Bichectomy, commonly called buccal fat removal, is a surgical procedure that removes a selected portion of the buccal fat pad from the cheek through an incision inside the mouth.
Bichectomy, commonly called buccal fat removal, is a surgical procedure that removes a selected portion of the buccal fat pad from the cheek through an incision inside the mouth. It is intended for carefully selected facial shapes and is not a general weight-loss procedure. Facial width can also be influenced by bone, muscle, skin and other fat compartments.
This page is general information and contains no prices, no before-and-after promises and no recommendation. Suitability, technique, recovery and travel timing can only be determined after a medical assessment at the authorised health facility.
Published with the written consent of the person shown. Every case is individual: the same technique gives different results in different people, and nothing here is a promise of the outcome you would obtain.
Bichectomy removes a controlled portion of the buccal fat pad through the inside of the mouth. The buccal fat pad is only one contributor to facial width and contour. Bone structure, chewing muscles, superficial fat and skin all influence the shape of the lower cheek.
Buccal fat removal may be considered when persistent lower-cheek fullness is related to a prominent buccal fat pad and the person understands that facial volume changes with age. It will not substantially change a wide jaw caused by bone or strong masseter muscles, and it is not designed to treat general facial fat related to body weight. Conservative assessment is important because removing too much volume can create a hollow appearance.
Possible suitability depends on facial shape, age, baseline cheek volume, body-weight stability, skin quality, previous facial procedures, dental and oral health, smoking and expectations. People with naturally narrow or low-volume faces may not be suitable. The potential effect of future facial ageing should be discussed because buccal fat does not simply regenerate to its previous volume after removal.
Before surgery is planned, the medical assessment should review factors that can change technique, safety or aftercare:
The cheeks are evaluated to determine whether buccal fat is actually contributing to the concern. Bone structure, masseter muscle size and other fat compartments are considered.
The oral cavity is prepared and the medical team selects the appropriate anaesthesia. Instructions are given to reduce oral contamination and infection risk.
A small incision is made inside the cheek. Care is required because facial nerve branches and the parotid salivary duct are anatomically important structures in this region.
A selected amount of buccal fat is gently delivered and removed. Conservative removal helps avoid excessive hollowing or asymmetry.
The intraoral incision is usually closed with absorbable sutures. There is generally no external facial incision.
Oral hygiene, mouth rinses, diet progression, medication and warning signs are explained. Follow-up assesses swelling, symmetry and wound healing.
The cheeks can look more swollen before they look slimmer. Final contour should not be judged during the first days or weeks.
| Stage | What may happen |
|---|---|
| First days | Swelling, tenderness and tightness are common. A liquid or soft diet and specific mouth rinses may be advised. |
| First 1–2 weeks | Swelling begins to reduce and intraoral incisions heal. Oral hygiene remains important. |
| Weeks 3–6 | Facial contour gradually becomes clearer as swelling resolves. Strenuous activity is resumed according to medical advice. |
| Following months | Residual swelling continues to settle and the longer-term cheek contour becomes easier to assess. |
Although the external scar burden is low, buccal fat removal is still surgery in an anatomically sensitive area.
Travellers should plan for dietary restrictions and access to appropriate oral hygiene during the early recovery period. Spicy, hard or irritating foods may not be suitable initially if the medical team recommends a soft diet. Before flying home, confirm that swelling is progressing normally and that there are no signs of infection or salivary-duct problems.
We coordinate the journey around the procedure. Every medical step stays with the authorised facility and its healthcare professionals.
| Scope | Organisation | Health facility |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment coordination | Yes | — |
| Transfer and accommodation | Yes | — |
| Interpreting during appointments | Yes | — |
| Medical assessment, diagnosis and the procedure | — | Yes |
| Consent process and medical records | — | Yes |
| Aftercare and follow-up | — | Yes |
HN Health Turkey is an international health tourism intermediary organisation and is not a healthcare provider. Medical assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, surgery, prescriptions and follow-up care are carried out by authorised healthcare institutions and qualified healthcare professionals. Information on this page is general and does not replace individual medical advice. Suitability, technique, recovery and travel timing can only be determined after a medical assessment.
These accounts describe the coordination and travel experience only — pickup, communication, interpreting and scheduling. In line with regulation, they do not discuss medical treatment or results.
“From the very first message to the flight home, everything was handled by one coordinator. The airport pickup was on time, the interpreter came to every appointment, and whenever a detail changed we were told in writing within the hour. Travelling abroad for a procedure could have felt overwhelming, but the steady, organised communication kept the whole experience calm and genuinely manageable for us.”
“Everything was on time, every single time, and the communication stayed calm and clear from start to finish. Before we left home the coordinator walked us through the schedule, the transfers and who to contact at each step. Having one organised point of contact for all the arrangements made a foreign trip feel far less daunting than I had expected.”
“They shared the full programme in writing before we travelled, so my husband and I could plan everything around it without any guesswork. Each day was laid out with transfer times and the documents we needed to carry. Whenever we had a question the reply came quickly and in plain language, which made the whole arrangement feel organised and completely transparent.”
“Very well organised from beginning to end, and when a small hotel change came up it was sorted within hours without any fuss. The coordinator kept me updated at every stage and always confirmed the details in writing. I never had to chase anyone for information, which is exactly what you hope for when you are arranging a trip in another country.”
“We travelled as a couple and were nervous about the language and all the logistics involved. As the companion, I was given my own briefing with pickup times, the numbers to call and what to bring. Everything was written down clearly, so at no point did we feel lost or left to work things out on our own in an unfamiliar place.”
“Someone answered every message quickly, even late in the evening, which made a real difference when we were far from home. The team explained each step of the arrangements clearly and never left a question hanging. Knowing there was always a reliable person to reach out to gave us a lot of reassurance throughout the whole trip.”
“The accommodation was a short walk from the facility, and the driver was waiting exactly where they said he would be. Every transfer had been thought through in advance, so we simply followed the plan we had been given. It is the kind of careful organisation that quietly removes all the small worries you would otherwise carry on a trip abroad.”
“What stood out most was the honesty of the whole team. Nobody pushed us towards anything or made promises they couldn't keep. Every question about the process was answered plainly, and when something was for the facility to decide, they told me so directly instead of guessing on their behalf. That straightforwardness is why I felt comfortable throughout.”
“The visa and document checklist they sent ahead of time saved me a great deal of stress. Everything I needed to prepare was listed in one place and explained step by step, so I arrived with all my paperwork in order. Having that kind of clear guidance before departure made the entire journey feel organised and well within my control.”
“Coordinated from door to door, so I always knew exactly who to contact and what the next step would be. The schedule was shared with me early and updated whenever anything shifted, all in clear writing. Having a single organised point of contact for the travel and appointments took the guesswork out of a trip that could easily have been confusing.”
Request information and a coordinator will forward it, with your consent, to a partner facility — a physician there decides what, if anything, is appropriate.
This form is not for medical emergencies.
