Right, just what exactly is buccal fat and why are people getting it removed?

I’ve never been prouder to be a chubby-cheeked girly

2 years ago

Just when you thought women had enough to worry about on a day-to-day basis (I mean, wondering whether I’m “model-pretty” or “standard-pretty” is keeping me up at night), let me introduce you to the concept of buccal fat.

It literally sounds like something ridiculously overpriced you’d order from a boujie restaurant menu. But it’s actually a part of your body, and people on Twitter and TikTok reckon we should feel insecure about it.

So, what exactly is it? And why are people getting it surgically removed?

buccal fat icon pic.twitter.com/qtz1WFjU6Y

— Georgie Henley (@geohenleyreal) December 27, 2022

According to Healthline, a buccal fat pad is a “mass of fat” just beneath your cheekbone. The size of your fat pad (god, gross) varies for different people – but people with round, “baby faces” are thought to have bigger masses of buccal fat than others.

Buccal fat removal is a surgical procedure in which some of the fat is removed; resulting in a slender-looking face with more pronounced cheekbones. People with naturally round face-shapes are most likely to get it done.

(Also, for the love of god, don’t search the surgery up on TikTok. Unless you fancy being scarred for life, obviously.)

@hannah.is.over.thisBuccal fat girlies rise up♬ original sound – Han 💁🏽‍♀️

The procedure has been called “cringe” a number of times by content creators – as well as highlighting that the new fad is just another reason for young women to feel insecure.

i have a message from lea michele regarding her buccal fat removal: ljdh:iedj;jddj)(“ pic.twitter.com/9wbW4SHJ06

— taybrina del rey’s american whore🕰💌 (@cowboylikeTBDR) December 21, 2022