Today, women and men benefit from many aesthetic operations to reach their ideals in terms of physical appearance and to have a young and healthy appearance. One of these aesthetic operations is the bichectomy operation.
Bichectomy provides a better appearance of the face. Bichectomy is also cheek surgery. With the bichectomy operation, more prominent cheekbones and a thinner facial line are obtained.
Buccal fat removal or bichectomy on the cheeks is a surgical procedure to remove fat deposits between the cheekbones and lower jaw. Thanks to the operation, facial features become thinner and more impressive.
The fashion for an aristocratic look with protruding cheekbones and sunken cheeks made bichectomy very popular. The procedure is used by men and women of different ages who see buccal fat as a disadvantage and want to improve their facial aesthetics.
What is Buccal Fat?
These are encapsulated adipose tissue deposits that every person has. A touch to buccal areas that are felt as intense tissue are formed during infancy and have a different shape and size in each individual. Buccal fat capsules have several functions in terms of their location.
- Protect facial nerves and muscles from injury,
- Facilitate breastfeeding of infants,
- Makes it is easier to chew food in childhood.
As the facial skeleton and muscles get stronger, buccal fat loses its function, so their removal will not harm the body.
Where is Buccal Fat Positioned?
Encapsulated buccal fat covers all surfaces of the cheeks between the mandible and temporal segments. The fat accumulated in this area flattens the hats of the cheekbones and makes their appearance straighter.
Buccal fat is noticeable in childhood and visually as muscles develop. However, in some people, the fat layer is more prominent, this lower face appears wider. People with this appearance benefit from a bichectomy.
Bichectomy Surgery Techniques
Bichectomy can be performed as classical surgery or by laser surgery. The operation can be under local or general anesthesia. In the classical method, it is entered from the inside of the mouth using a bisturi.
Buccal fat is reached and removed together with its capsule. The amount of fat removed depends on the anatomical structure of the face and the dimensions of the buccal fat.
Then the doctor removes the buccal fat pads as a whole using a special technique. The incisions are then sutured and closed. Since the entire operation is done through the mouth, no scars are left. Finally, it is fixed from the outside with an elastic bandage.
Laser removal of buccal fat is similar to the classical surgery technique, but takes less time. Instead of a scalpel, the operation area is opened using a directed laser beam and other operations are done in a similar way.
The main advantages of this method are low trauma and shorter rehabilitation time. The laser causes less damage to tissues and coagulates blood vessels, which significantly reduces the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. The disadvantages of the procedure result in a higher price because it requires expensive equipment that is not available in every clinic.
How is Bichectomy Done?
Bichectomy is an outpatient operation, also known as buccal fat removal. Bichectomy operation is performed with local anesthesia. It is very important to clean the mouth before the surgery. Cleaning done before bichectomy surgery helps to reduce infection problems that may occur.
Bichectomy is an operation performed by an experienced doctor by making a small incision on the inside of the cheeks, next to the fat bags. After local anesthesia is applied to the patient, the doctor makes a small incision in the cheek and lifts the bichat bags with forceps to give a natural appearance.
After the buccal fats are removed, suturing is done. This procedure is applied to both cheeks. When the operation is over, the doctor completes the procedure by applying a compressive bandage to the patient. The bichectomy operation takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes and the patient is discharged on the same day.
Who is Suitable for Bichectomy?
Bichectomy operation can be applied to all men and women over the age of 25 who have a normal weight and a round face. Bichectomy is not recommended for people who are overweight, have obesity problems and are over 45 years old.
There is a significant decrease in fat bags called bichat in people over time, which can cause premature aging on the face of the person who will undergo the operation. It can be different for each patient.
For this reason, it is very important for the doctor who will perform the bichectomy operation to examine the patient in detail.
In order to determine the suitability for the bichectomy operation, questions are asked to the patient during the examination by the doctor, and then some tests are requested.
With the bichectomy operation, the face appears longer and thinner. The round appearance on the face disappears. Patients undergoing bichectomy operation are treated as outpatients. Patients can be discharged on the same day after the surgery.
Before Bichectomy Surgery
- In order to have a faster recovery after bichectomy surgery, the patient should stop drinking alcohol one week before the surgery.
- The patient should stop smoking.
- If there are aspirin or blood-diluting drugs used by the patient before the bichectomy surgery, taking such drugs should be stopped under the doctor’s control.
- If the patient is using drugs regularly due to health problems, he should inform his doctor about all the drugs he uses before the operation.
- Pregnant women or people with health problems should definitely see a doctor before deciding on bichectomy surgery.
Result of the Bichectomy
The first changes are seen 2-3 weeks after bichectomy. By this time, the swelling will have passed and the patient will see a new form of her face. The final effect can be evaluated after six months, when the sutures have completely healed and the tissues have adapted to the new condition.
The Process Results in the Following Changes:
- The volumes of the middle and lower third of the face are reduced,
- Cheekbones and chin with clear lines,
- Nasolabial folds are smoothed,
- Facial features become more refined and proportional.
The effect largely depends on the professionalism of the surgeon, the patient’s anatomical characteristics and lifestyle. Compliance with medical recommendations before and after the procedure will help prevent complications and consolidate the result.
Is Bichectomy Surgery Harmful?
The most important factor in a bichectomy operation is the doctor. The experience of the doctor is as important as the methods used during the operation.
The doctor’s intervention in the patient’s facial area and how it will shape it are completely shaped by the doctor’s experience.
There is no known harm from bichectomy, but there may be risk factors that develop due to the operation.
Since the fat bags in the cheek are close to the nerves, they can cause pain due to the pressure applied to the nerves during the operation. One of the most common factors during bichectomy operation is the risk of infection.
What are the Risk Factors for Bichectomy Surgery?
There may be unexpected situations or risk factors in all operations. Some risks may occur during bichectomy, also known as buccal fat removal operation. For this reason, it is very important to research the doctor in detail before the surgery and the experience of the doctor in choosing a doctor.
Although the bichectomy operation seems simple, the nerves in the facial region can be damaged and conditions such as facial paralysis and permanent damage may occur.
Again, since it is close to the fat tissues, the salivary glands can be damaged. For this reason, it is very important that the doctor who will perform the operation is an expert in his field.
Risks that can be seen after bichectomy surgery;
- Bleeding,
- Difficult healing of incisions,
- Infection,
- Numbness or other changes in feeling,
- Facial paralysis,
- Swelling,
- Cardiac and pulmonary complications,
- Injury in the tongue area,
- Asymmetrical facial features,
- Inadequate aesthetics,
- Possibility of re-surgery,
- Persistent pain,
- Hematoma,
- Risks of anesthetic-related conditions,
- Fluid accumulation (seroma).
It is important to follow the treatment methods recommended by the doctor for the recovery of the patient after the operation. However, every surgical procedure can have complications, which should not be forgotten.
Tips for Rehabilitation of Bichectomy
After surgery, patients are advised to protect the surgery area in mouth for 10-14 days:
- Gently brush teeth, refuse too hard, cold and hot foods.
- To avoid swelling, you need to lie on your back and use high pillows.
- Physical activity should be limited, sunbathing, sauna, Turkish bath and solarium should be avoided.
Negative Consequences of Bichectomy
With the right technique and observance of all preparation rules, the risk of complications is minimal. Swelling and mild redness in the operated area disappear after a few days without treatment.
More serious complications include allergic reactions, bruising, numbness in the lower part of the face, and disturbances in the functioning of the facial muscles. In this case, the patient may need additional treatment.
Indications and Contraindications for Bichectomy
Bichectomy operation is aesthetic in nature. Buccal fat does not cause physiological discomfort and is harmless to health, so in this case it would be wrong to talk about medical indications. Experts recommend the procedure for pronounced cosmetic defects:
- Disproportionately massive lower face,
- Protrusion of fat deposits due to weakness of ligaments and facial muscles,
- Excessive fat in the cheek area.
Bichectomy is often combined with other plastic surgery methods. The procedure can be performed simultaneously with circular stretching or lipofilling – facial modeling using the patient’s own fat tissue.
Bichectomy is considered a relatively safe operation, but it still has some contraindications. Surgical intervention is prohibited in pathologies such as:
- Diabetes,
- Malignant neoplasms,
- Blood coagulation disorders,
- Mental illness,
- Hypertension in the stage of decompensation.
The procedure also has temporary contraindications. These include pregnancy and lactation, inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, acute respiratory diseases, deviations of body weight from the norm by more than 25%.
Age Restrictions in Bichectomy
Surgeons do not recommend bichectomy for patients under the age of 25. By this age, the formation of the facial structure is completed and the body fat volume is fixed. In some people, buccal fat decreases so much that they become invisible and there is no need for surgery. If you neglect the opinions of doctors and get plastic surgery at a young age, you can get a negative effect: sunken cheeks and a tired face.
The Main Disadvantages of Bichectomy
The most important disadvantage of bichectomy is that the outcome cannot be predicted with 100% accuracy. Even with computer simulations, it is difficult to predict what the face will look like after surgery.
A pronounced effect is observed in 25-30% of patients, in the rest the face remains practically unchanged or looks a little thinner. Other disadvantages of the procedure include the inherent risks associated with surgery.
What is the Difference Between Hollywood Cheek Aesthetics and Bichectomy?
Bichectomy and Hollywood cheek aesthetics are often confused with each other. With Hollywood cheek aesthetics, the facial appearance of people looks much different than it is. In bichectomy, only the fat in the cheek area of the patient is intervened. This does not cause a very different appearance in the person’s facial appearance.
Hollywood cheek aesthetics are performed with much more complicated operations. The amount of fat removed with Hollywood cheek aesthetics is higher and different than with bichectomy. In addition, various interventions are made on the cheekbones and chin area.
How Much Does Bichectomy (Buccal Fat Removal) Cost in Turkey?
Bichectomy surgery prices vary according to the procedures to be performed on the cheek area of the patient. The amount of fat bag to be removed from the cheek area of a female or male patient is a very important detail.
However, the price varies according to the local or general anesthesia to be applied to the patient. In some cases, if an additional aesthetic intervention is to be applied together with the cheek thinning procedure, pricing may be in question according to this situation.
In order to determine the cost of Bichectomy, the patient must first be examined. After the examination, what to do is determined and a clear price information can be said after the operation is given. Therefore, if you want to learn the cost of Buccal Fat Removal in Istanbul, you can contact us. That’s why it’s important to be examined.
In order to get more detailed information about the Bichectomy and to get information about the technique suitable for you, you should be examined by our doctor. You can learn your price information in the most accurate way at the end of the examination.
For Ministry of Health-accredited centers, it is not legal to specify prices on their website. Therefore, please dial 0212 241 46 24 to contact Quartz Clinique and get information on Bichectomy (Buccal Fat Removal) Prices in Istanbul, Turkey.
