Bichectomy (Buccal Fat Removal)
Removes part of the Bichat fat pad to reduce fullness in the lower cheek.
Save up to 70% vs the UK & Germany
- Stay in Istanbul
- 3-4 days
- Time in theatre
- 45 min
- In hospital
- Same-day discharge
- Anaesthesia
- Local anaesthetic
- Back to work
- 3 days
- Full result
- 4 months
Overview
A bichectomy removes part of the Bichat fat pad inside the lower cheek through small incisions made within the mouth. At Clinic Mery it takes about 45 minutes under local anaesthetic, you are discharged the same day and no external scar is left. The fat cannot be put back, so how much is taken is judged carefully against your facial proportions and your age.
Benefits
- Incisions are inside the mouth, so no visible scar is created on the face
- Local anaesthetic is enough; there is no general anaesthetic or hospital stay
- The procedure takes about 45 minutes and you return to your hotel the same day
- Desk work is realistic at around three days
- Assessed together with the chin and cheekbone plan where relevant
Who is this treatment for?
Usually suitable
- Adults at a stable weight with genuine fat-related fullness in the lower cheek
- People whose cheek fullness has not changed despite losing weight
- Anyone deciding with a clear understanding that the procedure cannot be reversed
Needs assessment first
- People under 25, whose facial volume has not settled and naturally reduces with age
- Those with an already slim face or low body fat, where the result can read as gaunt
- Anyone whose real expectation is jawline definition or reduction of fat under the chin
Final suitability is decided by your consultant after examination and imaging in Istanbul.
Your treatment, step by step
- 01
Free online consultation
Send front and profile photographs; within 24 hours we assess free of charge whether your cheek fullness is caused by fat and whether the procedure suits you.
- 02
Examination and measured planning
The surgeon palpates the fat pad from inside the mouth and reviews your facial proportions and skin support. How much is to be removed is decided here, since taking too much causes a hollow look later.
- 03
The procedure: 45 minutes under local anaesthetic
Through incisions a few millimetres long inside the cheek, the planned portion of the fat pad is removed and closed with dissolvable sutures.
- 04
Check-up and flying home
On day 3–4 the healing inside the mouth is checked and diet and oral hygiene are explained. With your surgeon's approval you fly home the same day.
Aftercare & long-term tips
For a week after you fly home, eat soft, lukewarm food and avoid hard or spicy meals. Use the prescribed mouthwash regularly and keep up your oral hygiene, since smoking noticeably delays healing inside the mouth. The result settles at around four months, with follow-up by photograph during that period.
First 24 hours
Stick to soft, lukewarm foods and drinks; avoid very hot or hard items while any numbness or sensitivity settles.
First few days
Ease back into normal eating as sensitivity fades — usually within a few days.
Long term
Eat normally and protect your result with the simple habits below.
Do
- Brush twice a day and floss daily
- Attend your regular check-ups and cleanings
- Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
- Keep the area clean and rinse as advised
Avoid
- Biting very hard objects — ice, pen lids, shells
- Opening bottle or soda caps with your teeth
- Too many hard nuts or sticky, chewy sweets
- Smoking and staining drinks in the first days
What's included
- Free consultation & treatment plan
- Treatment by specialist dentists
- 5-star hotel accommodation
- Private VIP airport transfers
- Personal translator & 24/7 support
- Aftercare & treatment guarantee
Risks and an honest expectation
Although a bichectomy is done from inside the mouth, the risks are real: infection or blood collecting inside the cheek, limited mouth opening for several days, asymmetry between the two cheeks and irregularity that appears once swelling settles. A branch of the facial nerve and the parotid duct lie deep within the cheek and, rarely, can be injured, which is a serious complication. The commonest lasting problem is a hollow appearance from removing too much, and this is precisely why the amount taken is kept conservative.
They flew in. They flew home changed.
Frequently asked questions
Other treatments in this department
Ready for a new start?
Send a few photos. Within 24 hours you get a free treatment plan and a transparent, all-inclusive price.
- We reply in about an hour
- Save up to 70% versus the UK, Germany and Spain
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