Face Value: Five Cosmetic Trends That May Not Be Worth the Risk
In the soft light of a well-appointed clinic, under the glint of stainless tools and the muted hush of a diffuser’s quiet hiss, aesthetics take shape. A face is sculpted not with chisels but with cautious touches of hyaluronic acid, a deft hand, and, perhaps most importantly, informed restraint.
The modern pursuit of beauty is no longer just the domain of the young or the elite. It has filtered into boardrooms and dinner tables, slipped into algorithmic feeds and whispered alongside wine lists. But beneath the polished surface of trending procedures lies a quieter current, a call for discernment. Because, in truth, not everything that glitters should be injected, snipped, or smoothed.
Here, we take a firm yet thoughtful stand on five of the most talked-about cosmetic procedures today. The verdict is not a blanket condemnation, but rather a well-argued cautionary tale, stitched together with clinical insight and a cultivated appreciation for the long arc of aging well.
1. Liquid Rhinoplasty: A Game of Chance With a Delicate Structure
The allure is understandable. A few precise injections, a straighter nasal bridge, a refined tip, and all without the scalpel. Liquid rhinoplasty promises a nose job without the commitment. But this promise, elegant though it may seem, comes laced with serious risks.
Anatomically, the nose is a vascular minefield. Its central location on the face places it squarely within the so-called "danger triangle," where arteries converge and terminate. Hyaluronic acid fillers injected without due care can block these vessels, leading to vascular occlusion, skin necrosis, and, in extreme cases, permanent vision loss.
It’s not a common outcome, but when the stakes are facial disfigurement or blindness, rarity offers little comfort. The caution here isn’t theoretical, it’s lived. Stories abound of late-night calls from panicked patients, numbness in the nasal tip, and med spas unequipped to manage emergencies. In one case, the injector had to reopen a clinic after hours to administer life-saving reversal agents.
Even when complications don’t arise, the aesthetic longevity of nasal filler is questionable. Unlike the mobile areas of the face, the nose doesn’t metabolise filler as efficiently. Over time, the product lingers, and what begins as a sleek profile may morph into something bulkier, distorting the very refinement that was sought.
For those with surgical rhinoplasty behind them, fillers present an even greater hazard. Scar tissue and shifted blood vessels heighten the risk of occlusion. The advice is simple: if the nose is a concern, seek a board-certified surgeon with demonstrable expertise. A temporary illusion is no match for lasting, skillfully rendered results.
2. The Preventative Facelift: Tension in All the Wrong Places
Scrolling through feeds, the term "mini facelift" has found its way into increasingly youthful captions. The idea? Pre-empt aging by surgically lifting the face in one’s 30s. But this aesthetic arms race may be based more on fear than fact.
A full facelift typically addresses loose skin and sagging caused by volume loss and muscle laxity. To perform such a procedure on skin that has not yet truly aged means pulling skin that doesn’t need pulling, often accompanied by the removal of fat to create an illusion of lift. The result can appear unnatural, and worse, it starts a surgical cycle that’s hard to break.
Facelifts aren't one-time events. Undertaking one in your 30s may necessitate another in your 40s, and so on. The cumulative impact of repeated surgeries on the same delicate tissues is, as one might imagine, far from elegant.
There’s also an integrity issue to consider. Some practitioners, especially those with large online followings, simultaneously criticise non-surgical options while offering them in their own clinics. This contradiction adds confusion to an already saturated discourse.
The recommendation? Partner with what might be called an "aging coach", a dermatologist or aesthetic professional who is committed to evolving a face gracefully over time, with subtle, minimally invasive treatments. It’s not about resisting time. It’s about understanding it.
3. Buccal Fat Removal: Slim Now, Hollow Forever
For a brief, shiny moment, buccal fat removal was the toast of social media. Celebrities paraded slimmer cheeks, while clinics fielded requests from clients keen to emulate the sculpted look. But fat is a fickle friend, and removing it too early may well lead to regret.
The buccal fat pads offer structure and softness to the face. In youth, they contribute to a healthy fullness. With age, we lose facial volume, especially in the midface, making fat all the more precious. Removing it prematurely leads to a gaunt appearance, one that can be difficult to reverse. Fillers struggle to replicate the natural contour and often fail to stay in place.
What’s more, this procedure is irreversible. The fat, once gone, is gone. Any regrets must be met with creative camouflage and contouring, hardly an ideal solution when the stakes are so high.
There is a time for buccal fat modification. During a properly indicated facelift later in life, a skilled surgeon can reposition or adjust the fat pads with a view to harmony. But until then, they serve an important purpose. Let them be.
4. Masseter Botox: A Narrow Margin for Error
Botox for the masseter muscles, a treatment that softens the jawline and can relieve jaw tension, has gained traction among those with clenching habits or TMJ. But it’s not a universally safe solution.
Bone structure is key. Individuals with a narrow facial frame are at greater risk of undesirable effects, including premature jowling. By shrinking the masseter muscles without a sturdy skeletal scaffold underneath, the cheeks can lose support and begin to sag.
For those with broader, more angular bone structures, the treatment can be both effective and aesthetically beneficial. The jawline retains its definition even as the muscle relaxes. But even in these cases, the underlying cause, often stress-induced bruxism, must be addressed.
A bespoke night guard, professionally fitted, can offer immense relief. For many, it is a non-invasive answer to tension headaches and grinding, one that avoids the downstream effects of muscle weakening.
In the world of aesthetics, nuance is everything. What works for one face can compromise another. Masseter Botox may have its place, but it should never be reflexively applied.
5. Lips and Under-Eyes: Small Doses, Big Considerations
Lip filler may be the most requested aesthetic treatment of the past decade. Yet its application remains misunderstood. Not all lips require filler. In fact, some benefit more from Botox to relax the muscles that cause lips to roll inward when smiling. Others, with naturally full lips that have lost firmness with age, may find better results with PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin), a treatment derived from one’s own blood that restores density without volume.
When filler is used, it should be introduced gradually. A half-syringe every few months allows the lip to accommodate new volume naturally. Injecting multiple syringes at once overwhelms the tissue, leading to the bloated, unnatural look that has become synonymous with overfilled faces.
Under-eye filler, meanwhile, is perhaps the most technically demanding injection of all. Success depends entirely on bone structure. If the orbital rim sits too low, filler creates visible puffiness, a bubble effect that can be disfiguring and difficult to correct.
The filler must be conservative, applied only when the anatomy allows, and always with a featherlight hand. A well-informed injector will often leave product in the syringe, opting for visual balance over volume. Clients should embrace this restraint. More is not more.
Cosmetic medicine is a realm where art and science meet skin. It’s a space of evolving ideals, intimate decisions, and the quiet luxury of refinement. But amid the buzzwords and trending treatments, wisdom holds steady.
A discerning approach. one rooted in anatomical knowledge, aesthetic judgment, and the humility to say no, is the only foundation worth building on. That may not make for flashy headlines. But it does make for better faces.
And, more importantly, happier ones.
