Extended buccal lipectomy (bichectomy) for extreme cheek contouring.

The bichectomy, or buccal lipectomy, is a method for cheek contouring and midface tapering in cosmetic surgery. It is generally accepted that the long-term results of well-established conservative bichectomy approaches exhibit some limitations, and the surgery does not always deliver satisfactory results. The extended bichectomy approach includes the resection of the buccal extension of the fat pad along with the body and part of the temporal extension. When properly performed, this procedure provides the desired cheek contouring and slimming in patients who may not benefit from a conventional technique. Approaches for more defined cheek contouring are presented and discussed.