Trending Bodies: Buccal Fat Removal
Eva Sheils
Buccal fat removal is the latest trend among celebrities and influencers alike, such as Chrissy Tiegan and Lea Michelle, who have faced speculation over their drastic facial changes. But, what exactly is it?
It is the permanent removal of fat glands from the face, so as the skin sits differently on the cheekbones. Of course, this means that there are significant risks, and given that this procedure seems to be a seemingly micro-trend from the Autumn of 2022 to now, it is hard to determine what the long terms effects of this procedure would be.
Although it seems to be a recent phenomenon, buccal fat removal has been used in oral reconstruction surgery since the mid-90s. Its use has increased in the past few months for aesthetic purposes. This is especially worrying given that it is such a permanent change in comparison to other trends, of less invasive procedures that also tend to be less permanent. Moreover, the concept of surgery changes and body features being ‘trendy’ is worrying. There is speculation that buccal fat removal indicates a return to the 90s ‘heroin chic’ and, a return to an emphasis on thinness again. It is a relatively cheaper cosmetic procedure, and the recovery is not as impactful on the patient’s day to day life, making it all the more appealing.
The average age of those seeking cosmetic procedures getting lower each year, with many celebrities getting these procedures before the age of 25. Furthermore there are more and more subtle procedures making differences seem more covert. This leads to an obsession of analysing these celebrities and the potential procedures that they have had. Even in people’s critique of their procedures they may counter and say that those individuals look bad or are ‘taking it too far’ for example. This type of rhetoric still perpetuates a culture that commodifies appearance and evaluates based on aesthetic value, and honestly it is not particularly helpful in the conversation to have this type of perspective.
Of course, there are good and bad sides to cosmetic procedures and this article is not trying to portray all cosmetic surgery in one particular way. In the interest of honesty, I myself, had a cosmetic facial surgery in 2016, albeit for a medical reason. I certainly know that even if there wasn’t a medical reason needed for the surgery, it was a source of insecurity for me and I would have likely considered getting the procedure done anyway. Further, it is ultimately up to any adult whether they want to undergo cosmetic procedures, but more resources should be made available so that people can make the most informed decisions possible to keep themselves safe.
Image courtesy of Unsplash, license can be found here.
Eva Sheils is a MA Film Studies student, as well as a Health and Lifestyle Reporter and Monthly Columnist for The Scoop.