Surgeons have criticised bizarre new surgeries that are giving people cartoonish features such as pointy faces, exaggerated jawlines and Popeye-like biceps.
While the eye-catching looks earn influencers thousands of followers, surgeons warn that these extreme and disturbing procedures can have “serious mental and physical health consequences,” including tissue death.
In the United Kingdom, performing extreme acts is a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Persons Act of the 1850s.
Yet many people still go under the knife to undergo these unusual procedures abroad.
In this article, MailOnline examines some of the most disturbing trends in social media surgery.
Russian influencer ‘bazooka hands’, aka Russian Popeye, Kirill Tereshin, 25
The social media user (left) with 51.3K followers on Instagram, has had oil-based injections to get his muscular look instead of building his muscles in the gym
25-year-old Russian influencer ‘bazooka hands’, also known as the Russian Popeye, Kirill Tereshin, has built a reputation online for his gigantic biceps and heavy facial treatments.
The social media user, who has 51.3K followers on Instagram, apparently uses oil-based injections to get his muscular look instead of building his muscles in the gym.
‘His dramatic appearance can be attributed to regular steroid use and rumours that he has squirted about three litres of Vaseline into his arms,’ Mr Reza Nassab, a plastic surgeon at the CLNQ Clinic in Manchester, told MailOnline.
However, he strongly advises against these types of injections, as they can lead to tissue death.
“Injecting petroleum jelly or other non-medical substances can severely restrict blood flow to muscles, leading to tissue death and other serious health problems,” he added.
Tiago Azevedo, a New York architect and pop-surrealist painter who has 58.3k followers on Instagram, has had an extreme amount of cheek fillers and implants, surgeons say
Tiago Azevedo, a New York architect and pop-surrealist painter with 58.3k followers on Instagram, is another influencer to jump on the bandwagon, posting photos online of his chiseled jawline, sculpted cheekbones and pointed chin.
His appearance is reminiscent of one of his surrealist portraits and, according to surgeons, he has had an extreme amount of cheek fillers and implants.
Indonesian TikTok beauty influencer Yuni Jasminebutiq, who has 410,700 followers, is another influencer who shows off her pointed chin and narrow jawline in videos.
Experts suggest she may have had filler as well. But many of her videos also appear to use filters that may accentuate the effect.
Mr Nassab commented on the cartoonish films of both Azevedo and Jasminebutiq, saying that “there may have been various fillers used”.
TikTok beauty influencer Yuni Jasminebutiq, who has 410.7K followers, shows off her pointed chin and narrow jawline in videos.
Surgeons suggest the influencer has used fillers and warn the look is not without risks
He suspects that a ‘youthful’ and ‘alert’ appearance has been created by a brow lift using Botox or threads to lift the eyebrows.
‘Cheek fillers can add volume and create a fuller, more youthful appearance. Jawline fillers can help achieve a more contoured and defined jawline, while chin fillers can improve the overall balance and symmetry of the face,’ he added.
Mr Nassab added: ‘In addition, regular lip fillers can increase the size and volume of the lips, contributing to the exaggerated features often seen in these highly stylised appearances.
‘By combining these aesthetic treatments, people can achieve a unique, highly stylized appearance that resembles a cartoon character.’
Bristol-based plastic surgeon Dr Nigel Mercer, who specialises in facial reconstructive surgery, explains that the look is not without risks.
He said: ‘The chin implants cause encapsulation problems and can pop out due to the pressure.
‘In addition, they can cause the tooth roots to resorb due to the pressure in the jawbone.’
“What the patient thinks will happen to him/her when it has to be removed (no implant is permanent) is impossible to know,” he added.
According to Dr Omar Tillo, Harley Street plastic surgeon and medical director of CREO CLINIC, people should not only be aware of the risks of complications, infection and tissue damage.
He added that these procedures can also have mental health implications and he believes surgeons have a responsibility to conduct a psychological evaluation of a patient before considering extreme changes.
“As a plastic surgeon, it is vital to address the risks of bizarre surgical transformations like this. Such procedures, often driven by unrealistic expectations or body dysmorphia, can have serious mental and physical health consequences,” he said.
According to Dr. Tillo, extreme stares can lead to dissatisfaction, regret and irreversible changes in appearance.
He added: ‘Because patient safety and psychological well-being are paramount, surgeons should set realistic expectations and conduct a thorough psychological evaluation before considering extreme changes.’