How long does buccal fat removal take to heal?

Healing can be defined in a few different ways.

Acute, or short-term, healing occurs within the first 1-2 weeks after surgery. This is when the majority of swelling is seen and starts to dissipate, any bruising appears and then starts to disappear, and then patients experience the greatest degree of discomfort. Similarly, these first couple weeks are the most crucial in the healing phase – think of the tissues as knitting themselves back together. They require a safe, nourished, clean, and calm environment to do that. It’s important to avoid over manipulation to the area as well as extreme heat and/or stress.

Long-term healing is what happens over the next 8-12 months. And while it may seem crazy to think that tissues are still healing up to a year following a surgery, it’s true. Tissues continue to heal and remodel for months following surgery.

Specific to buccal fat removal, the incisions inside the mouth are typically healed in 2 weeks, any bruising is usually gone in 3 weeks, and the majority of swelling has improved after 3-4 months.