The buccal pad of fat: A review

Abstract

Within the cheek, wedged between masseter and buccinator, is a biconvex pad of fatty tissue, the corpus adiposum buccae, or buccal fat pad (of Bichat). It contributes significantly to the prominence of the cheek of the newborn infant and is sometimes encountered in surgical procedures in the region of the ramus of the mandible or the maxillary tuberosity. This paper reviews the history of the study of the buccal pad of fat, its anatomical location, blood supply, and comparative anatomy. We have also reviewed the pathology of the buccal pad of fat, including traumatic herniation. The fat pad is of interest surgically as it can be used as a free or pedicled graft to close maxillary defects after excision of tumors.

The superficial temporal fat pad and its ramifications for temporalis muscle construction in facial approximation

“…While the former justification might be true the second seems unlikely. For example, the buccal fat pad which serves mechanical purposes is widely known to be resilient to changing environmental conditions even in extreme cases of malnutrition [16,[24][25][26][27][28]. Indeed, the buccal fat pad also extends into the temporal region as the deep temporal fat pad, and is located just superficial to the temporalis muscle giving it some import for prediction of this area of the face.…”

Lipoaugmentation of the Vocal Folds: A Survey on Alternative Donor Sites for Graft Harvesting

“…First described by Bichat in 1801, the anatomical terminus means the buccal process of the masticatory fat pad, which in total, histological and anatomically differs from the subcutaneous layer. 25,26 Microscopic structure appears distinct. Adipocytes are large, organized in lobules separated by very fine septa, thus lobulation is not easy to identify.…”

Traumatic herniation of the buccal fat pad: A case report

“…It serves to line the masticatory space, separating the muscles of mastication from each other, and facilitates masticatory movements [1]. It is closely associated with the parotid duct and the facial nerve.…”