Look in the mirror while sucking through a straw. This is what you might look like after you have your cheek fat removed.
Buccal fat (pronounced like buckle) consists of small pockets of fat in each of your lower cheeks. Removal is a quick procedure that will make your face look more sculpted and slim.
Comments and videos about the cosmetic procedure have skyrocketed on social media, sparked by discussions about whether various celebrities have had their cheeks slimmed down. On TikTok, the hashtag #buccalfatremoval has been viewed more than 157 million times in the last few weeks.
Chrissy Teigen admit that she had her buccal fat removed last year. But videos and comments about the procedure exploded on social media this month after actress Lea Michele posted a picture of herself to Instagram showing off her well-defined cheeks. (Michele did not refer to the procedure in her contribution and did not comment on the speculation. She could not be reached through her representatives.)
The discussion prompted many people to share their own stories about buccal fat removal. One young woman said she had the procedure because she always felt her round face didn’t go with her petite body. Others, happy with the procedure, shared before and after photos on TikTok.
But a number of TikTok videos also warn against the procedure. Cheek fat cannot grow back, and as people age and naturally lose fat from their face, the results can be flat cheeks and a gaunt, unhealthy appearance.
The Washington Post interviewed several cosmetic surgeons about the procedure. Here’s what they had to say.