From the Research
A buccal fat flap procedure involves surgically mobilizing and repositioning the buccal fat pad to repair defects in the oral cavity, with a high success rate of approximately 90% as reported in the most recent study 1. The surgeon begins by making an incision in the oral mucosa, typically near the second or third molar region. After careful dissection through the buccinator muscle, the buccal fat pad is identified and gently teased out from its anatomical compartment. The key steps in the procedure include:
- Making an incision in the oral mucosa
- Dissecting through the buccinator muscle to identify the buccal fat pad
- Mobilizing enough of the fat pad to cover the intended defect without creating tension
- Securing the fat pad in place with absorbable sutures The fat pad is secured in place with absorbable sutures, positioning it over areas such as oroantral communications, palatal defects, or areas requiring soft tissue augmentation. Over time, the exposed portion of the fat pad undergoes epithelialization, transforming into oral mucosa within 3-4 weeks. This procedure is effective because the buccal fat pad has an excellent blood supply, making it resilient and reliable for reconstruction, as noted in 1, 2. Patients typically require a soft diet for 1-2 weeks post-procedure and should maintain meticulous oral hygiene to prevent infection and ensure proper healing of the donor and recipient sites. It is worth noting that the control of etiologic factors, size of defect, anatomical location of defect, and general condition of patient could influence the prognosis after grafting, as reported in 1. The buccal fat pad flap is a reliable option for oral reconstruction, with a low incidence of complications, as described in 3, 4.