Cosmetic experts reveal the 15 surgeries they’d NEVER want to have done – including Botox, nose jobs and cheek fat removals
From Botox to buccal fat, procedures and surgeries promising to reverse or prevent anti-ageing are everywhere but not all of them are worth having done.
In fact, cosmetic and skin experts have revealed that some procedures and surgeries can actually have the adverse effect, quickening the appearance of ageing.
While this doesn’t mean all cosmetic treatments are off the cards, it is worth listening to the expert advice on what will (and won’t) work.
One skin expert is Joanne Evans, she said: ‘I am not against surgery at all, I have seen some incredible work with some really skilled specialists.
‘My advice is to always choose carefully, ask all the right questions, see their portfolio and more importantly ensure you feel comfortable and secure with your surgeon.’
She added: ‘The goal shouldn’t be to look like somebody else. It should be to look like the best version of yourself, at every age.’
So, here are 15 surgeries and procedures these cosmetic and skin experts would never want to have done and why.
Clinical facialist and skin health expert Smita Ahluwalia shares the procedures she would never have done
Buccal fat removal
Buccal fat removal is a plastic surgery that involves removing a portion of buccal fat (the fat located inside your cheek) using a small incision.
It’s a surgery that’s popular with among Hollywood circles, but skincare and cosmetic experts don’t seem to think the procedure will make you look like a million dollars. In fact, it’s the most ‘avoided’ surgery among experts on this list.
Clinical facialist and skin health expert Smita Ahluwalia said: ‘As we get older, we naturally lose volume and fat from our faces anyway, which can make us look more hollow and aged. Why would I want to speed up that process?’ she said.
She added: ‘Having fuller cheeks can actually help us look more youthful. Once that fat is removed, it’s permanent, and you may end up regretting it as you get older. I’d much rather preserve the natural volume in my face.’
And Dr Arti Singh, a dental surgeon and aesthetic expert, agrees. She said: ‘Prematurely removing buccal fat can lead to a prematurely aged look later in life.’
But beyond quickening the appearance of ageing, Dr Singh said: ‘Surgery here runs close to the branches of the facial nerve and the duct of the parotid salivary gland; there is a risk of nerve weakness, paralysis or injury to the duct.’
Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning is all the rage on social media, with influencers posting about the procedure and ways to do it at home. Serial dermaplanners will rave about its benefits including anything from helping skincare to absorb and allowing makeup to sit better.
But it’s a treatment, Smita, would never have done. She said: ‘Dermaplanning removes fuzz and dead skin cells, leaving the skin looking smooth and fresh. However, personally, I’m not a fan,’ said Smita.
Her rationale: ‘We have fine facial hair for a reason. It provides a degree of physical protection, and I don’t see the point of removing it purely for a temporary cosmetic effect.’
She said: ‘Dermaplaning is also a form of mechanical exfoliation, and if it’s performed too aggressively or too frequently, it can compromise the skin barrier leading to irritation and sensitivity.’
Skin expert and founder of Skin-Matters, Joanne Evans said: ‘I always question why we would permanently remove something that we naturally lose with age.’
Lip filler
‘We’d all love to have fuller lips, especially as we naturally lose volume and definition as we age. But personally, I wouldn’t have lip fillers,’ said Smita.
She said: ‘I’ve seen so many lips that look overfilled and unnatural, and that’s not the look I want for myself. Of course, some practitioners achieve beautifully subtle results, but I’ve also seen plenty where it’s quite obvious that fillers have been used.’
Beyond looks, Smita is also worried about more serious complications and risks including filler migration, lumps and asymmetry. She revealed: ‘In rare cases, filler can block a blood vessel, potentially causing tissue damage.’
Lip injections can cause serious complications including tissue damage and lumps
Threads
‘The idea of putting threads under my skin to pull it upwards just doesn’t appeal to me,’ said Smita.
‘The results are temporary, and there are risks of puckering, unevenness, infection and threads becoming visible under the skin.
‘There’s also the possibility of tissue distortion. As we age, our skin naturally loses collagen and elasticity, and I’d much rather focus on improving skin quality than physically pulling it into place.’
Botox
While it’s one of the more common and well-known procedures on this list, it’s still one that Smita wouldn’t consider.
She said: ‘That puts me off Botox is the lack of natural facial movement. I’ve noticed that when some people try to express themselves, their noses scrunch up because their foreheads aren’t moving naturally.’
And it’s not just a loss of facial communication and movement: ‘I know you can have baby Botox for a more subtle effect, but for me, once I’ve smoothed out the lines on my forehead, I’d probably start noticing the sagging around my jawline even more! Where does it stop?’
Ultimately, she said: ‘I’m not interested in putting something artificial in my body.’
Deep chemical peels
A key discrepancy here is the depth of chemical peel. After all, Smita regularly uses chemical peels in her clinic. Where she draws the line, however, is with a deep chemical peel.
‘They can be extremely aggressive on the skin, with considerable downtime while the skin heals,’ she said.
Smita added: ‘Having darker skin, I’m particularly conscious of the risk of hyperpigmentation, scarring and even permanent loss of pigmentation. I’d much rather have a course of gentler peels that gradually improve my skin without the prolonged downtime and risks associated with deeper peels.’
Filler
Filler is a popular cosmetic surgery, but it’s one that Smita warns against having seen too many faces that look ‘puffy and overfilled’.
She said: ‘My concern is that once you start filling one area, you may begin noticing other areas that need attention,’ according to Smita.
‘Fillers can migrate, cause lumps and sometimes remain in the face much longer than expected. There are also rare but serious risks, including blocked blood vessels. I’d rather focus on improving my skin quality and ageing naturally than changing the shape of my face,’ added Smita.
24K gold facials
Seen influencers splurging on a 24K gold facial treatment? Before you remortgage the house this cosmetic expert says it’s not worth the money.
Smita said: ‘I wouldn’t spend my money on a 24K gold facial. It sounds luxurious and looks lovely on Instagram, but where’s the science behind it?
‘There’s very little evidence that applying gold to your face stimulates collagen, reduces wrinkles or improves skin health. You might come away looking glowing and hydrated, but that’s more likely down to the other ingredients in the facial. For me, it’s more of a gimmick than a results-driven treatment, and I’d rather spend my money on something that actually benefits my skin.’
Laser hair removal on my face
While laser hair removal is a great solution for removing body hair, Smita says she wouldn’t use the treatment on her face for risk of stimulating more hair growth
Laser hair removal is often promised as a solution to remove pesky facial hair and banish your moustache, but Smita said it’s not the saving grace it might appear to be.
She said: ‘I wouldn’t have laser hair removal on my face, particularly on fine, downy hair. One of the risks is that it can actually stimulate more hair growth rather than reduce it, especially if you have hormonal issues.’
She reassured: ‘Laser hair removal can be brilliant on other areas of the body, but for me, the risks of treating my face just aren’t worth it.’
‘Turkey teeth’
Dr Singh explained: ‘”Turkey teeth” is a popular term for aggressive dental work, usually full coverage crowns carried out abroad in a quick timeframe and at low cost.’
And it likely comes as no surprise that it isn’t a treatment this dental surgeon plans to undergo.
She said: ‘To achieve a bright and uniform aesthetic, healthy teeth are filed down to small stumps and capped with crowns. That is an irreversible process that can damage the nerve inside, leading to pain, a root canal treatment or loss of the tooth. When complications arise after the patient arrives home, follow up care can be difficult to access.’
‘There are often far more conservative options such as whitening, orthodontics, or minimal preparation veneers that can achieve excellent results whilst preserving your natural teeth,’ Dr Singh added.
Jaw shaving
‘Popular in South Korea, V-line surgery also called jaw shaving is a cosmetic procedure that re-shapes the angles of the jaw and narrows the chin to turn a square face into a slim, tapered V shape,’ according to Dr Singh.
It’s a surgery she would never undergo, particularly considering the serious complications that can occur as a result.
She said: ‘The lower jaw carries important nerves and blood vessels. Damage to the nerve that gives sensation to the lower lip, chin and teeth can leave patients with, tingling, or altered sensation that can be permanent as well as risk of injury to the nerves controlling facial movement.
‘Another risk is fracture of the jaw. From an aesthetic point of view because the soft tissue is no longer supported in the same way, it can result in patients developing sagging skin around the jaw and neck.’
‘Fox eye’
‘Fox eye’ is a trend that started on social media, it involves creating almond-shaped, upturned eyes and an elevated browbone. It can be created using thread lifts or with surgery that cuts and repositions tissue and muscle.
It’s a surgery Dr Singh would never get. She said: ‘ The eyelids protect the eye, once tissue is removed or repositioned it is very difficult to reverse and can lead to unnatural expressions and alter function such as blinking and eye closure.’
Dimpleplasty
Dimpleplasty is a cosmetic procedure that involves creating artificial dimples by making small cuts inside the cheeks.
According to Dr Singh: ‘ The cosmetic result is unpredictable. Dimples can be uneven, positioned in the wrong place or too deep.’
She added: ‘Initially they can be visible even at rest, but in some patients, this doesn’t settle, leaving a permanent dent rather than a natural dimple that appears only with a smile.’
Extreme rhinoplasty
Dr Arti Singh said: ‘The tiny, scooped, upturned nose had a long run as a beauty ideal, and many of the patients that seek revision rhinoplasty got their first one in that era.’
She warned: ‘The nose cartilage is the scaffolding that holds the airway open. Remove too much of it and that scaffolding gives way. Breathing can worsen due to the collapse and the bridge can drop into a “saddle” shape, the tip can pinch, and the nostrils can become visibly asymmetric.
‘Over the years, as the skin shrinks down onto an under-supported framework, those issues tend to become more obvious.’
What’s more, skin expert Joanne Evans cautioned about how changing your nose shape can throw your other facial proportions off-balance.
Joanne said: ‘ The nose plays such an important role in facial balance. I would be very cautious about dramatically reducing or reshaping it simply to follow a particular beauty trend.’
She added: ‘For me, facial harmony is far more important than trying to create a supposedly perfect nose.’
Blepharoplasty
Joanne said: ‘While eyelid surgery can be extremely effective, particularly where excess skin affects vision, I would be cautious about removing too much skin or fat.’
‘Overcorrection can change the natural appearance of the eyes and, in some cases, affect eyelid closure or cause dryness and irritation. I would always favour a conservative approach that respects the individual’s natural eye shape,’ she added.
