Is This The WORST Contour Trend EVER!?

by BR Kellie

I'm straight up obsessed with high cheekbones. I love watching people contour them, and I spend far too much time admiring those that have them. Clearly, the reason for this is because I don't own them. At least, not in that high, rounded mounds that are further emphasised by a hollowed-out cheek area beneath. It's fair to say that whenever I sit in a makeup artist's chair my one request is: please give me cheekbones, and just like magic, with flicks of their magical wands - er, brushes - they do. 

But what if you could create that hollowed-out look that emphasises the area permanently? Would you? Enter... buccal fat removal.

So what is buccal fat removal, and should we really try it for the purposes of facial enhancement? Read on...

What is buccal fat?

Buccal fat is found in the area that is beneath the bones of your cheeks and above your jawbone. Some of it occurs due to one's weight, but also... genetics. (That's where I get mine. It doesn't matter what my weight is - and it's been known to fluctuate - I always have a goodly amount of buccal fat.) 

What is buccal fat removal?

Perhaps all too obviously, buccal fat removal is the removal of the fat in that area of your cheek.

It's done under anesthesia (my research indicated it could be local or general), and involves an incision being made in each cheek via the inner mouth area in order to expose the buccal fat, which will then be removed, with the area being sutured afterwards.

Post-care can involve mouthwashes in order to keep the area clean, as well as a liquid diet for the first couple of days in order to help with healing. Bruising and swelling can be expected, and the results are visible in four to six weeks time, once the swelling has fully gone down, with the finished product at its most obvious around the three month mark.

Chrissy Teigen takes to Instagram to reveal she’s had Buccal Fat Removal done by Dr Jason Diamond. pic.twitter.com/aJNoPrYdzf

— The Cosmetic Lane (@TheCosmeticLane) September 13, 2021

Is it really being used to create a more contoured face?

Have you seen some celeb's looking way more chiselled than usual? To the point that their face shape has changed? Their cheekbones are more obvious and their jawlines more defined? It's been suggested that this is due to buccal fat removal. While many deny, deny, deny when asked (which is absolutely their right to - what one gets done is one's business and no one else's), other celebs, like Chrissy Teigen, have been loud and proud about going through with the procedure.

What are the pitfalls?

Here's the rub... while buccal fat removal might give you the supermodel slashes (my totally technical term for high, cut cheekbones) of your dreams, it also has the potential to prematurely age you as time marches on, due to its ability to create a gaunt-looking face.

It's also not a simple case of get it done and let the fat return in its own good time. Once the buccal fat is removed it's gone for good, so if you change your mind or don't like the way it looks in years to come, you're either stuck with it, or will have to hope that the likes of fillers will plump the area back up.

As always with surgeries, there are potential issues that could arise, which range from the results being wonky, through to numbness, infection, and even injury to the nerves and spit glands in the face.

Is it for me?

Is it for you? Well, that's up to you. As always, I'd recommend grilling a trained professional before undergoing any kind of cosmetic procedure. And since buccal fat removal is one that's permanent, I'd encourage having a very good, very looooooooong think before committing to it. As for me? Buccal fat does tend to become less obvious as we age, so I think I'll let time work it's cheekbone-enhancing magic, and on those days when I'm wanting to enhance my bones I'll stick to my magic bag of tricks - aka, my makeup.

So, my lovelies, would you consider getting buccal fat removal done for cosmetic purposes? Or do you prefer to get your contour on using good old fashioned makeup? Take our poll and get chatting below!