How Much Does Buccal Fat Removal Cost?

Your buccal fat is fatty tissue in the middle of your cheeks. It is located between the facial muscles in the egion beneath your cheekbones. Every person has a buccal fat pad, and its size affects the shape and contour of their face.

If you possess a round face or baby face appearance, you may have larger buccal tissue pad and could be an ideal candidate for surgery. Buccal fat removal prices differ across all states and range between $6,000-$7,000 on average including facility and anesthesia fees. In this article, you will discover the expected cost of buccal fat removal in Philadelphia and other important factors to take into account when considering this facial plastic surgery. 

Buccal fat removal, or buccal lipectomy, has no standard cost across borders. The buccal fat removal price depends on certain factors, such as the surgeon’s level of expertise and location. 

However, in Philadelphia, a buccal fat removal surgical procedure costs around $5,000 to $6,000 on average. 

What Is Included In The Buccal Fat Removal Cost?

The cost of buccal lipectomy includes several components. While the specific inclusions may vary among surgeons and clinics, here are some common elements to watch out for in the overall cost. 

1. Surgeon fees
2. Anesthesia fee
3. Facility or clinic fees
4. Pre-operative consultation fees
5. Post-operative care expenses

Some additional costs not included in the initial price quote include pre-operative tests and assessments, prescription medications, and compression garments.

BEFORE & AFTER BUCCAL FAT REMOVAL PHOTOS

In the real world, no two faces are alike. When figuring out the price of buccal fat removal, it may be considered just as unique. As a result, there are several factors used to determine the buccal fat removal surgery cost. 

Below are some of the most common characteristics considered in the cost of a buccal fat removal procedure:

Expertise

The surgeon’s experience influences the cost of buccal fat removal surgery. For instance, a provider with significant experience will demand higher consultation fees and procedure rates, unlike a less experienced surgeon with lesser certifications or experience. 

Location

No specific data suggests a special price for buccal fat removal in Philadelphia or other states. Plastic surgery procedures are often sought out in urban areas or places with higher living costs, leading to higher prices.

Anesthesia

Buccal fat removal costs vary, including the cost of type of anesthesia used. Surgeons can perform the buccal fat reduction procedure using local or general anesthesia. Typically, general anesthesia requires a specialized anesthesiologist and therefore incurs higher costs than local anesthesia.

Pre-Operative Consultations and Follow-Up Care

In most cases, the buccal fat removal surgery cost includes pre-operative consultations, during which the surgeon assesses your suitability for the procedure and discusses your expectations. In addition, post-operative and follow-up care expenses can affect surgery prices. 

Yes, with most practices, you can get financing options for buccal fat removal. At Tina Ho MD Facial Plastic Surgery, we accept CareCredit, which is a popular choice amongst most practitioners in the U.S. for plastic surgery procedures.  

CareCredit is currently accepted by over 250,000 enrolled health, wellness, and beauty providers. If you have your heart set on buccal fat removal surgery and you are interested in CareCredit options, please visit their website for more information.   

Testimonials

To put it simply, no. Your health insurance plan generally will not cover buccal lipectomies because typically, they will only cover medically necessary procedures. To better understand, we must consider the following definitions by the American Medical Association (AMA).

• Cosmetic Surgery: Cosmetic surgery involves modifying the body’s structures to improve the patient’s appearance.
• Reconstructive Surgery: Reconstructive surgery involves reconstructing organs damaged by congenital disabilities, developmental disorders, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease. 

Following these definitions, cosmetic surgeries are not medically necessary, but reconstructive surgeries are. The description tags a buccal fat removal procedure as cosmetic surgery, which your health insurance coverage does not consider to be a mandatory procedure. 

Is there such a thing as a good and bad candidate for buccal fat removal? Yes. You may be a good candidate for buccal fat reduction if any of the following apply to you:

• Your physical condition is good.
• Your weight is healthy.
• Your cheeks are too large, and you dislike your round and full face.
• You have pseudoherniation, or a weakened and drooping buccal fat pad.
• You are thinking of having facial feminization surgery.
• Your expectations for the result are reasonable.
• You abstain from smoking.

But it is crucial to remember that not everyone is a candidate for buccal fat removal surgery. There are some circumstances in which it might not be advised.

• If your face is already thin, the procedure could cause your cheeks to sag or become more hollow as you age.
• The procedure could impact the buccal fat pad, and the operation might not be suitable for increased hemifacial atrophy (Parry-Romberg syndrome). This uncommon disorder causes the skin to shrink on one side of the face.
• If you are older, the operation may highlight the average fat loss in your face with aging, emphasizing jowls and other facial aging indicators.

The most qualified person to decide if you are an ideal candidate for buccal fat reduction is a plastic surgeon. Dr. Tina Ho, MD, is one of the leading plastic surgeons in Philadelphia and is an expert in buccal fat reduction.

Finding the right surgeon for your buccal fat removal can be challenging. Dr. Tina Ho is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who provides exceptional results in Philadelphia. If you are looking for the best facial plastic surgeon in Philadelphia who is gentle, kind, professional, and experienced with buccal fat removal procedures, contact Dr. Tina Ho MD Facial Plastic Surgery today.  

Contact Dr. Tina Ho Facial Plastic Surgery!