‘Chad facing’, ‘mewing’ and ‘looksmaxxing’… Are men alright?

Hunger · Expert comment · 31 January 2024

In January 2024 Hunger magazine, in a feature by Amber Rawlings, looked at online appearance trends aimed at young men: 'chad facing' (contorting the face to exaggerate the jaw and cheekbones), 'mewing' (the idea that tongue posture can reshape the face) and 'looksmaxxing', an umbrella term for efforts to maximise looks. The piece traced some of these ideas to online communities with troubling views about masculinity, and asked what they say about appearance pressure on men more broadly.

What Dr Ed said

Dr Ed was the clinical voice in the piece. He said the pressure is not limited to fringe forums, and that in his own clinic more men mention dating apps and the snap judgements those platforms encourage.

“the average man is definitely feeling an increased pressure to enhance their looks”

Asked about 'softmaxxing' techniques, he focused on jaw trainers, the chewing devices sold with claims that they sculpt the jawline, and warned about the strain they place on the jaw joint over time.

“long term use of these devices could well lead to chronic problems like TMJ disorder and migraines”

Quoted exactly as published by Hunger on 31 January 2024.

Clinical context

The shape of the jaw and chin in adults depends mainly on bone structure, fat and skin, so repeatedly loading the chewing muscles is unlikely to change it and may cause jaw pain. For men who are genuinely unhappy with their profile, the first step is an honest consultation, which sometimes ends with a recommendation not to treat. Where treatment is appropriate, jawline filler or chin filler can add structure in a measured way, and our page on aesthetic treatments for men explains our approach.

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• Aesthetic treatments for men
• Jawline filler
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• The complete guide to fillers for men
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