A buccal fat procedure removes fat from the cheeks through an incision in each side of the mouth in order to allow for better definition of the cheekbones and jawline, and to result in a more slender face.

If you have been thinking: “I wish my cheeks were a little more defined” then you may have more in common with celebrity A-listers than you think! Chrissy Teigen has admitted to having had it done. Madonna, Demi Moore, Bella Hadid and recently Lea Michele look like they have had it done.

Buccal Fat Removal: Too Good To Be True?

Buccal fat removal is all over the news and it is purported to be an innovative new fat removal procedure that will give your face the look you’ve always wanted. Can you trust the media? Well, there’s this….

The buccal fat removal procedure was first described in 1802. It initially had it’s moment in the spotlight, but sculpted cheeks soon morphed into hollowed ones that were gaunt, unappealing and untreatable. Understandably, the procedure fell out of favor. But as with all things fashion and beauty, prior trends get recycled and what was old (pun intended) can become new again!

So, how do you know if buccal fat removal is right for you? How can you predict if it will leave you looking like a masterpiece or a mistake?

1. Consult with a trusted surgeon to understand your unique anatomy.
2. Understand the risks. The immediate risks include infection, bleeding, scarring, and a rare but real risk of damage to the facial nerve that can result in temporary or permanent partial facial paralysis, regional numbness and/or loss of taste. The longer-term risks of this procedure include changes in facial symmetry and appearance as the face ages. These changes may not be immediately apparent after the procedure, but may become more noticeable as the individual gets older. Because this procedure is not reversible, the long-term risks and potential consequences should be carefully considered before making a decision.

Your beauty is an external reflection of your internal health and wellness. Dr. Yagoda believes in and promotes an integrative approach to help you feel and look your best.

According to a recent study by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, there were nearly 2 million hyaluronic acid filler injections performed in 2015. With immediate rejuvenating results and little-to-no downtime, why not have filler?

Here are 6 truths about fillers you’ll wish your dermatologist told you:

1. You can have too much of a good thing. So…it softened your nasolabial folds (the lines connecting the corner of your lips to the outside of your nostrils). It muted your marionette lines (the lines heading south from the corners of your mouth). Now, why not plump up your cheeks? Well, you can….sort of…. But just like a Hervé Léger bandage dress, you need to have the right underlying bone structure. If not, watch out or meet Ms. Bobblehead!

2. It’s not what you use, it’s how you use it! Juvederm? Restylane? Voluma? Does it really make a difference which hyaluronic acid filler you choose? While some docs prefer one or another, most will agree that it’s not which one is used, but how and where it is placed. For lips, filler should be injected where the pink part and white part connect, not in the pink, fleshy part causing unnatural lumps and bumps. For the nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and cheeks, filler placed too superficial will be visible through the skin, and filler put too deep will cause you to spend more and see less!

3. Cheek filler is like pregnancy. It lasts about 9-10 months. In injected cheeks, like an expecting belly, gravity continues to wreak havoc, and aging cheek skin (stretched with filler) continues to droop. Filler has limited hoisting potential so woe be the one who refuses surgery (when the time is right). There is a point of no return when no additional filler can do the trick.

4. You don’t need a facelift to get rid of early jowls. Good news! A bit of perfectly placed filler can eliminate jowls and return your jawline to its youthful, superhero vigor.

5. Filler here. Filler there. Filler, filler everywhere? Yes, filler can be used in the chin crease and even in the tear trough (the diagonal and indented pathway down which tears flow). However, fillers should not be injected in the “11” lines in the forehead, unless the area is first immobilized with Botox or Dysport, and, then, only if the line remains visible. If not, filler will tend to move with muscle motion and clump in a visible location.

6. Forego the facials and avoid a breakdown. While having a facial can be a great was to melt away stress and tension, extended facial massage (and radio frequency tightening treatments) can breakdown filler and make it go away faster. Tell your facialist about the location(s) of your filler to improve its life expectancy at the same time!