In recent years, more and more Hollywood celebrities — from Miley Cyrus to Demi Moore — have been going under the knife for what’s known as buccal fat removal, or in medical terms, buccal fat removal.
The cosmetic procedure involves surgically removing the fat pads inside the cheeks to highlight the cheekbones and create a sharp, hollowed facial contour. The result is a chiseled look that’s become the latest red-carpet obsession.
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Anya Taylor-Joy, Miley Cyrus, Mila Kunis
(Photo: Gettyimages IL/Michael Loccisano, Neilson Barnard, Dimitrios Kambouris)
So is it just rapid weight loss — perhaps thanks to the new wave of weight-loss injections — or actual surgery? According to Dr. Lavi Bit Ackerman, a dermatologist and aesthetic specialist, it’s often the latter.
“In recent years, many stars have developed this exaggerated contrast: very prominent cheekbones and very hollow cheeks,” Dr. Ackerman explained. “You can’t achieve that look with filler alone. It requires an additional step — what’s now called in the aesthetic world ‘the buccal procedure.’”
What does the procedure involve?
“Our skin has three layers,” Dr. Ackerman said. “The outer epidermis, the middle dermis, and the third layer — subcutaneous fat. Full, rounded cheeks are associated with a youthful look because young people naturally have more midface fat, regardless of body type. As we age, we lose facial fat, which causes the face to sag and look longer and older.
“Many celebrities today aim for a more sculpted appearance through aesthetic or plastic treatments that exaggerate the cheekbones and contour. The goal is to move away from the youthful, round look and instead create a hollowed, angular one. That’s done by melting or removing fat from the mid-cheek area while emphasizing the cheekbone above it.”
How is the fat removed?
“There’s no easy way,” she said. “It can be done surgically — a mini liposuction — through a small incision inside the mouth, removing the fat pads without external stitches. Alternatively, laser or radiofrequency fibers can be inserted under the skin to break down and melt the fat.
“There are also fat-dissolving injections, though most are not approved for use in Israel due to significant side effects. Some noninvasive devices use ultrasound or radio waves from outside the skin, but their effect is minimal.
“It’s important to know fat cells don’t regenerate after childhood. Once removed or destroyed, they’re gone for good — which means the process is irreversible. To refill the hollows, you’d need filler or your own fat transferred from elsewhere in the body.
“After the removal or melting process, patients often receive filler injections above the cheekbone — known as the zygoma — to amplify the sculpted effect. That part is reversible since the fillers eventually dissolve.”
So, what’s the verdict?
“I personally don’t like the look,” Dr. Ackerman admitted. “I prefer something more natural and refined. It also goes against the current trend, which is a return to a softer, more natural appearance.
“Removing cheek fat at a young age is a mistake. Facial fat is precious — and as you age, it’s hard to replace. In most cases, this procedure ends up making people look older, less natural, and overly done.”
The usual suspects: who did it (or didn’t)?
Several Hollywood stars have fueled rumors about buccal fat removal after noticeable facial changes:
Mila Kunis’s once-full cheeks appear slimmer, prompting speculation she had the procedure. Fans are divided — some attribute it to natural aging and weight changes.
Demi Moore sparked widespread rumors in 2021 after walking the Fendi runway with dramatically hollow cheeks.
Zoë Kravitz’s angular bone structure has always drawn attention, but recent paparazzi photos show an even sharper look, raising questions about possible help from a surgeon.
Miley Cyrus’s transformation from child star to adult performer included noticeably more defined cheeks — and fans suspect aesthetic intervention.
Anya Taylor-Joy, 29, often cited as a “poster girl” for the procedure, has never confirmed it but her sculpted look keeps the rumors alive.
Sophie Turner faced the same speculation after her face appeared slimmer. In a 2024 interview with British Vogue, she addressed it candidly: “When you’re bulimic, your face tends to puff up,” she said. “When I finally recovered in my early 20s, my face went back to normal — and suddenly everyone asked if I’d had my cheek fat removed. You can never win.”
Bottom line: While Hollywood’s obsession with the hollow-cheek look keeps trending, most experts agree — the price of a permanently sculpted face might just be losing the softness that defines beauty in the first place.