Buccal Fat Removal in Boston

Sculpt sharper, more defined cheekbones and revitalize your lower face with a customized buccal fat removal in Boston. In her work at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ashley Lonergan focuses on subtle, refined enhancements that help you love what you see in the mirror.

Sculpting a More Defined Lower Face

Fullness in the lower cheeks can create a more youthful appearance, but can also establish rounder contours than you’d like. Dr. Lonergan takes a conservative approach to buccal fat removal in Boston, focusing on small adjustments that preserve your natural shape and avoid hollowed or overly angular results.

What Is Buccal Fat Removal?

Buccal fat removal is a surgical procedure that reduces the fat pad located in the lower cheeks, creating a slimmer, more sculpted facial contour. It's most often chosen by patients who feel their cheek fullness persists regardless of diet or exercise, since this fat pad doesn't respond to weight loss the way other areas of the body do. While every patient has their own motivation for pursuing surgery, many come to Dr. Lonergan to achieve the following:

A more contoured, defined lower cheek area
Improved visibility of the cheekbones and jawline
Reduced roundness in the cheeks
A permanent change that doesn't require maintenance
Subtle refinement rather than a dramatically altered shape

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Why Choose Dr. Ashley Lonergan?

When it comes to buccal fat removal, restraint matters more than in almost any other facial surgery. Dr. Lonergan approaches buccal fat removal with a focus on refinement, removing only what will genuinely improve your contour rather than chasing the most dramatic result possible. Her work is guided by your desires, both in terms of aesthetic preferences and medical needs.

Dr. Lonergan’s elevated judgment was shaped during her fellowship at The Williams Center for Plastic Surgery, where facial balance and proportion were central to her training. Before her fellowship, she earned her medical degree at Tufts University and completed her residency in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Irvine.

What to Expect From Your Buccal Fat Removal in Boston

Confirming Your Candidacy

Buccal fat removal tends to suit patients with fuller, rounder faces and good skin elasticity, rather than those who are already lean or beginning to show early signs of facial aging. During your private consultation, Dr. Lonergan will evaluate your face shape, fat distribution, and long-term aging pattern before determining if buccal fat removal is right for you.

Subtle, Refined Enhancements

The amount of fat removed makes the biggest difference in your outcome, and Dr. Lonergan will determine this based on your natural cheek structure rather than a standard amount. She'll aim for a result that looks proportionate immediately and remains natural-looking for years to come. Because facial fat naturally diminishes with age, she'll also walk you through how your face is likely to change over the next decade, so you don't end up with a result that looks hollow later in life.

Buccal Fat Removal vs. Facial Fat Transfer

While buccal fat removal reduces fullness, some patients may still need volume added elsewhere in the midface to achieve true balance. During your initial consultation, Dr. Lonergan will review your aesthetic goals and discuss whether they call for fat removal alone or a combined approach that restores volume in another area.

Your Surgery Day Experience

Once your procedure is complete, you'll spend a short period in recovery before going home the same day. You’ll need to be accompanied by a trusted friend, family member, or partner to and from Dr. Lonergan’s Boston office. She’ll review your immediate care instructions with you and your companion before you head home.

Patient-First Recovery

Recovery from buccal fat removal in Boston typically involves swelling and mild bruising along the cheeks for the first one to two weeks, with some tightness while chewing or speaking during the initial days. Depending on your needs, Dr. Lonergan may provide you with a compression head wrap to reduce initial swelling and support your healing tissues. Most Boston patients return to normal activities, including regular conversation, social gatherings, and gentle movement, within one week, though swelling may take several months to fully resolve. You must stick to soft foods for the first few days to avoid irritating the healing incision sites in your mouth, and you should avoid strenuous activity for at least four weeks to allow your body to heal.

Your Post-Op Process

After your procedure, Dr. Lonergan will provide you with a recovery plan built around your specific needs. This plan will typically cover the following:

Saltwater rinse instructions to keep incisions clean
Swelling and pain management strategies
Guidance on soft foods and hydration during early healing
Activity limitations
Sleep position restrictions
Side effects to monitor as you recover

Over the coming weeks, you’ll return to Dr. Lonergan’s Boston office for several follow-up visits to track your progress. There, she’ll assess your healing, ensure all sutures have dissolved properly, and approve you for high-impact activities, such as eating crunchy foods, intense exercise, and contact sports.

Natural-Looking, Beautiful Results

The final results of your buccal fat removal in Boston will slowly emerge as swelling resolves over the following weeks, revealing a more contoured lower face. You’ll notice a more proportionate lower face, with sharper cheekbones and a more defined jawline that still feel unmistakably like you, both now and as you age.

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Buccal Fat Removal Frequently Asked Questions

Will buccal fat removal make my face look hollow as I age?

Dr. Lonergan removes a conservative amount of fat specifically to reduce the risk of hollowing over time, taking into account how your face is likely to age. If you’re concerned about future changes, Dr. Lonergan can discuss fat transfer options after your surgery.

Is buccal fat removal permanent?

Yes. Once the buccal fat pad is removed, it does not grow back, making this a permanent change to your facial contour. This is different from weight-related fat, which can fluctuate over time.

How long does a buccal fat removal procedure take?

Buccal fat removal is typically a shorter procedure, often completed within about an hour, depending on whether it's combined with another treatment. Dr. Lonergan will confirm your specific procedure time during your consultation, so you know exactly what to expect.

Can buccal fat removal be combined with other procedures?

Yes. Some of Dr. Lonergan’s Boston patients have combined buccal fat removal with chin augmentation or facial fat transfer to achieve more complete facial balance. Dr. Lonergan will discuss whether combining procedures is appropriate for your specific goals and anatomy during your one-on-one consultation.