Tired of Your Chipmunk Cheeks? You Have Cosmetic Options to Sculpt and Thin Your Face
Posted July 30, 2023 in Facial Plastic Surgery, Facial Rejuvenation
Overly rounded and plump cheeks might have been endearing when you were younger, but adults often prefer a sculpted, refined look.
Still, not every adult loses their cheek fullness as they get older, and this extra fullness can be frustrating if the volume of your cheeks contrasts with the rest of your appearance.
It may feel like there’s not much you can do to eliminate chubby cheeks, but there are a few surgical and non-surgical cosmetic options to get you a more angular facial profile.
Minimize Round Cheeks With Neuromodulators
Injectable neuromodulators (neurotoxins) like BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport® are most commonly associated with the elimination of fine lines and wrinkles. But neuromodulators can also reshape and contour the cheeks and face.
Injecting BOTOX® Cosmetic or Dysport® into the masseter muscle is a non-surgical solution for chubby or rounded cheeks, which can be done in-office in under 30 minutes.
Masseter Muscle Injections With BOTOX® Cosmetic or Dysport®
The masseter muscle is a large muscle under the cheeks that reaches from the top of the lower jaw to the bottom of the top jaw. One of the strongest muscles, it is responsible for mastication (chewing).
Like any other muscle, the masseter muscle gets larger with repetitive movement. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. For many people who feel that their cheeks or upper facial structures are too large or disproportionate, injecting neuromodulators into the masseter muscle can help restore balance.
How Do Neuromodulators Help Thin Cheeks?
Just as BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport® temporarily restrict muscle movement to minimize dynamic wrinkles in the face, injections in the masseter relax the muscle.
After injection, your muscle will stop working as hard, which inhibits excessive muscle density. You can still move your jaw and chew normally, but over time the muscle will become smaller, resulting in a thinner, more balanced facial structure.
Buccal Fat Removal for More Contoured Cheeks
A surgical solution for chubby cheeks that has recently sparked interest is buccal fat removal surgery. If you’re wondering how previously chipmunk-cheeked celebrities achieve razor-sharp cheekbones seemingly overnight, buccal fat removal surgery might be the answer.
What Is Buccal Fat Removal?
Buccal fat removal surgery, sometimes called buccal fat pad removal, is a cosmetic procedure in which a plastic surgeon removes a pocket of fat in the cheek hollow area to instantly contour and sculpt the face.
The buccal fat pad naturally occurs between your cheekbones and jawbones, although the volume and size of the fat varies from person to person. While this is a surgery, it is fairly straightforward and can be performed in a short amount of time.
Buccal Fat Removal Results
Due to the procedure’s minimally invasive nature, post-operative downtime is minimal, and swelling decreases in about a week. Once removed, the buccal fat pad will not grow back, so this procedure is considered permanent.
Some patients do not have enough buccal fat, so you may be advised against the procedure, as those with minimal fat may appear overly gaunt with age.
However, if you have excessively rounded cheeks, this procedure will give you instantly sculpted and contoured cheeks. The buccal fat removal surgery can have stunning results, so this may be a fantastic option for chubby, rounded cheeks.
Cheek and Face Sculpting in Miami, FL
Careaga Plastic Surgery in Miami offers a range of services for minimizing the appearance of rounded cheeks and facial contouring. Give us a call at (305) 960-7511 or complete our online contact form for more information.