Twitter users are taking to the timeline to discuss the latest plastic surgery trend: buccal fat removal. Specifically, many are slamming the procedure by pointing out some of its downsides and highlighting the drastic difference it can make.
https://twitter.com/adiahaadiaha057/status/1602743990088093697
WTF Is Buccal Fat Removal?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the procedure is meant to “thin the cheeks” by removing a patient’s buccal fat pads.
“The goal of buccal fat removal is to thin the cheeks, specifically in the area of the cheek hollows…A buccal fat removal removes the buccal fat pad, a naturally-occurring pad of fat in the cheek hollow area. The size of the buccal fat pad varies with each individual patient, and the buccal fat pad in each cheek may be different sizes.”
It’s also noted that “removal of the fat may cause the face to look more gaunt with age.” However, it’s still a hot trend at the moment, and it recently caught some attention on Twitter.
Social Media Users Side-Eye The Procedure
An all-out conversation about buccal fat removal soon began, and many were slamming the surgery trend. A plethora of individuals simply brushed the procedure off as a “new arbitrary beauty standard” to keep up with.
what the fuck is buccal fat how are they still inventing new flaws for us
— trash jones (@jzux) December 13, 2022
"buccal fat" "hip dips" "trapezius contouring" wake up babe new insecurity just dropped. i swear we get a new arbitrary beauty standard every fiscal quarter
— morgan sung (@morgan_sung) December 14, 2022
Plastic surgery industry is so insane what the hell is a buccal fat removal only the other day I saw something regarding a surgery removing a few ribs to have a very slim waist and now they want to remove some parts of our face too. Sick and tired of this misogyny sold to women
— luna (@venusianfem) December 13, 2022
Discussion of the trend also notably led to the “round-faced milk-fed girlies” rallying together.
"buccal fat" this, "jaw filler" that, us cherubic round-faced milk-fed girlies are playing the long game
— rebecca jennings (@rebexxxxa) December 13, 2022
I cannot believe buccal fat removal is a trend rn . you are telling me that my exact type in women is currently being slaughtered day by day and I have to just sit here and know about it
— michaela okland (@MichaelaOkla) December 14, 2022
no more buccal fat removal. baby cheeks girls must unionize
— Gigi (@ribbonbraid) December 13, 2022
Critics also discussed that, while this trend is all the rage now, that may not always be the case. This is particularly true given the aforementioned statement from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons about how people’s faces “may look more gaunt with age.”
my excessive buccal fat may be unchic at the moment but the tables will turn once we’re all in our 60s and I’m the only bitch in town who looks jolly
— rayne fisher-quann (@raynefq) December 13, 2022
When y’all have no buccal fat in 10 years and look like skeletons don’t come running to me for extra!! And yes best believe I will have it!
— julia hava (@binchcity) December 14, 2022
buccal fat removal is OUT here’s the new ideal face shape pic.twitter.com/OInT1ZBIC7
— Lev 🇵🇸 (@abookofsymbols) December 14, 2022
me at 40 after getting buccal fat removal at 23 pic.twitter.com/d1ahWxSN0y
— roni 🇵🇸🇧🇷 (@CHRlSTITTIES) December 14, 2022
Lea Michele was also thrown into the mix, as critics pointed to some recent photos of her to shade the procedure.
jaw filler and buccal fat removal running through hollywood like tomb raider this year my god https://t.co/LCsV7jfAVg
— carey (@brokebackstan) December 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/platformedboots/status/1602522247767461888?s=20&t=WF1ZZgb4fK_xZLvCYxJdEQ
BUCCAL FAT REMOVAL NEEDS JAIL TIME SHE LOOKS INSANE pic.twitter.com/jbLLz4ddEp
— k 🤍 (@arianaswhip) December 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/badnaomibad/status/1602514290291924993?s=20&t=3N1k5xEvBrhurc8jE74KqQ
when i catch that damn buccal fat removal surgeon doing all of these pic.twitter.com/8Leh53lM6c https://t.co/vmMPREvro5
— meat ball (@fIatearther) December 13, 2022
The Glee actress wasn’t alone, though, as other stars were thrown into the mix.
https://twitter.com/adiahaadiaha057/status/1602743990088093697?s=20&t=3N1k5xEvBrhurc8jE74KqQ
we need to nip this buccal fat removal trend in the bud before 2023 pic.twitter.com/QPu2wzbHjF
— missy steak (@missy_steak) December 13, 2022
Regarding these celebs, one critic hilariously compared them to “Handsome Squidward” from SpongeBob SquarePants. Who doesn’t love a good SpongeBob reference?
https://twitter.com/jennaroselhx/status/1602591660394909698?s=20&t=3N1k5xEvBrhurc8jE74KqQ
There were also plenty of other humorous additions to the conversation.
They did buccal fat removal on a grape
— *“Volk” intensifies* (@TinctureDrone) December 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/pastapilled/status/1603088496490586115?s=20&t=3N1k5xEvBrhurc8jE74KqQ
https://twitter.com/warmtoned/status/1603092039226515456?s=20&t=3N1k5xEvBrhurc8jE74KqQ
maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s buccal fat
— taylor garron (@taylorgarron) December 14, 2022
if the tyra show existed now she would let girls with round faces try buccal fat removal for a day with a hidden camera following them.
— sarah hagi (@KindaHagi) December 14, 2022
However, others were over the subject entirely, though it didn’t do much to quell the buzz.
Me if I hear the phrase buccal fat one more time pic.twitter.com/LhVb9tx29j
— trad kath (@kathryntdubbs) December 13, 2022
stop talking about buccal fat https://t.co/yMjuPC5zYq
— re: emma (@evemmore) December 14, 2022
What are your thoughts on buccal fat removal, as well as the discourse surrounding the procedure? Also, do you think it’s just a fad that’ll soon die out, or can you foresee the procedure sticking around?
