What is a Bichectomy?
Today, men and women benefit from many aesthetic operations in order to have a young and healthy appearance in order to reach their ideals in terms of physical appearance. One of these plastic surgeries is bichectomy operation.
Bichectomy, which provides a better appearance of the face, is also known as cheek surgery. With the bichectomy operation, you can have more prominent cheekbones and a thinner facial line.
Who Can Have Bichectomy?
Bichectomy operation can be performed on men and women over the age of 18 with normal weight and a round face. However, it is not recommended for people with overweight or obesity and patients over the age of 45.
The fat bags called bichats decrease significantly over time, which may cause premature aging of the face of the person who will undergo the operation. Nevertheless, since there may be differences in each patient, it is very important that the physician who will perform the operation evaluates the patient in detail.
In order to know whether you are a suitable patient for bichectomy surgery, you may be asked questions by the physician and then some tests may be requested.
Bichectomy makes the face look longer and thinner and helps to eliminate the round appearance of the face. Patients who undergo a bichectomy operation can be discharged on the same day as they are treated as outpatients.
How is Bichectomy Performed?
Bichectomy is an outpatient type of surgery, also known as cheek thinning aesthetics. Bichectomy surgery is performed under local anesthesia. It is very important to clean the mouth before the surgery. Cleaning before bichectomy surgery will help reduce infection problems that may occur.
Bichectomy is a type of operation that the surgeon performs by intervening with a small incision inside the cheeks, next to the fat bags. After local anesthesia is applied to the patient, the surgeon makes a small incision inside the cheek and lifts the bichat (fat tissue) bags with forceps to give a natural appearance. After the fat bags are removed, the wound is sutured. After this procedure is performed on both cheeks, i.e. when the surgery is over, the surgeon completes the procedure with a compressive bandage. The entire bichectomy surgery takes between 30 and 45 minutes and the patient is discharged on the same day.
Before Bichectomy Surgery
For a faster recovery after bichectomy surgery, the patient should stop drinking alcohol and smoking one week before the operation. If the patient is taking aspirin or blood thinners before the surgery, the patient should stop taking such medications.
If the patient is taking medication regularly due to health problems, he/she should inform his/her doctor of all medications he/she is taking before surgery. Pregnant women or people with serious health problems should see a doctor before deciding on bichectomy surgery.
After Bichectomy Surgery
The recovery process of each patient may vary after bichectomy surgery. However, patients generally recover within 14 days after the operation. During the first three days after bichectomy surgery, consuming soft foods and cold drinks will prevent possible bleeding. It is also recommended that patients are not exposed to the sun.
After the fat bags are removed after the bichectomy operation, any possible inflammation will disappear for 3 to 6 months. Possible inflammation usually occurs in the lower jaw part of the face.
With bichectomy surgery, the cheekbones on the face become more prominent and the face is given a longer appearance.
Bichectomy Surgery Results
Since bichectomy surgery does not require hospitalization, the patient can quickly adapt to daily life immediately after the operation.
In case of any infection, antibiotic treatments and oral care products prescribed by the physician should be used regularly and in accordance with the instructions to prevent infection.
A pressure bandage should be applied for at least 2 hours after the bichectomy surgery, the bandage will also prevent bruising. Some swelling may be felt on the face, but this is normal.
You can reduce swelling by applying a cold press directly to your cheek for 15 minutes every 4 hours for 3 days after the bichectomy surgery. Since the bichectomy surgery is performed in the mouth, it is very important to gargle with salt water every 12 hours for 7 days and use the medications prescribed by your physician.
In addition, the patient should avoid heavy and physical activities for the first 5 days. You can continue your daily activities normally 5 days after the operation. It is strongly recommended to use sunscreen, especially if you have had bichectomy surgery in the summer months.
There is no scarring after bichectomy operation. Since the operation is performed inside the cheek, no surgical scar is encountered when viewed from the outside. After the operation, it may take a certain time for the swelling to go down and the patient’s face to settle. This situation may vary from person to person.
Although people expect to have a brand new facial appearance after the bichectomy operation, bichectomy surgery involves the removal of the facial oval.