In Chrissy Teigen’s recent round of Instagram stories, it was hard not to notice that her face looked noticeably more sculpted, almost as if she were sucking in her cheeks. Other celebrities might have left us to speculate, but that’s not the model turned cookbook author’s MO. As if reading our minds, in a later story slide, she revealed, “I did that Dr. Diamond buccal fat removal,” while pointing to her cheeks. (She tagged Beverly Hills, California, board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Diamond in the story.) “And since I quit drinking, I’ve really seen the results. I like it,” she added, zooming in on her more prominent cheekbones.
Buccal fat removal videos are all the rage on social media—offering a gratifying level of satisfaction akin to pimple popping content—and, according to doctors, the procedure is an increasingly popular request among patients. It touts a 92% Worth It Rating among RealSelf members, with satisfied patients saying it finally got rid of their chipmunk cheeks.
Buccal fat is located in the lower part of the cheeks, extending back toward the jaw and temples. There’s some controversy in the medical community as to whether buccal fat remains consistent or decreases as we get older, though experts agree that the face does take on a more gaunt appearance with age and that removing too much buccal fat can end up contributing to an overly hollowed look with time. It’s for that reason that some doctors are taking a more cautious approach to buccal fat removal, particularly in the patient population that just happens to be requesting it the most, namely women in their 20s and early 30s. (Teigen is 35.) However, for older patients whose skin has less elasticity, the skin can appear too loose once the fat is removed, requiring a mini-facelift performed in tandem with the buccal fat removal, says New York City board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Konstanin Vasyukevich.
And while Teigen mentioned getting only buccal fat removal, the surgery is often paired with other procedures, to help create a thinner, more defined face. More specifically, the patient’s own fat or hyaluronic acid filler can be injected higher up on the cheek, to make cheekbones pop even more. Chin implants and/or chin liposuction are also a popular pairing; Dr. Vasyukevich adds that he often combines buccal fat removal with liposuction in his younger patients to help them achieve their overall goal of a slimmer face. Ideally, “The best candidate for buccal fat removal is someone who already has good bone structure, high cheekbones, and a well-defined jawline, and simply has excess fullness in the middle to lower part of the cheeks,” he adds.
The surgery itself is relatively quick and simple. It’s usually performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with the addition of mild sedation. The incision is placed inside the mouth, on the inner side of the cheek, and closed with a few dissolvable sutures, explains Dr. Vasyukevich. (The whole thing is typically done in under 30 minutes.) Swelling is an expected side effect, one that can last for up to two weeks, though maximum results are typically seen anywhere from three to six months after the fact.
