So what exactly is it, and why is it becoming a highly requested procedure?

What is buccal fat removal?

As the name suggests, buccal fat removal is a cosmetic procedure meant to extract some of the fat sitting in the middle area of your face to make it look less round and more sculpted, with more prominent cheekbones.

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The relatively non-invasive outpatient operation is pretty straightforward. It involves small incisions inside the mouth to remove the fat between the cheekbones and jawbones, which most specialists agree can be done in under 30 minutes.

The fat removed in this procedure is located deep under your cheeks. Changes in your weight do not affect how much buccal fat you have.

A social media phenomenon

While the procedure has been around for over 50 years, surgeons agree it’s never been as in demand as it is right now.

“I’m doing three times as many buccal fat reductions this year than I was five years ago,” New York plastic surgeon Dr Andrew Jacono says.

Exploring the hashtag on TikTok and Instagram will lead you to thousands of videos, either exposing celebrities who’ve undergone the procedure or people documenting their experience before and after getting it done.

Celebs including Zoe Kravitz, Dove Cameron, Sophie Turner, Bella Hadid and, of course, Lea Michele have all been rumoured to have had buccal fat removed.

None of the above have confirmed or denied it, so this is only speculation. However, model Chrissy Teigen has been open about having the procedure in 2021 and how she’s happy about her decision.

“I did that Dr Diamond buccal fat removal thing here,” she shared on her Instagram stories. “And since I quit drinking. I’m really seeing the results, and I like it … no shame.”

The procedure

The operation doesn’t require the patient to go under general anaesthesia, and can be performed in 30 minutes or less.

The surgeon will use a local anaesthetic to numb the area and with a scalpel make a micro-cut inside your mouth, before extracting a grape-size fat pad. Then they put in dissolvable stitches, and you’re ready to go.

Most patients experience some pain and swelling for a few days, but other than that, the recovery is pretty simple.

On top of that, it’s considered fairly affordable surgery – compared to other facial procedures – with clinics charging between US$1,500 and US$20,000.

Nonetheless, as with any surgery, there are risks involved.

There can be some bleeding, which is why patients are asked not to take aspirin or blood thinners before the procedure. Some may experience hematomas and fluid retention, but it should clear up in a few days.

In very few cases, people suffer nerve injury, infections, facial numbness and asymmetry.

Longevity and lifelong expectations

While it may give you the results you’re looking for now, keep in mind that what looks good on you now may not be so attractive as you age.

Although it can be reversed it isn’t a simple procedure, and some people will not qualify for it, so doctors advise people to think about long-term consequences before jumping into it.

“There are no easy ways to reverse it,” says Dr Konstantin Vasyukevich, a US-based facial plastic surgeon.

“More long-term, what looks good on people when they’re younger is not necessarily going to look good on the same person when they are in their 40s and 50s.

“That kind of a lower cheek volume depletion can actually prematurely age the face, and this is something that’s a real consideration.”