Chubby Cheeks: How to Get a Slimmer Face

Cheeks are the part of our face that extends from underneath our eyes to the bottom of our jaw. They are composed of multiple components including muscles for eating and smiling, as well as the buccal fat pad.

Chubby cheeks occur when the fat inside the buccal pads increase to the point that your facial appearance looks full and rounded in the cheek area.

Anyone can be prone to chubby cheeks regardless of underlying body weight, however fat cheeks do correlate among those with higher body weights.  

Chubby cheeks can be caused either by genetics, weight gain, or your underlying facial anatomy, with fat gain being the primary cause, followed by genetics and facial anatomy. However, you could be affected by a combination of the factors too.

Genetics

Fat cheeks can be the result of genetics. You may simply have a genetic pre-disposition to store more fat in your face and buccal fat pads. Additionally, many people are simply born with a naturally larger or thicker buccal fat pads. This fat storage isn’t always evenly distributed either – you may have larger buccal fat pads but have a slim body.

Weight Gain

While genetics plays a role, weight gain is another main contributor to fat cheeks. If you gain weight, that extra fat can be distributed around your body including your buccal fat pads which will ultimately make your cheeks appear chubbier. Specifically, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and a lack of hydration are detrimental factors and negative lifestyle choices that can cause fat cheeks.

Facial Anatomy

Everyone has a different facial anatomy and this can give the appearance of fatter cheeks. Some people have larger cheekbones which makes the lower face look larger in comparison to the upper face. Similarly, some people have more developed and stronger facial muscles which can give the appearance of chubby cheeks even if their buccal fat pads are of a normal size. 

Lifestyle changes can make a huge difference to chubby cheeks and should be your first line of defence before considering surgical treatments since one of the primary causes of chubby cheeks is excess of fat meaning that weight control is especially important. 

When looking at how to get a slimmer face, non-invasive treatments have a limited impact.

Procedures like CoolSculpting, Ultherapy, and Dermal Fillers can make a difference, but are only able to target the condition indirectly.

This is because non-invasive treatments typically work by adding volume, tightening skin, and removing old layers of skin. This contouring and sculpting effect can help reduce chubby cheeks, but doesn’t directly address the underlying issue of excess fat in the buccal fat pads and facial fullness. 

The most effective way to get rid of chubby cheeks surgically is either buccal fat removal or liposuction.

Buccal Fat Removal

When looking at how to slim your face where lifestyle changes have had a limited effect, buccal fat removal is considered the best option. This procedure is also called cheek contouring or a buccal lipectomy and involves completely removing the buccal fat pads from your cheeks.

During the procedure, local anaesthetic is used and small incisions are made on the inside of your mouth. The surgeon then removes part or all of the buccal fat pads inside your cheeks depending on the desired results, and the incisions are stitched together.

This treatment has the benefit of directly targeting the buccal fat pads which a primary cause of chubby cheeks. No visible external scarring is left either, and there is no need for general anaesthetic.

Liposuction

If you want a quicker recovery time, liposuction could be the quickest way to lose face fat. This effective form of chubby cheeks reduction typically takes between 30 minutes to one hour, and either local or general anaesthetic can be used depending on your individual case and preference.

During the procedure, small incisions on either side of your face are made. Into this, a cannula is inserted through which the excess fat from your cheeks is then removed.

The benefits of liposuction are the quicker recovery times and the fact that it’s a minimally invasive surgery with no need to enter your mouth. However, less fat can be safely removed compared to buccal fat removal, and the process doesn’t directly target the buccal fat pads.