Buccal Fat Removal
Narrow cheeks caused by cosmetic surgery are more dangerous than you think
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Chrissy Teigen has spoken publicly about it, other stars have also had the procedure done: we’re talking about buccal fat removal. An expert explains why the gaunt look on the face poses more risks than expected.
Bella Hadid, Anya Taylor-Joy or Lea Michele have all made headlines in recent months about their thin cheekbones. High cheekbones and a sunken cheek seems to be the new ideal of beauty, which Chrissy Teigen has also emulated, as she publicly confirmed in September 2021. The beauty procedure is also experiencing a lot of hype on TikTok, but experts warn of the new beauty trend.
Buccal Fat Removal: What is actually done during the procedure?
Narrow cheeks with just one procedure may sound uncomplicated at first, but we at Juvéderm expert Dr. Babak Esfahani, specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery. “With buccal fat removal, the so-called ‘Bichat’sche fat pad’ is surgically removed from the cheek area in order to achieve a slimming effect.” Normally, this fat percentage decreases after puberty, but everyone’s body is different, so face shapes and their fat percentage can vary.
With buccal fat removal, the face is artificially given a new shape. According to Dr. Babak Esfahani “makes an incision no more than 0.5 centimeters long on the inside of the cheek, through which the buccal fat pad, ranging in size from walnut to tangerine, is removed.” Since only certain parts of the face are treated for the procedure, local anesthesia is sufficient. According to the expert, a general anesthetic would not be part of a “risk-benefit analysis”.
Bleeding or paralysis: Experts warn against buccal fat removal
In contrast to minimally invasive procedures such as Botox or fillers, there are significantly more dangerous risks to be expected when removing the buccal fat pad. Since the cheek has to be cut open from the inside, i.e. the mouth, bleeding or infection can occur. dr Babak Esfahani therefore points out that the doctors performing the procedure must have the necessary qualifications and experience.
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For example, not every face would be suitable for removing fat from the cheeks: “Basically, the cheeks need enough volume to be able to ensure that a certain amount of fat remains. Not only to prevent the skin from sagging with increasing age, but also to prevent the skin behind it to protect the underlying nerves. Behind the fat pad are structures that can be injured if the procedure is not carried out correctly. For example, nerve cords, which in the worst case can lead to paralysis in the event of an injury.”
The President of the Association of German Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Prof. Dr. Detlev Hebebrand warns of the new beauty trend. Many patients would only later understand the full scope of this beauty treatment and then it would be too late.
Online platform TikTok fuels the questionable beauty trend
Strictly speaking, buccal fat removal is not a new trend, but has been practiced for years. The procedure is currently experiencing new hype thanks to the online platform TikTok. The hashtag #buccalfatremoval has already been viewed 184.4 million times on the social media platform (as of Monday, June 19, 2023). Since young people in particular are on TikTok and Co., this beauty trend is all the more alarming. The images set a new standard of beauty that has no “natural” origin. Not only the medical risks have to be considered with buccal fat removal, but also the psychological ones. Among other things, unnatural beauty images can cause body dysmorphic disorder.