An aesthetician has explained the so-called “pillow face” that causes celebrities to look puffy.
Fillers don't dissolve, but they can migrate, which is why some celebrities experience this phenomenon, which is caused not only by botched cosmetic procedures, but also by too much filler moving under the skin.
This is the opposite of a narrow Ozempic face, which makes the cheeks and lips look extremely puffy and unnatural.
“This explains the pillow face phenomenon – fillers don't simply dissolve or metabolize over time,” aesthetician Jamie B. announced to her followers in a now-viral TikTok video with over 3,500 comments.
Fillers don't dissolve naturally, she warned, “and continue to migrate or spread to other parts of the face, causing tissue expansion.”
“The pillow face phenomenon could be explained by the filler not just dissolving or metabolizing over time,” aesthetician Jamie B. explained to her TikTok followers.
Jamie said that people who “have a habit of getting filler injections on a regular basis” can end up with puffy faces because the filler moves around, citing Madonna as an example.
Jamie said that people who are “in the habit of using fillers on a regular basis” are more likely to experience facial swelling, which is to be expected as they have more of the gel-like substance in their bodies.
She showed recent photos of Madonna and Chrissy Teigen, who have both shocked fans with their changing appearances.
The photo of Madonna was taken during her appearance at the Grammy Awards, sparking furious plastic surgery speculation from astonished onlookers.
During the awards ceremony in February, viewers posted confused comments on social media, with one person writing: “Madonna is not like Madonna to me.”
Another person said:Madonna needs to stop the plastic surgery and embrace the aging process. She's almost unrecognizable now.”
A few weeks later, Madonna responded to the harsh social media criticism with a tongue-in-cheek post.
“Look how cute I look now that the swelling from surgery has gone down. Lol,” she wrote alongside a photo of herself lounging in ripped jeans and a “Spiritually Hungry” hat.
Meanwhile, Chrissy received a similar response last summer after a beauty Instagram account accused her of ruining her face with filler injections.
Comments at the time included: “She was beautiful before, I don't know why she ruined her face like that,” and “Why do celebrities want to plump up their cheeks?”
But the mum-of-four wasn't afraid to hit back, with Chrissy shutting it down by replying: “No offence but is this what you're going to end up with if you don't do it? You're disgusting. You've gained weight.”
In September 2021, Chrissy revealed on her Instagram Story that she had undergone cheek fat removal surgery to remove fat from her cheeks and define her jawline.
Jamie further explained in the video that although she hasn't worked at a medical spa in nearly three years, she always knew there was a chance the filler could seep into other areas of the face, and in fact, it “seems almost guaranteed.”
She believes the “conversation about how long fillers last” has changed, because whereas previously fillers were guaranteed to last between six and 12 months, they now appear to last even longer.
Jamie asked other injectors if the current treatment involves injecting a dissolving solution before adding more filler, and what they tell patients about how long the treatment will last.
“What do you think about the fact that putting filler on the outer lips can have a negative effect on the lymphatic system?” she asked, pointing to her cheekbones.
She also questioned whether this was a fading trend, to which one commenter replied that it was because it was “going to be semi-permanent” and wouldn't require regular maintenance.
“I couldn't be happier to not have to get fillers,” responded another commenter after learning about the pillow face effect, while another expressed excitement because “I never could afford this.”
Jamie shared recent photos of Madonna and Chrissy Teigen, both of whom look like they've changed over time, surprising fans.
“I lost two friends because of the fillers. Not that I passed but I just couldn't watch it anymore. So sad,” wrote one scathing commenter on TikTok.
One person said that an MRI showed that the filler spread, and that this was I definitely don't want to touch any fillers.
Another person warned that “Dissolver doesn't always work” and could cause severe allergic reactions.
There were many comments in the comments section saying that the filler hadn't dissolved even after a year.
One person explained that she had only had filler once, about three years ago, but still sees the marks, while another said she had lip surgery in 2021 and that her lips still look plump.
“I lost two friends because of the fillers. I didn't even pass and now I can't watch them anymore. So sad,” one commenter quipped.
According to the website of New York City-based plastic surgeon Dr. Amiya Presado, the “pillow face” look is “The filler shifts and creates a plump appearance, making the cheeks appear “big and disproportionate.”
But not everyone believes migration of fillers is to blame.
Some believed it was simply because there was too much filler. One person wrote, “It's not filler migration. It's overfilling. Filler migration becomes clumpy and migrates to another place.”
As one person summed it up: “The short answer is that different rheologies/techniques/anatomy/metabolism all play their own role in terms of migration, longevity and results. In my case, I'm using more fillers but the quality of the products has improved recently.”
An experienced injector explained, “The problem with filler is that we inject it into people who don't need it. It works really well for people who have lost volume. I still have a lot of filler clients, but I won't inject it if it's not needed.”
Some people think fillers are gone for good, with one person saying: “I've heard fillers are going out of fashion. It seems like needling and specialist facial treatments are taking over.”
