Pedicled Buccal Fat Flap: An Underutilized Source of Vascularized Periorbital Volume

Pedicled buccal fat flaps have demonstrated great utility for oral reconstructions. We present a retrospective case description detailing the utility of the buccal fat pad (BFP) as an anterior maxillary flap for midfacial and lower eyelid volumization and reconstruction. A 64-year-old healthy female had undergone bilateral lower blepharoplasty with silicone tear tough implantation, complicated by infection of the right tear trough implant. Delayed implant removal resulted in chronic infection and inflammation producing significant right lower eyelid retraction, and full-thickness scarring to the orbital rim. Reconstruction was performed, featuring the creation of a midfacial subperiosteal pocket and to access the BFP, which was mobilized and secured to the inferior orbital rim. Long-term follow-up confirms ongoing viability of the surgical intervention. Herein, the BFP is shown to be a source of vascularized volume in reconstructive periorbital surgery.