I ended up with chipmunk face with loss of volume on the side affected by the abscess (right in photo). I went again for buccal fat removal, but I am still unhappy with the asymmetry in my face. My left cheek (right in photo) it’s still much more smaller than the right side (left in photo). I would like to even out. I would like to know if superficial liposuction to my right cheek is an option. Or should I go for fat transplant/filler to the one that has lost volume?
Dr. Mesas answered: Infection is the number 1 risk of buccal fat removal or any other plastic surgery procedure. When an abscess forms in the cheeks, the gold standard treatment is drainage of it.
Swelling of the cheeks post abscess drainage could last for at least 6 months. Therefore, the face may look asymmetric until then. Thus, it is no recommended to undergo any other cheek procedure (eg fat transfer) to achieve a more symmetric face until the swelling has been resolved.
Patients who are not completely satisfied with buccal fat removal are usually in their 30s and above, have not good cheek bones, and their cheek bones were not enhanced before or at the time of the buccal fat removal. High cheek bones are the key to have a great buccal fat removal result