Abstract
According to the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, Brazil is one of the world leaders in plastic surgery, with approximately 2 million procedures performed annually, according to 2023 estimates, and about 0.5% of the total are represented by aesthetic surgeries such as bichectomy. Bilateral cheek symmetry is necessary, with the upper part limited by the infraorbital sulcus and zygomatic arch, and the lower part by the inferior border of the mandible. In this context, bichectomy is based on the partial removal of the adipose body (Bichat's Fat Pad) located in the cheek area. The main indication for this procedure is for patients with a marked linea alba or trauma to the buccal mucosa; however, this technique is increasingly sought for aesthetic purposes. Thus, BF removal has become increasingly popular among dental surgeons. The removal of the buccal fat allows safe results in the volumetric reduction of the lower facial third and definition of the contours and aesthetically pleasing angulations of this region. However, the main risks of bichectomy are listed as infection, bleeding, hematoma (due to some clot in some vessel or lack of external compression in the postoperative period), nerve damage, and injury to the duct of the parotid gland, which is the saliva channel. In addition, the patient may have excessive cavities in the cheek region and early facial aging.