Looksmaxxing is an online trend, popular on social media and forums, in which people try to maximise their physical attractiveness through grooming, fitness, skincare and sometimes cosmetic procedures. Some of its advice, such as sleeping well and exercising, is sensible; other practices, such as ‘bone smashing’, are harmful. Cosmetic surgery is only for adults aged 18 and over and should follow a careful, face-to-face assessment.
Where the term comes from
Looksmaxxing began in online communities, largely among young men, and has since spread to mainstream video platforms. It divides changes into ‘softmaxxing’, meaning non-invasive steps like haircuts, skincare and exercise, and ‘hardmaxxing’, meaning surgery or other permanent interventions. Much of the vocabulary focuses on features such as the jawline, canthal tilt, cheekbones and facial thirds, often judged from photographs and online ratings rather than in person.
The sensible parts
- Sleep and hydration: regular sleep reduces puffiness and dark circles.
- Skin care: daily sunscreen, gentle cleansing and not smoking protect collagen over the long term.
- Body composition: reducing excess body fat through diet and exercise often defines the face and jawline.
- Posture: standing and sitting upright improves the neck and jaw profile in photographs.
- Grooming: a haircut, beard shape or eyebrow tidy that suits your face can make a noticeable difference.
These steps are low-risk and worth trying before considering any medical treatment.
Practices that cause harm
Some methods promoted online are dangerous. ‘Bone smashing’, repeatedly striking the face in the hope of stimulating bone growth, can cause fractures, nerve injury, infection and permanent deformity; it does not reshape the face in any controlled way. Unregulated injections bought online, extreme dieting and unprescribed hormones or supplements also carry serious risks. ‘Mewing’, a tongue-posture technique, is generally harmless but there is no reliable evidence that it reshapes the adult jaw. Chewing very hard gum for hours can strain the jaw joint and cause pain.
The pressure of comparison
Constant rating of faces, filtered images and harsh online language can distort how people see themselves. Front cameras and selfie angles exaggerate the nose and asymmetry, and no real face matches the ‘ideal’ measurements quoted online. If worry about your appearance takes up hours each day, stops you going out or leads to repeated checking in mirrors, speak to your GP, as this can be a sign of body dysmorphic disorder, which responds well to the right support. A responsible surgeon will not operate when surgery is unlikely to help.
What surgery can and cannot do
Surgery can address specific, identifiable concerns: rhinoplasty can reduce a nasal hump, double chin liposuction can sharpen the jaw-neck angle where fat is the issue, blepharoplasty can reduce hooded lids, and in older adults a facelift or neck lift can improve sagging. Surgery cannot change your underlying bone structure to match a template, and every procedure carries risks, recovery time and scars. Jaw and skeletal surgery is a specialist maxillofacial field and is not offered by Mr Nassab, though he can advise on referral.
Non-surgical treatments and the maturing face
Filler and anti-wrinkle injections are sometimes promoted online as quick ways to sharpen the jaw or lift the eyes. These are medical treatments with real risks, including lumps, asymmetry and, rarely, blocked blood vessels, and they are only appropriate for adults after a proper assessment. The face continues to change through the late teens and early twenties as the nose, jaw and cheeks mature, so a feature that looks out of proportion at eighteen may look very different a few years later. Treating a young face heavily can also leave it looking older or overdone.
A measured approach
At consultation, Mr Nassab will ask what specifically bothers you, examine your face in person, and explain whether any procedure is likely to help. Sometimes the honest answer is that no surgery is needed, or that waiting a few years while the face matures is wiser. Where surgery is appropriate, the aim is a natural result that keeps your identity, not a face engineered to meet online scores. Procedures are quoted at consultation, with the £150 consultation fee charged separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is looksmaxxing safe?
Healthy habits such as sleep, exercise and skin care are safe. Practices like bone smashing, unregulated injections and extreme dieting are not and can cause lasting harm.
Does mewing change your jawline?
There is no reliable evidence that mewing reshapes the adult jaw. Good posture can improve how the jawline looks in photographs.
What is the minimum age for cosmetic surgery?
Cosmetic surgery is only for adults aged 18 and over, and many facial features continue to mature into the early twenties.
Can surgery give me a more defined jaw?
Where fat under the chin is the cause, liposuction may help. Changes to the bone itself require specialist maxillofacial surgery.
What if worries about appearance feel constant?
Speak to your GP. Persistent distress about appearance is common and treatable, and it is important to address before considering surgery.
