Buccal Fat Removal in Atlanta, GA
Buccal fat removal reduces fullness in the lower cheeks for a more defined, contoured profile, in a single in-office procedure with Dr. Arshia Payman at ANEWU.
What is buccal fat removal, and how does it work?
Buccal fat removal is an in-office procedure that reduces the buccal fat pad in the lower cheek to create a more defined contour from cheekbone to jaw. At ANEWU, Dr. Arshia Payman performs it through a small incision inside the mouth, using local anesthesia, so no external scar is left.
If you have ever wondered why some faces stay full through the lower cheek no matter what the scale says, this pad is usually the reason.
Inside the cheek: what the buccal fat pad actually does.
The pad sits deep in the lower cheek, separate from the fat layer under the skin. Its size varies widely, and reducing it changes the shadow line from cheekbone to jaw.
- Buccal fat pad
- A pocket of fat deep in the lower cheek. Its size is structural, not tied to body weight.
- Facial contour
- The line light travels along from cheekbone to jaw. Reducing volume low on the cheek sharpens it.
- Intraoral incision
- An incision inside the mouth rather than on the skin, which is why there is no external scar.
Am I a candidate for buccal fat removal?
You may be a candidate if your lower cheeks stay full at a stable, healthy weight and you want a sharper line from cheekbone to jaw. Buccal fat pad size is structural, not a fitness issue, which is why diet and exercise rarely change it. Dr. Payman confirms candidacy at a free consultation.
- Your lower cheeks look full even at a stable, healthy weight.
- You want a more defined line from cheekbone to jaw.
- Diet and exercise have not changed the fullness.
- You are in good general health and ready for a short recovery.
- You understand this is a structural refinement, not a dramatic change.
Not every face benefits from less volume here. A naturally narrow face is a reason to leave the pad alone.
What happens during buccal fat removal, step by step?
Buccal fat removal takes one in-office visit. Dr. Payman numbs the cheek with local anesthesia, makes a small incision inside the mouth, reduces the buccal fat pad, then closes the incision. Most patients go home the same day with written aftercare instructions from Dr. Payman.
- 1
Consultation and facial assessment
Dr. Payman looks at your facial structure, asks what you want changed, and explains what reducing the pad would and would not do.
- 2
The in-office procedure
Local anesthesia, a small incision inside the cheek, and a measured reduction of the fat pad. Nothing is cut on the skin.
- 3
Aftercare and follow-up
You go home the same day with aftercare guidance and a follow-up as needed. New here? Read what to expect at your first visit.
Buccal fat removal compared with dermal filler contouring.
| Buccal fat removal | Dermal filler contouring | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Reduces fat for a slimmer lower cheek | Adds volume to reshape the contour |
| Permanence | A one-time change, meant to hold | Softens over time, needs maintenance |
| Suited to | Lower cheek fullness at a stable weight | A face that would benefit from added cheekbone or jawline structure |
| Visits | One in-office procedure, plus follow-up | Repeat appointments to keep the result |
| Downtime | Swelling, days to weeks | Minimal |
Prefer to add structure instead of taking it away? Dermal filler contouring works the other way.
How long does recovery from buccal fat removal take?
Plan for a few quiet days. Swelling in the cheeks is expected at first and typically eases over the following days to weeks, and the final contour is only clear once that swelling has fully settled. Dr. Payman gives you written aftercare guidance before you leave and schedules a follow-up visit as needed.
The first few days
Swelling is at its most noticeable. Rest, and follow the aftercare instructions you were sent home with.
As the swelling eases
Because swelling has to resolve before any contour change shows, the lower face can look fuller at this stage rather than slimmer.
When you see the result
The line from cheekbone to jaw reads clearly once swelling has settled.
A slimmer, more defined lower face.
- Clearest in three-quarter view, where the cheek meets the jaw.
- Skin texture and lip shape are unchanged, since nothing is treated at the surface.
- Only the buccal pad is reduced, so the rest of the face still moves with weight.
Individual results vary with facial structure. Patient stories from ANEWU show how results get discussed first.
How much does buccal fat removal cost in Atlanta?
Cost depends on your anatomy and on whether buccal fat removal is done on its own or alongside another facial aesthetics treatment. Facial aesthetics procedures are not typically covered by dental or medical insurance. ANEWU gives you a figure at your free consultation, and accepts CareCredit and Proceed Finance.
We do not publish a number, because a figure quoted before anyone has seen your face is a guess.
See financing optionsIs buccal fat removal permanent?
Yes. Once the buccal fat pad is reduced it does not grow back the way weight-related volume can, so the contour change is meant to last. Because the result holds, Dr. Payman removes a measured amount rather than as much as possible, since volume taken from the cheek cannot be put back.
If you have ever wondered whether a contouring result can be walked back later, this is the difference. Filler softens and fades. A reduced fat pad does not return.
Facial aesthetics at ANEWU is planned as one set of decisions, so laser skin resurfacing can be discussed in the same visit.
Buccal fat removal questions, answered.
What patients ask most before a first visit. Broader answers live in our new patient FAQs.
Ask us directlyDr. Arshia Payman, a board-certified physician specializing in aesthetic medicine, performs this procedure in-office.
No. The procedure is done through a small incision inside the mouth, so there's no visible external scar.
Yes. Buccal fat removal is performed in-office with local anesthesia, so you are awake and the cheek is numb. Dr. Payman goes over what you will feel before the procedure begins.
Yes. Some patients pair it with Botox or dermal fillers as part of one coordinated facial aesthetics plan with Dr. Payman.
Your facial aesthetics provider at ANEWU.
Dr. Arshia Payman, MD
Dr. Payman leads facial aesthetics at ANEWU, trained at George Washington University and across four Washington D.C. hospitals. She works alongside Dr. Abtin so your surgical and aesthetic goals move together.
Last updated September 2026 Meet Dr. PaymanTalk to Dr. Payman about facial contouring.
A free consultation is the easiest way to find out whether this fits your facial structure.
Reviewed by Dr. Arshia Payman, MD, a physician specializing in aesthetic medicine. Last updated September 2026.