Bichats

Bichats, in anatomical usage, usually refer to Bichat's fat pads or buccal fat pads. These are encapsulated lobes of adipose tissue located in the cheek and named for the French anatomist Marie François Xavier Bichat, who is associated with descriptions of fat tissue in the body.

Anatomy and location: The buccal fat pad consists of a central body in the cheek, located deep to the buccinator muscle and superficial to the masseter, extending medially toward the oral cavity. It is enclosed by a thin capsule and communicates with fat in surrounding facial spaces. Blood supply derives from branches of the facial artery and the transverse facial artery, with venous drainage to the facial vein. The pad lies within the buccal space and can stretch around adjacent muscles and ducts.

Function and variation: The fat pad acts as a cushioning and gliding structure that helps reduce friction between facial muscles during mastication and maintains facial contour. It contains adipose tissue that can vary with age and body habitus. Size and prominence differ among individuals and can increase with weight gain or decrease with weight loss or aging.

Clinical significance: The buccal fat pad is used in reconstructive surgery as a vascularized flap to seal maxillary fistulas or defects after cleft palate repair, owing to its rich blood supply and proximity to the oral mucosa. In cosmetic surgery, partial reduction or removal of the buccal fat pad can slim the midface in selected patients. Enlargement of the pad may contribute to a fuller cheek appearance in some individuals, while rare infections or tumors may involve it.