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If you’ve ever felt like your face looks fuller than it should—no matter your weight—you’re not alone. Some people carry more volume in their cheeks due to something called buccal fat, a natural fat pad located in the lower part of the cheeks. While it’s totally normal, it can sometimes hide your bone structure or make your face appear rounder than you’d like. At CabinMD in Washington, DC, buccal fat removal is a popular option for those who want a slimmer, more contoured facial shape.
What Is Buccal Fat?
Buccal fat sits between your cheekbones and jaw, and it plays a role in the fullness of your mid-face. Everyone has it, but its size and placement can vary from person to person. If you’ve noticed that your face looks soft or rounded, even if your body is lean, you might have more prominent buccal fat pads.
These fat pads aren’t necessarily related to weight gain and often don’t respond to diet or exercise. That’s why some patients choose buccal fat reduction as a way to refine their facial features and bring out more definition in their cheekbones and jawline.
What Happens During Buccal Fat Removal?
Buccal fat removal in Washington, DC, is a straightforward outpatient procedure. After numbing the area, Dr. Jonathan Cabin makes a small incision inside your mouth. Through that opening, he gently removes a portion of the fat pad. The incision is then closed with dissolvable sutures, and since it’s hidden inside your cheek, there’s no visible scar.
The goal isn’t to remove all the fat—Dr. Cabin focuses on reducing volume in a way that creates harmony with your other features. The result is a more sculpted look that highlights your natural bone structure.
This procedure can be performed on its own or combined with others, like a chin implant, facelift, or jawline contouring, to create a more comprehensive change.
Who Is A Good Candidate?
Not everyone needs buccal fat reduction, but it can be a great choice if:
- You feel like your face is overly round or lacks definition
- Your cheeks stay full even when you lose weight
- You want a more defined jawline or cheekbone area
- You’re in overall good health and have realistic expectations
During your consultation, Dr. Cabin will examine your facial anatomy, talk through your concerns, and determine if buccal fat removal in Washington, DC, is the right option for you.
What Does Recovery Look Like?
Because the incisions are made inside your mouth, you won’t have any visible scars. You might experience some swelling, tenderness, or tightness in your cheeks during the first few days. Most people return to work and normal activities within a few days, although full healing and final results can take a few weeks.
Dr. Cabin will provide detailed post-care instructions, which may include sticking to soft foods for a few days and rinsing your mouth to keep the area clean. Regular follow-ups ensure everything is healing properly.
When Will You See Results?
Patience is key. While it’s exciting to anticipate a more sculpted look, healing takes time, and the final outcome develops gradually as swelling subsides and tissues settle into place.
You’ll notice some changes shortly after the swelling goes down, but your final results will gradually appear over the next few weeks. Once healed, your cheeks will look slimmer, and your overall face shape will appear more sculpted.
These results are long-lasting. Since the fat pads don’t grow back, you won’t need ongoing maintenance like you would with some injectable treatments. However, future aging and weight changes can still affect your facial shape, so it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Buccal Fat Removal Vs. Facial Liposuction
While both procedures aim to contour the face, buccal fat removal and facial liposuction work in very different ways and target different areas. Buccal fat removal focuses on reducing the natural fat pad inside the cheek, specifically in the mid-face. Facial liposuction, on the other hand, removes fat from areas like the neck, jawline, or under the chin.
If your main concern is a soft or full look in the lower cheek area, buccal fat reduction will address that directly. But if you’re bothered by volume under the chin or along the jaw, facial liposuction, a deep neck lift or a deep plane facelift might be better options—or great complements. Dr. Cabin can assess your anatomy and help you decide whether one or both procedures will give you the sculpted results you’re after.
Combining buccal fat reduction with one of these other surgeries makes for a more complete outcome, especially if your goal is to refine the entire lower face and jawline. Every face is unique, so it’s all about finding the right approach for your features.
Why Choose CabinMD For Buccal Fat Removal In Washington, DC
Dr. Cabin is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with years of experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Buccal fat removal requires precision—too little change won’t make a difference, while too much can look hollow or unnatural over time. He designs every treatment to look natural, refined, and in balance with the rest of your face. Dr. Cabin takes a conservative approach that supports long-term facial harmony.
At your consultation, he’ll walk you through the procedure, answer your questions, and help you decide if this treatment fits your goals. He doesn’t want you chasing trends; he wants to help you pick the best procedure, or procedures, to achieve your desired look and help you feel like yourself with a look that reflects how you feel on the inside.
Make Your Aesthetic Dreams a Reality With CabinMD
Whether you’re curious about slimming your cheeks or refining your profile, buccal fat removal could be the subtle change that makes all the difference. Contact CabinMD in Washington, DC, today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how this procedure can support your facial goals.
Want to see results from real patients? Check out our before-and-after gallery and follow us on Instagram for more examples of work performed by Dr. Cabin.