Margot Robbie’s rumoured buccal fat removal could cause ‘premature ageing’, warns surgeon

Margot Robbie is the latest celebrity to face speculation that she has undergone a buccal fat removal procedure after showing her slimmer facial appearance during a Paris Fashion Week appearance in March.

The Wuthering Heights actress looked strikingly different with a new wavy bob and fringe, which showed her sculpted jawline and sharp cheekbones as she attended the Chanel Fall 2026 show, prompting speculation that she had undergone a cosmetic procedure to alter her facial appearance.

To learn more about exactly what buccal fat removal is, and to get an expert opinion on Margot’s changing appearance, we caught up with Dr. Ramtin Kassir, a triple board-certified celebrity plastic surgeon based in New York, and his response may surprise you.

“From looking at recent photos, there is no clear evidence that Margot Robbie has undergone buccal fat removal. Her face still shows natural midface volume and a smooth transition under the cheekbone, which is not typically seen when the procedure has been performed aggressively,” the plastic surgeon says. “Changes in appearance can also be attributed to factors such as weight fluctuations or the use of GLP-1 medications.”

What is buccal fat removal?

You may have heard about this popular procedure, but what exactly does it entail, and why might someone choose to have it done? “Buccal fat removal involves the reduction of the buccal fat pad, which sits deep within the lower cheek, to create a more defined contour beneath the cheekbone,” Dr. Kassir explains. “It can be performed intraorally or as part of a deeper facial procedure, but it requires a high level of precision to avoid over-resection and to protect critical structures such as the buccal branch of the facial nerve and Stensen’s duct.”

Why is the procedure increasingly popular?

This cosmetic procedure has surged in popularity in recent years, with Bella Hadid and Chrissy Teigen among the other celebrities rumoured to have had it. However, Dr Kassir warns that the trend is “overdone”. He says, “Buccal fat removal gained popularity because it creates a sharper, more sculpted facial contour. However, it has also become one of the most overdone procedures in aesthetic surgery in recent years.”

© Getty Images

Dr. Kassir also warns that buccal fat removal is not suitable for everyone, explaining: “In carefully selected patients, typically those with a heavier lower face or more pronounced fullness, it can be a useful adjunct. However, in younger or naturally thinner patients, we generally advise against it.”

The long-term risks of buccal fat removal

The acclaimed surgeon also says that there are some long-term risks associated with buccal fat removal.

“The challenge is that buccal fat is a youthful fat pad, once it is removed, it does not regenerate. Over time, patients may appear hollow, gaunt, and prematurely aged, particularly as natural facial fat diminishes with age,” he says. “Our goal in facial aesthetics is not to hollow out the face, but to create strategic shadows, a soft contour under the cheekbone, and definition along the jawline and gonial angle, while preserving volume where it is needed.”

The surgeon adds, “As with many procedures, the issue is not the procedure itself, but how frequently and aggressively it is performed. The key lies in restraint, experience, and proper patient selection.”