Bichectomy: Achieving Aesthetic, Funcional and Psychological Results with A Simple Intraoral Surgical Procedure
Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2017, Vol 1, Issue 2
Abstract
Bichectomy, or Bichat fat pad removal, is a surgical procedure indicated when there is excess volume on the middle third of the face (bellow the cheekbones / zygoma) giving it a chubby or round look. The ideal candidates are men and women who wish to achieve a slimmer face appearance in this area, and it is also recommended for patients with chronic cheek biting. Extra-oral photographs are part of the preoperative clinical assessment and will be compared with photographs taken postoperative (immediately after the procedure, after 15 days, 45 days and the final evaluation after 4 months), when the facial contour and volume reduction will be monitored. Another important part of the preoperative clinical assessment is managing the patient expectations in regards to the irreversibility of the procedure and its final results. Bichat fat pad removal is a procedure best indicated on round, oval and square face shapes. Two structures must be evaluated before the procedure: the size of the zygomatic bone - if too small, a filler might be required a few months after the bichectomy; and the masseter muscle – hypertrophied masseter muscles become more evident after the fat pad removal. Bichat fat pads were first described in 1902 by Marie François Xavier Bichat, a French Anatomist and Biologist, as an encapsulated mass of fat in the cheek, located below the zygomatic bone and above the jawline, with several extensions. On average, 3 to 4 ml of fat is removed during the procedure, with a maximum volume of 6ml. The buccal fat pad is the largest pad of the group, containing 40% of its total volume. Bichat fat pad’s primary function is mechanical. Due to its location, between the buccinator muscle and the masseter, it facilitates chewing and suckling in infants. The fat pads are made of residual fat, which explains why patients, even showing ideal weight, give the false impression of being overweight, with excessive face roundness. This condition causes dissatisfaction in men and women, many of them having suffered from bullying and low self-esteem, affecting their mental state and happiness. I don’t believe that having a thinner lower third of the face is a ‘passing fad’. After all, there has never been a hero or beauty symbol, male or female, with a round face. The best example is Nefertiti, the Egyptian queen, that is still considered a beauty symbol with her defined and prominent jaw line. Also in my opinion, the removal of Bichat fat pads do not contribute to ageing or future skin slack around the area. These are the result of the normal ageing process, due to the loss of collagen and elastin and the shifting of fat tissues under the skin that are inevitable with age. This procedure changes the contour of the face with a decrease in bulk, resulting in less weight for the tissues to support, and, therefore, less sagging. A thorough extra and intraoral evaluation is important prior to the procedure; any point of dental or gum infection must be treated before to any intraoral surgery. The procedure is done under local intraoral anesthesia. The incision, with scalpel blades or laser beam, measuring between 1 and 1.5 cm between the vestibular fold, starting from the cusp of the third or second superior molar and in the direction of the opening of the parotid duct, cuts through the following order: the jugal mucosa, the buccinator muscle, and the thin capsule of the buccal fat pad. After delicately divulsing the tissues, the fat pad is carefully pull out into the oral cavity and scised with the help of specialized pliers, taking the precaution of not damaging the pad fascia so it is possible to remove the pad in one single piece. The fat pad capsule is not removed. The mucosa is sutured. Immediately after the procedure, therapeutic laser is applied, followed by cryotherapy and compression band to minimize the risk of edema. Pain medication can be prescribed, as well as corticosteroids and antibiotics. Important structures located around the incision, and that are avoided with proper technique: parotid gland ducts, facial vein, facial artery and facial nerves. Most common complications are: bleeding, edema, ecchymosis, hematoma, subcutaneous emphysema and infections. This procedure is marked by edema; therefore we should use all management tools available to control its occurrence. Good results can be noticed within 15 days of the procedure; great results within 45 days; and the final result can effectively be seen after 4 months, when the facial volume reduction can be observed through photos. Removing the buccal fat pad will re-accommodate the masseter and buccinators muscles, increasing friction, specially on patients suffering from bruxism, however, a prescription of muscle relaxers on the first days postop are enough to control trismus. In general, very few complaints are reported. Medical studies are still establishing medium and long-term results for this procedure on patients that removed Bichat fat pads when young, but results so far are promising. Tissue accommodation and cicatrization don’t affect the connecting tissues, maintaining all functionality and longevity to the treatment.
Authors and Affiliations
Simone De Luccas
Keywords
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- EP ID EP567435
- DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000205
- Views 193
- Downloads 0
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