Plastic surgeons have revealed which celebrities they are convinced have had fat removed from their cheeks.
Buccal fat removal, used to give a more “chiseled” appearance, was all the rage just a few years ago, but the procedure is losing popularity among surgeons as the long-term effects become clearer.
Dr. Gary Linkov, a New York City-based plastic surgeon, stopped offering the operation to his clients because he has noticed that as patients age or lose weight, it gives them a hollow, emaciated and slightly ill appearance. .
The procedure, which permanently removes fat from the face, also risks damaging the nerves and structure of the face.
Among the most notable celebrities who have had or are rumored to have had their buccal fat pads removed is model Chrissy Teigen, who started a major trend among celebrities and laymen alike.
Dr. Linkov said: “Chrissy Teigen is a celebrity who has really been honest and direct and came out and said, yes, I had my buccal fat removed and I talked about her eyebrow hair transplant, and she has really been very open about procedures”.
But other well-known stars, such as Lea Michele, Bella Hadid and Anya Taylor-Joy, are also believed to have suffered from it.
Chrissy Teigen (pictured in May 2021 on the right) admitted to receiving buccal fat removal in September 2021. Teigen’s face (pictured in late 2021 on the right) has a more angular appearance after receive the procedure.
Bella Hadid is pictured above in 2014, left, and in February of this year.
The operation, which lasts about an hour, involves surgeons removing pockets of cheek fat from inside the mouth to create a more “mature” and defined appearance.
It usually costs up to $5,000, but some surgeons can charge more than $40,000 for the procedure.
Buccal fat removal has been around for decades, but has only recently gained traction with the proliferation of social media and filters, along with the widespread influence of celebrities.
While it looks fine for now, removing the fat pads from each side of the face will leave the person looking haggard and much older than their actual age. Losing weight will exacerbate this, says Dr. Linkov.
He explained that reducing facial volume in the lower cheeks, which creates a rounder, softer appearance, immediately ages a person.
As the volume of the face decreases over time, this emptied affect becomes even more evident.
In some cases, fat grafting or fillers can restore volume, but good, long-lasting results are not guaranteed.
Since buccal fat pads are close to critical facial nerves, there is also a risk of nerve damage during surgery, which could cause weakness, numbness, or uneven facial movements.
Model Bella Hadid has long been rumored to have undergone buccal fat removal to achieve a chiseled, high-fashion look.
Dr. Meegan Gruber, a plastic surgeon based in Tampa, Florida, said, “I would consider Bella Hadid to be kind of a classic,” adding that her lower cheeks are the hallmark “hollowing” of the procedure.
Dr. Linkov noted that compared to an image of Bella in 2024, teenage Bella is “softer, more approachable.”
Pictured above is Glee actress Lea Michele in 2006 (left) and 2022 (right). Surgeons suggested that she had also undergone buccal fat removal surgery.
Plastic surgeons also suggested that Anya Taylor-Joy undergo buccal fat removal. Dr. Linkov suggested she undergo the procedure in one of his videos, after comparing photos of her from 2019 to 2023.
While Hadid has denied undergoing the procedure to achieve her high cheekbones and V-shaped jaw, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Costa said, “While this look could have been achieved in other ways, I find it highly unlikely.”
Hadid is far from the only star rumored to have opted for the procedure to achieve the high-fashion aesthetic.
Dr. Joel Kopelman, a facial plastic surgeon at Kopelman Aesthetic Surgery in New York, told DailyMail.com that Lady Gaga is another celebrity who may have undergone this procedure.
He said: “Although it is impossible to confirm without direct consultation, Lady Gaga’s facial structure has become noticeably more contoured over time, with less fullness in the cheek area. This change aligns with the aesthetic impact of the removal of buccal fat, which improves the definition of the cheeks and gives a more sculpted appearance to the face.”
Zoe Kravitz is shown above in the early 2010s and again in 2017. Surgeons also suggest that she underwent buccal fat removal surgery.
Dr. Joel Kopelman, a facial plastic surgeon at Kopelman Aesthetic Surgery in New York, told DailyMail.com that Emily Ratajkowski may have had buccal fat removal, although he insists she has never gone under the knife.
She added that model Emily Ratajkowski and Glee’s Lea Michele “are also frequently mentioned in discussions of this trend,” as well as Zoe Kravitz, who has “shown signs of increased cheek definition that can be attributed to this procedure.”
Lea Michele sparked strong speculation about her possible facial alterations when in December 2022 posted a photo of herself with chiseled, sharp cheekbones that weren’t there when she walked the Tony Awards red carpet the previous June.
Dr Dennis Schimpf, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Charleston, South Carolina, told DailyMail.com: ‘Her cheeks appear to be collapsed in that middle and lower area, which could be due to buccal fat removal and weight change. . And it definitely has better definition in the cheeks and jawline, and that could be filler.”
Surgeons are quick to point out that although signs of buccal fat removal are everywhere in Hollywood, weight loss can lead to noticeable changes in the shape of your face.
Dr. Gruber named Miley Cyrus as an example. While her sunken cheeks suggest the removal of fat there, he believed the singer may have lost a few pounds, giving her that appearance.
Other stars rumored to have undergone the surgery include late One Direction star Liam Payne, 31, who sparked rumors after debuting a much more chiseled look on the red carpet last year.
Demi Moore appears in the photo above in 2019 (left) and in January 2021. She is also alleged to have had buccal fat removal surgery.
Moriarty before The Boys fame (left) and earlier this year he looks very different
Fans were quick to comment at the time, saying they “can’t believe” he had the surgery and that he was the “face of the buccal fat removal movement.”
The star tragically died last month after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony to the hard floor below. He had repeatedly spoken openly about his mental health problems.
There are other stars who are also rumored to have had the surgery, including Demi Moore, Erin Moriarty and Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as many others not mentioned in this article.
Liam Payne pictured above in 2015 and 2023, plastic surgeons said the chiseled features of his face suggested he had buccal fat or cheek fat pad removed, rather than having an Ozempic face.
She has always denied having surgery. However, cosmetic experts have suggested that the Poker Face singer has undergone cosmetic work including nose surgery, buccal fat removal and even surgery to reshape the corners of her eyes.
Data collected by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that the procedure was popular in 2023, with 4,866 people undergoing the surgery, up seven percent from the previous year, which marked the first time statistics on the procedure were reported.
But many plastic surgeons, including Dr. Linkov, say they are now moving away from the procedure and starting to encourage their clients not to have it, amid concerns about how it can affect aging and surgical complications.
