BACKGROUND:: Most of human adipose-derived stem cells studies describe the biological characteristics of subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. There are few studies focusing on buccal fat pad. OBJECTIVE:: To extract human buccal fat pad adipose-derived stem cells for in vitro proliferation and osteogenic induction and compare the biological characteristics of adipose stem cells from buccal fat pad and traditional liposuction. METHODS:: Adipose-derived stem cells were harvested from buccal fat pad and traditional liposuction. Then cells were in vitro cultured and induced for osteogenic differentiation. Cell density, proliferation activity and osteogenic capacity were compared between these two kinds of cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:: Human buccal fat pad exhibited more blood vessels than subcutaneous fat. Higher densities of adipose-derived stem cells were obtained from buccal fat pad than traditional liposuction. CCK-8 test showed that the proliferation activity of adipose-derived stem cells from buccal fat pad was significantly higher than that from traditional liposuction (P < 0.05). After osteogenic culture for 3, 7, 14 days, alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly greater in the adipose-derived stem cells from buccal fat pad than that from the traditional liposuction (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the biological characteristics of adipose-derived stem cells from the buccal fat pad, a special deep fat tissue, are superior to those of adipose-derived stem cells from the traditional liposuction. Moreover, because of its close anatomical relationship to oral maxillofacial region, buccal fat pad can be used as a potential ideal seed cell source for bone tissue engineering in the oromaxillo facial region.Zhang SM, Chen G, Wang CX, Gao ZJ, Qiao F. Biological characteristics of adipose stem cells from buccal fat pad and traditional liposuction.Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu. 2012;16(32): 5941-5945. [http://www.crter.org/crter-2012-qikanquanwen.html](Figure is included in full-text article.)