Watch yourself in the mirror while sucking through a straw. This is what you might look like if you had lip fat removed.
Buccal fat (pronounced like buckle) consists of small fat pads on each of the lower cheeks. Removing it is a quick procedure that can make your face look more sculpted and slimmer.
Comments and videos about the cosmetic procedure have increased on social media, fueled by discussions about whether various celebrities have thinned their cheeks. On TikTok, the hashtag #buccalfatremoval has garnered over 157 million views in the past few weeks.
Chrissy Teigen admitted that she had lip fat removed last year. But videos and comments about the procedure exploded on social media this month after actress Lea Michele posted a photo of herself on Instagram showing off her well-defined cheeks. (Michele made no reference to the proceedings in her post and has not commented on the speculation. She could not be reached through her representatives.)
The discussion led to many people starting to share their own stories about getting rid of oral fat. One young woman said she had the procedure done because she always felt her round face didn’t match her petite body. Others who were happy with the procedure shared before and after photos on TikTok.
But several TikTok videos also warn against the procedure. Buccal fat cannot grow back, and as people age and naturally lose face fat, the results can be shallow cheeks and a gaunt, unhealthy appearance.
The Washington Post interviewed several plastic surgeons about the procedure. This is what they had to say.