Dr. Alberto Henao M.
Facial Plastic Surgery
BICHECTOMY
Bichectomy is a minimally invasive technique, in which the bichat bags, that is, the accumulations of fat that accumulate on the cheeks, are extracted and consists of making two incisions of a centimeter or two approximately inside the mouth , one on each side, at the height of the intermediate part between the grinding wheels.
From there, the bichat bags are extracted, in order to outline the facial oval with permanent results, because the removed fat does not reproduce again.
The results are sharper, sharper faces, resulting in more prominent cheekbones and faces with high levels of facial harmony.
Diagnostic Appointment
When you are going to have a Bichectomy, the first step for it is to do a thorough evaluation of the face. The purpose is to estimate the exact amount of fat to be removed from the cheeks so that the face can be seen more defined and the need for some other therapy or procedure.
Laboratory work: The surgeon requests laboratory tests such as blood tests. Each surgeon requests different tests according to the patient and his medical history.
Medications: The patient should inform the surgeon about all the medications they are taking and discuss the impact it could have on the procedure. Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, or vitamin supplements that may increase bleeding.
Quit Smoking: It is recommended to quit long before the procedure. Check with your plastic surgeon about when it should be done.
Location of procedure and anesthesia: Your plastic surgeon should discuss where the procedure will be performed and what type of anesthesia will be used.
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Process
Bichectomy is an extremely simple operation through which all that extra fat that is usually found in the cheek area can be removed.
Once it has been decided to perform the surgery, it is necessary to apply local anesthesia in the cheek area, since it is an outpatient operation and does not require general anesthesia. The application of anesthesia takes only a few minutes; It is important to know that during the application of anesthesia you will feel the pain of the prick and a slight burning from the anesthetic liquid.
After the anesthesia is placed, wait for about 5 minutes to make sure that the cheek area has been completely numbed in order to finally start a bichectomy itself.
Make a few small cuts on the inside of the cheeks, specifically in the middle area of the inside of the cheeks; since it is through these simple incisions that the surgical procedure will begin.
Postoperative and care after a Bichectomy
During the two days following the operation, cold bands should be applied to the face, specifically to the cheek area. It is normal for you to feel the area more swollen than the day before and feel the cheeks "hard." These symptoms will pass in about 7-10 days, perhaps sooner.
If you have not taken antibiotics before surgery, you will start taking them after the operation. The surgeon will also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the normal swelling that occurs after surgery. Both antibiotics and anti-inflammatories should be taken about 5-7 days, as prescribed.
From the day of the bichectomy, the patient must follow a special diet that will be provided by the surgeon, a diet that will help recovery. Thus, after the operation the patient will be able to drink only liquids. When the doctor orders it, he can introduce soft foods that complete the diet.
Likewise, from the day after the end of the surgery you will have to increase your oral cleaning, especially every time you drink liquids and food. This will reduce the risks of infection. During the first 24 hours you will not be able to rinse your mouth. After two days, the doctor will advise you to rinse with salt water twice a day for a week. After 2 or 3 days you can join the job.
After a week, you can introduce other foods, following the recommendations indicated by the doctor at all times. It will then be when the patient comes to the surgeon's consultation for review. If the stitches placed by the doctor are not absorbable, the doctor will remove them from the inside of the mouth and examine that the recovery follows its natural course, that is, that there is no infection and that the incisions heal properly.
After two weeks, the patient will be able to resume most of the habits they did before surgery, such as practicing physical exercise, and even smoking, although they could also take advantage of bichectomy to end this bad habit.
As we have already mentioned, despite the fact that a compression band is used for a few hours, it is normal for the face to be swollen for a few weeks, so the patient will not be able to admire the results until after a month, which will be when the face has regained his normal appearance.
This surgical treatment will thin the face and sharpen and stylize facial features. Your face will have a more harmonious and balanced appearance with the rest of the body.