Honestly, it felt like the entire internet stopped breathing for a second when Chrissy Teigen hopped on her Instagram Stories back in 2021 and just... admitted it. She pointed right at those newly chiseled hollows beneath her cheekbones and said she’d done it. She got the surgery.
The "it" in question was Chrissy Teigen buccal fat removal, a procedure that has since become the most debated "tweak" in Hollywood history.
For years, we’ve watched celebrities suddenly appear with "snatched" jawlines, usually attributing it to "drinking more water" or a "new contour palette." Chrissy didn't play that game. She tagged her surgeon, Dr. Jason Diamond, and basically told the world that her rounder "baby face" was officially a thing of the past.
But now that we’re a few years down the road, the conversation has shifted. People aren't just asking how she did it; they’re asking if it was a mistake.
The Surgery That Launched a Thousand Memes
Buccal fat removal isn't a new trick, but Chrissy's transparency made it a phenomenon. Basically, a surgeon goes inside your mouth—so there are zero visible scars—and snips out a grape-sized pad of fat from the middle of your cheek.
It’s fast. Like, 30 minutes fast.
Chrissy was pretty blunt about why she did it. She had those iconic, full cheeks that made her look perpetually youthful, but she wanted definition. She wanted the "Diamond" look. After the procedure, she noted that since she had also quit drinking around the same time, the results were even more dramatic.
The immediate reaction was a mix of "wow, she looks amazing" and "wait, why would you take out the one thing that keeps you looking young?"
That's the kicker with buccal fat. It’s the "youth" fat.
Why Dr. Jason Diamond?
You don't just go to any strip-mall injector for this. Chrissy went to Dr. Jason Diamond, a man whose name is practically synonymous with the Beverly Hills "sculpted" aesthetic. He’s the guy who worked on the Kardashians and half of the A-list.
Dr. Diamond has been vocal about the fact that while the procedure is trending, it’s not for everyone. In fact, he’s gone on record saying he turns away more than half of the people who ask for it.
The problem is that if you take too much, you don't look "snatched." You look gaunt. You look like you’ve been through a decade of stress in a single weekend.
The 2026 Perspective: Is She "Aging" Faster?
It’s been a few years since the Chrissy Teigen buccal fat removal reveal, and critics are starting to get loud. Facial fat naturally thins out as we hit our 30s and 40s. It’s just what happens.
By removing that fat pad in her mid-30s, some experts argue that Chrissy essentially "fast-forwarded" her facial aging.
- The Pro-Chrissy Side: She looks like a high-fashion editorial model. Her cheekbones are sharp enough to cut glass, and she seems genuinely happy with the mirror's reflection.
- The Warning Side: As she enters her 40s, the lack of that structural fat might cause the skin to sag earlier than it would have otherwise. Without the "stuffing" in the cushion, the fabric (your skin) starts to wrinkle.
We’ve seen a massive surge in "reverse buccal" treatments lately—people using fillers or fat grafting to put back exactly what they paid thousands to take out.
It Wasn't Just the Cheeks
To be fair to the full story, Chrissy has been an open book about her surgical journey. This wasn't her first or last time under the knife.
- The Armpit Lipo: Back in 2017, she famously had fat sucked out of her armpits to make dresses fit better. She called it the "dumbest, stupidest" thing she ever did, but also said she loved it.
- The Breast Implants (and Removal): She got them, then she got them out because she wanted to be able to "zip a dress in her size" and lay on her stomach comfortably.
- The Hairline Transplant: Most recently, she even showed off a procedure to lower her hairline.
When you look at the buccal fat removal in the context of her whole history, it’s clear she views her body like a piece of art that can be edited. Some people find that refreshing. Others find it exhausting.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Snatched" Look
Social media makes it look like you can just "get the Chrissy look" and go about your day. It’s not that simple.
There are risks that nobody talks about. If a surgeon nicked a salivary duct or a facial nerve during that 30-minute procedure, you could end up with permanent numbness or a lopsided smile.
Also, the recovery isn't just "ice and go." You’re on a liquid diet. Your mouth is full of dissolvable stitches. You look like a squirrel for at least a week before the swelling goes down and the "chiseling" actually shows up.
And the big one? It’s permanent.
You can’t just "dissolve" a buccal fat removal like you can with lip filler. Once that fat is in the medical waste bin, it’s gone.
Thinking About Doing It? Read This First.
If you’re staring at Chrissy’s old "before" photos and then at your own "round" face, take a beat.
Most of the "baby fat" that people hate in their 20s is exactly what they’ll be paying for in their 50s. If you have a naturally thin or narrow face, this surgery is a disaster waiting to happen. You’ll end up looking like a skeleton by the time you're 45.
Chrissy has a very specific bone structure—extremely high, wide cheekbones—that can "carry" the loss of that fat pad better than most.
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Actionable Insights for the "Round Faced"
Before you book a flight to Beverly Hills, try these steps to see if you actually want a surgical change or just a temporary fix:
- Weight Stabilization: Chrissy mentioned her results popped once she stopped drinking. Alcohol causes massive facial bloat. Try a "dry month" before you try a surgeon.
- Masseter Botox: Sometimes the "fullness" isn't fat; it’s a muscle. If you grind your teeth, your jaw muscles (masseters) get bulky. A few units of Botox there can slim the face without removing any fat.
- The "35 Test": Ask your surgeon what your face will look like at 35, 45, and 55 without that fat. If they can’t give you a realistic answer, leave.
- Bone Structure Check: Feel your cheekbones. If they aren't naturally prominent, removing the fat underneath won't make them appear; it will just make your lower face look sunken.
Chrissy Teigen’s journey with buccal fat removal is a masterclass in modern celebrity transparency. She gave us the "how," but the "was it worth it?" is a question that only time—and a lot of aging—will eventually answer.
If you're considering the procedure, start by consulting with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who focuses on "facial balancing" rather than just "fat removal." A surgeon who says "no" to you might be the best one you ever meet.