If your face feels fuller or rounder than you would like—even at a healthy weight—buccal fat reduction may help reveal a more defined, sophisticated facial contour.
At JH Face, double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Harounian specializes in facial aesthetics and individualized facial contouring. Buccal fat removal is designed to selectively reduce excess fullness in the lower cheeks, creating greater definition while preserving the natural proportions of your face.
Located in Long Island, NY, JH Face provides a personalized, high-touch approach to facial plastic surgery focused on refined, natural-looking results.
Buccal fat is a naturally occurring pocket of fat deep within the cheek. In some patients, its size contributes to a persistently round or full facial appearance.
Buccal fat removal—also called buccal lipectomy or cheek fat removal—selectively reduces this deep cheek fullness through a small incision inside the mouth. There are no visible external facial scars.
Dr. Harounian takes a conservative, anatomy-driven approach. The objective is not to hollow the cheeks or dramatically change your appearance. It is to create subtle definition that complements your cheekbones, jawline, chin, and overall facial structure.
Facial contouring is fundamentally about proportion.
As a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Harounian approaches buccal fat reduction with a detailed understanding of facial anatomy, soft-tissue balance, and the way facial features interact as a whole.
Every face is different. The amount of buccal fat that may be appropriate to reduce in one patient may be excessive in another.
Your treatment is therefore customized to your anatomy—not a predetermined formula.
Buccal fat reduction may be appropriate if you:
Have naturally full or round cheeks
Have persistent lower-cheek fullness despite maintaining a healthy weight
Want greater cheek or midface definition
Feel your facial contours are less defined than you would like
Prefer a subtle, natural-looking aesthetic change
During your consultation, Dr. Harounian will determine whether buccal fat removal is appropriate for your facial structure. In some patients, another approach—or no surgery at all—may produce a better result.
Buccal fat reduction is typically performed as an outpatient procedure. A small incision is made inside the mouth, allowing access to the buccal fat pad. An individualized amount of fat is carefully reduced, and the incision is closed internally.
Swelling is expected during the early recovery period. As healing progresses, the underlying facial contours become increasingly apparent.
Because buccal fat is not simply “excess fat,” careful judgment is essential. Over-removal can create an unnecessarily hollow appearance, particularly as the face naturally loses volume with age.
The most elegant results are rarely dramatic.
The goal is a face that appears more defined and balanced—not obviously “operated on.” Your individual results depend on your anatomy, existing facial volume, skin characteristics, and the amount of buccal fat present.
Dr. Harounian will discuss realistic expectations and whether buccal fat reduction can achieve the change you are seeking.
JH Face serves patients throughout Long Island, including Great Neck, Nassau County, Queens, and the surrounding New York metropolitan area.
If you are searching for buccal fat removal in Long Island, buccal fat reduction near Great Neck, or a facial plastic surgeon for cheek contouring, Dr. Jonathan Harounian provides highly personalized surgical care with an emphasis on precision, proportion, and natural-looking facial aesthetics.
Your face should not look different. It should look more balanced.
Schedule a private consultation with double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Harounian at JH Face to determine whether buccal fat reduction is right for you.
What is buccal fat removal?
Buccal fat removal is a facial plastic surgery procedure that selectively reduces the buccal fat pad within the cheek to decrease lower-cheek fullness and enhance facial definition.
Is buccal fat removal permanent?
The buccal fat that is surgically removed does not grow back. However, normal aging, weight changes, and changes in facial volume will continue over time.
Will buccal fat removal make me look hollow?
The goal of an appropriately planned procedure is to avoid excessive hollowing. Dr. Harounian evaluates your facial anatomy and uses a conservative approach to maintain facial balance.
Is there a scar?
The surgical incision is placed inside the mouth, so there is no visible external scar from the buccal fat removal incision.
Where can I get buccal fat removal in Long Island?
JH Face provides personalized buccal fat reduction consultations in Long Island, with Dr. Jonathan Harounian, a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon, evaluating each patient’s anatomy and aesthetic goals.
Is buccal fat removal right for me?
Not necessarily. The procedure is best suited to appropriately selected patients with persistent cheek fullness. A consultation is the best way to determine whether buccal fat reduction—or another facial contouring option—is appropriate for you.
