Buccal fat pad removal surgery has gained traction and momentum within both the consumer press and on social media. It seems to be the Hollywood surgery of choice these days. This is particularly evident with the younger population; people in their 20s talking about how they are undergoing the surgery to obtain that ‘suck-on-a-straw’ look.
The views of social media videos tagging ‘buccal fat’ are through the roof, and it has certainly gone viral, with speculation around celebrities including Chrissy Teigen, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber having allegedly undergone the surgery.1-3
However, although this surgery can have benefits for patients in their older years, is it appropriate for the younger generations, particularly those who are simply following social media trends? And what should practitioners advise their patients when it comes to this procedure?
The current aesthetic trend is certainly to enhance angularity in the face, and specifically accentuate the definition of both the cheekbones and jawline, while losing the roundedness of one’s face…
