The buccal pad of fat: a review

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.