What can I eat after buccal fat removal?

Buccal fat sits within the deep space of the cheek. Some patients elect to have a portion of this fat pad removed in order to slim the lower half of the face and to allow to better accentuation of the cheekbones. Buccal fat removal is typically achieved through a small incision within the mouth, on the inside of either cheek, at the level of the bite line (where the upper teeth and lower teeth meet when biting down). Following fat removal, the incisions are closed with several dissolvable stitches.

After surgery, the key is to not traumatize the incisions lines or stitches with anything too chewy or sharp (think no beefy jerky, chips, raw veggies, pretzels). Patients are advised to eat soft foods for the first week, as the incisions heal and as the postoperative swelling begins to resolve. It’s wise to stock up on soft mushy foods before surgery, like applesauce, mashed potatoes, smoothies, soups, yogurt, etc.