A bizarre new procedure which gives people cartoon-like features – pointy faces, overly chiseled jawlines and Popeye-style biceps – has been criticised by surgeons.
While the eye-catching looks help influencers garner thousands of followers, surgeons have warned that these extreme and disturbing procedures can result in “serious mental and physical health consequences”, including tissue death.
In Britain, extreme measures are a crime under the Habeas Corpus Act of the 1850s.
However, many people still seek surgery abroad to undergo these rare procedures.
Here, MailOnline investigates some of the most worrying social media surgery trends.
Kirill Tereshin, 25, a Russian influencer nicknamed “Bazooka Hands” and also known as the Russian Popeye, has built a reputation online for his massive biceps and dramatic facial features.
The social media user, who has 51,300 followers on Instagram, appears to be using oil-based injections to get a toned physique rather than hitting the gym to build muscle.
“His dramatic appearance may be the result of regular steroid use and rumours that he had around three litres of Vaseline injected into his arms,” Reza Nasab, consultant plastic surgeon at CLNQ Clinic in Manchester, told Mail Online.
But he strongly recommends never doing this type of injection, as it can lead to tissue death.
“Injecting Vaseline or other non-medical substances can severely impair blood supply to muscles, potentially causing tissue death and other serious health complications,” he added.
New York-based architect and pop surrealist painter Tiago Azevedo, who has 58,300 followers on Instagram, is one influencer who has joined the trend, posting images online of his chiseled jawline, chiseled cheekbones and pointed chin.
His appearance rivals a surrealist portrait, and surgeons say he has had copious amounts of cheek fillers and implants.
Indonesian TikTok beauty influencer Yuni Jasminboutik, who has 410.7K followers, is one influencer who shows off her pointed jawline and slim chin in her videos.
Experts suggest she also used fillers, but many of her videos also appear to use filters that may have accentuated the effect.
Commenting on the cartoon-like characteristics of Azevedo and Jasmin Butique, Nasab said “various fillers could have been used.”
He suggested that the use of Botox and threads to raise the eyebrows created a “youthful” and “agile” appearance.
“Cheek fillers can add volume and create a plumper, more youthful appearance. Chin fillers can help achieve a more defined, more defined jawline, while chin fillers can enhance balance and symmetry across the face,” he adds.
Nasab adds: “Furthermore, regular lip fillers increase the size and volume of the lips, contributing to the exaggerated features often seen in these highly stylized looks.”
“These cosmetic treatments can be combined to create a unique, highly stylized look that resembles a cartoon-like character.”
Dr Nigel Mercer, a Bristol-based consultant plastic surgeon who specialises in facial reconstructive surgery, explained that reshaping one’s appearance carries risks.
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He said: ‘Chin implants can cause encapsulation issues and can be pushed out by pressure.
“Additionally, pressure on the jawbone can lead to tooth root resorption.”
“It’s impossible to know what patients think they will be left with when the implants are removed (implants are not permanent),” he added.
Dr Omar Tiro, Harley Street plastic surgeon and medical director of CREO CLINIC, said it’s not just the risk of complications, infection and tissue damage that people need to be aware of.
He added that such procedures can also have mental health implications and he believes surgeons have a responsibility to ensure they carry out psychological assessments of patients before considering any extreme changes.
“As plastic surgeons, it is crucial that we address the risks of these bizarre surgical changes, which are often driven by unrealistic expectations and body dysmorphic disorder and can have serious consequences on mental and physical health,” he said.
Dr Tilo warns that such extremes in appearance can lead to dissatisfaction, regret and irreversible changes to one’s appearance.
“Patient safety and mental health must remain a top priority, and surgeons should encourage realistic expectations and conduct thorough psychological evaluations before considering any drastic changes,” he added.
