Abstract: Buccal fat padBFP) is an irregular mass of adipose tissue located within the deep facial recesses, with rich blood supply and encapsulated structure, which can isolate mesenchymal stem cells with multidirectional differentiation ability. The pedicled buccal fat pad flap is easy to prepare and has a high survival rate, and has been widely used in the repair of soft and hard tissue defects in the oral and maxillofacial region. The osteogenic ability of buccal fat pad derived mesenchymal stem cells has been demonstrated in vitro and has been used in clinical trials to repair jaw defects in recent years. In plastic surgery, the potential of both pedicled and free buccal fat pad flaps for improving facial contours continues to be explored. However, research on the long-term benefits for patients and the differences between these flaps and other pedicled skin flaps is limited. This review summarized the current advancements in the anatomy and some clinical applications of the buccal fat pad.

Key words: Buccal fat pad, Anatomy, Repair and reconstruction, Plastic surgery, Tissue engineering