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Cosmetic Surgery · Chicago, Illinois

Buccal Fat Removal in Chicago

A short procedure that removes the buccal fat pad from the lower cheek to create a more sculpted, hollowed look, and the operation most likely to be regretted if done at the wrong age. Compare Chicago clinics below and request a free consultation.

Typical cost in Chicago

$2,500–$6,000

per procedure · USD

A general range for Chicago, rounded for guidance. Confirm exact pricing with each clinic.

Surgeon directory

Buccal Fat Removal surgeons in Chicago

Plastic surgeons in Chicago who list buccal fat removal among their procedures. Tap any surgeon to view details and request a consultation.

Dr. Otto Placik | Chicago Plastic Surgeon in Chicago

Dr. Otto Placik | Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Chicago

4.9 (145) · Google

Financing available

Dr. Otto Placik | Chicago Plastic Surgeon is a plastic surgery practice in Chicago, Illinois, rated 4.9 stars across 145 Google reviews, performing 21 tracked procedures.

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That Face Facial Plastic Surgery in Chicago

That Face Facial Plastic Surgery

Chicago

4.9 (85) · Google

That Face Facial Plastic Surgery is a plastic surgery practice in Chicago, Illinois, rated 4.9 stars across 85 Google reviews, performing 15 tracked procedures.

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Dr. Robert Lukavsky M.D. in Chicago

Dr. Robert Lukavsky M.D.

Chicago

5.0 (79) · Google

Financing available

Dr. Robert Lukavsky M.D. is a plastic surgery practice in Chicago, Illinois, rated 5 stars across 79 Google reviews, performing 24 tracked procedures.

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Chicago Institute of Plastic Surgery in Chicago

Chicago Institute of Plastic Surgery

Chicago

4.8 (387) · Google

Chicago Institute of Plastic Surgery is a plastic surgery practice in Chicago, Illinois, rated 4.8 stars across 387 Google reviews, performing 24 tracked procedures.

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Michael Horn Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Chicago

Michael Horn Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Chicago

4.7 (316) · Google

Financing available

Michael Horn Plastic Surgery & Med Spa is a plastic surgery practice in Chicago, Illinois, rated 4.7 stars across 316 Google reviews, performing 23 tracked procedures.

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Impressions Face + Body in Chicago

Impressions Face + Body

Chicago

4.7 (297) · Google

Impressions Face + Body is a plastic surgery practice in Chicago, Illinois, rated 4.7 stars across 297 Google reviews, performing 21 tracked procedures.

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Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics in Chicago

Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics

Chicago

4.7 (281) · Google

Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics is a plastic surgery practice in Chicago, Illinois, rated 4.7 stars across 281 Google reviews, performing 22 tracked procedures.

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See all 34 plastic surgeons in Chicago →

About Buccal Fat Removal

A short procedure that removes the buccal fat pad from the lower cheek to create a more sculpted, hollowed look, and the operation most likely to be regretted if done at the wrong age.

Sessions

One procedure, permanent and not reversible

Downtime

3 to 7 days of visible swelling, final result at 3 to 6 months

Good candidate

Adults typically over 25 with genuinely full lower cheeks that have persisted at a stable, healthy weight, who understand the change is permanent

  • Defines the cheekbone and creates a more sculpted lower face
  • Short procedure, often under an hour, usually with local anesthesia
  • Incisions are inside the mouth, leaving no visible scar
  • Permanent result
Read the full Buccal Fat Removal guide →
At a glance

Buccal Fat Removal in Chicago: the numbers

12 plastic surgery practices in the Chicago area list buccal fat removal. From Google Places listings; hours and locations change, so confirm with the practice.

  • Together the 12 with Google reviews hold 3,667 reviews at an average rating of 4.7; 10 have 100 or more.
  • Where they are: Chicago (11), South Barrington (1).
  • 2 of 12 list Saturday hours on Google.
From their own websites

What Chicago buccal fat removal practices state about themselves

What 11 Chicago practices that list buccal fat removal say on their own websites (checked September 2026); one that does not mention something may still offer it, so ask at your consultation.

  • 4 of 11 state certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
  • Other boards named: American Board of Surgery (2), American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (2), American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (1), American Board of Otolaryngology (1)
  • 4 of 11 state they are Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
  • 1 of 11 state an accredited surgical facility
  • 2 of 11 mention virtual consultations
  • 2 of 11 state a free consultation
  • 2 state a consultation fee, from $100 to $250
  • 1 of 11 mention financing
  • Languages practices say they speak: Spanish (1)
  • 3 of 11 show before-and-after photos on their site

In their words

Dr. Benjamin Caughlin, MD, FACS: Double Board Certified Facial Plastic SurgeonThe buccal fat removal surgery occurs at our stunning plastic surgery office downtown Chicago. Depending on the patient’s unique needs and wants, it takes anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes, while the therapy can be done under general or local anesthesia.
Anil Shah, MD, FACSPatients can be a candidates for buccal fat removal in Chicago with Dr. Anil Shah if they have any fullness in the middle portion of their face.
Dr. Robert Lukavsky M.D.If you don’t have enough facial volume, buccal fat removal could leave you with a gaunt or hollow look.
Gold Coast Plastic Surgery - George Moynihan, M.D.If you don’t have enough facial volume, buccal fat removal could leave you with a gaunt or hollow look.
Show 3 more statements →
Dr. Benjamin Caughlin, MD, FACS: Double Board Certified Facial Plastic SurgeonWith buccal fat removal, patients do not have to worry about scars. This surgery is minimally invasive, and all of the incisions are made within the mouth, leaving no scars.
Anil Shah, MD, FACSYes, patients recover at home the same day as a buccal fat removal. Patients flying from afar are recommended to stay overnight prior to flying out.
Gold Coast Plastic Surgery - George Moynihan, M.D.The goal of buccal fat pad removal is to carefully remove an excess of the natural fat in the cheek area, to create a more prominent cheekbone look, and treat an overly round facial structure.
FAQ

Buccal Fat Removal in Chicago: common questions

How much does Buccal Fat Removal cost in Chicago?

Buccal Fat Removal generally runs $2,500–$6,000 per procedure, and each Chicago clinic sets its own price. The biggest variables are the provider's experience level and the specific device or product used. Newer technology and senior injectors price at the upper end. Pricing is quoted in US dollars (USD). Request a consultation from any of our listed Chicago clinics for a personalized quote.

When will I see results from Buccal Fat Removal?

Initial results in 2–4 weeks, with full results developing over 3 months as collagen builds. Chicago providers typically schedule follow-ups to track progress.

How often should I get Buccal Fat Removal?

Maintenance schedules vary. Most Chicago providers recommend periodic refresh sessions every 6–12 months once optimal results are achieved.

What is the buccal fat pad?

It is a distinct, encapsulated pad of fat sitting in the hollow of your cheek, separate from the fat layer just under the skin. It is not the same thing as general facial fullness or weight. Removing it narrows the lower cheek specifically. Because it is a discrete structure, the result is predictable, and because it does not grow back, the result is permanent.

What is the catch?

Faces lose volume with age, naturally and progressively. Fullness in your twenties often becomes hollowness in your forties without any surgery at all. Removing the buccal fat pad accelerates that trajectory permanently, and a result that looks sculpted at 25 can look gaunt at 45. Many surgeons decline to perform it on younger patients for exactly this reason, and that refusal is good judgment rather than lost business.

Can it be reversed?

Not really. The pad cannot be put back. Volume can be restored with fillers or fat grafting, which means ongoing cost and maintenance for the rest of your life to replace something you paid to have removed. Treat this as a permanent decision, because functionally it is.

How much does it cost?

Nationally, $2,500 to $6,000, which makes it one of the least expensive procedures on this list. That affordability, combined with heavy social media promotion, is part of why it is so frequently performed on people who are poor candidates. Low cost is not a reason to have an irreversible operation.

Who is a genuinely good candidate?

Someone with true buccal fat pad prominence, meaning full lower cheeks that persist even at a stable healthy weight, who is old enough that their facial fat distribution has settled, generally mid-twenties and beyond, and who understands the aging trajectory. Someone who simply wants a more contoured face and has seen it online is usually better served by makeup, weight stability, or nothing at all.

Request a free Buccal Fat Removal consult