Clinical applications of the jugal lipectomy technique: case reports

The adipose body of cheek is the tissue located in the buccal space. In the past, the partial removal of this tissue, called jugal lipectomy, was indicated to fill defects resulting from buccosinusal communications and/or maxillary resections. Recently, such technique became popular in facial aesthetics as it gives patients the feel of a more delicate face, in which the zygomatic bone appears to be more prominent due to the reduction in the volume of the cheeks. However, many professionals are unaware of how to establish the correct diagnosis of facial volume alterations, as well as in performing and treating the complications that may arise from jugal lipectomy. The aim of this paper is to present three clinical cases with different applications of jugal lipectomy, discussing some relevant aspects of surgical planning that involve the request for imaging exams and a previous study of this tissue’s anatomical features.