!
Its terrifying to see how many young people are getting good done consideration to how it will age them. I've seen some photos of gorgeous young women who get this done and it ages them 10 yrs
Very informative! Thank you. I had a bichectomy 3 months ago and I'm very pleased with my results but it hurt like a b*tch! Nothing could have prepared me for that amount of pain. I did a lot of research but this video has taught me more than any if that. Also, thank you for giving me confidence boost by showing me you can still look young and sexy while having no hair as I, too, have alopecia.
Thank you for being so candid. Excellent content. I have a lot of respect for my PS (who's been practicing for 25 years), and I couldn't understand why he doesn't perform the procedure. Well, now I know.
The honesty is much appreciated. It allows us to make the decision with the knowledge of the possible risks. Thank you. ☺️
I almost got this surgery, went to the consultation and everything. My mom convinced me not to go through with it. A few years later, I started getting Botox in my jaw to help with jaw clenching and grinding. It slimmed my face SO MUCH. Turns out, it was my jaw muscle that was making my face look too round. The botox caused the muscle to shrink and my face looks thin. I was 100% convinced it was the buccal fat… the surgeon I went to didn’t even mention that it could be the muscle. Looking back I am so grateful that I didn’t go through with it.
Can you give me more info about the botox you got?
I always heard advertising how EASY, EFFECTIVE and RISK-LESS this procedure is.. and I somehow never “bought” it. Very interesting video. Thanks!
A lot of dentists started performing this surgery as well when it started to get really popular
This was quite informative I had some facial paralysis when I was 18. Bells palsy due to a bad fall I had in a bath tub (hit my neck). Luckily for me I regained full function of my face due to the treatment I was given, but have a bit of asymmetry which I don't mind. Nice to learn about the nerves in the face.
Thanks for sharing and supporting the channel!
I had Bells Palsy as well. Suffered some residual paralysis in my left eyelid. It droops a little compared to my right.
I had it as well when I was 20...
Honest and responsible, you are a Great Doc!!!
Hey Dr Gary Linkov,
Vet student here. This is super interesting and I found your explanation of anatomy really helpful. Please walk us through the pros and cons of other surgeries because I love to learn! Thank you and great video!