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Influencers on TikTok say “mewing” is the latest quick-fix beauty trend to dramatically change one’s face. Medical experts aren’t buying it.
“You see these dramatic posts on social media where somebody looks like they have a frog neck and then all of a sudden they have this perfectly defined jawline,” says plastic surgeon Dr. David Shafer. “Whether that’s also involving some selective editing, it’s hard to tell.”
Here’s why people online can’t stop talking about mewing – and what you need to know about it.
What is mewing?
Mewing is “the process of placing the tongue at the roof of the mouth and applying pressure to cause bony changes in the jawline,” says Dr. Catherine Chang, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and founder of NakedBeauty MD.
Why are people doing it? In short, because they want their jawlines to look more defined.
“Basically, it’s a way of repositioning anatomy in your neck and lower face,” Shafer says. “When you look in the mirror, you can practice and push your tongue up in the roof of your mouth and pull underneath your chin up to make it look slimmer. You can see a difference. When we’re taking a picture, people consciously or subconsciously do it.”
Below is a video of how it’s done. Though some on social media have claimed to achieve dramatic results, experts warn against believing everything you see on the internet.
Why mewing is controversial
The term “mewing” was coined by British dentist John Mew and his son, Mike Mew. They preached the idea of altering face shapes and jawlines through facial exercises, though most dentists agree in denouncing their claims – one dentist told The New York Times that Mew was “a total idiot.”
The elder Mew, who founded the London School of Orthotropics, stepped down in 2017 after losing his license from the General Dental Council in the U.K. “on grounds of misconduct for publicly denigrating the traditional practices of orthodontic tooth movement,” according to the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
The younger Mew is currently awaiting results from a General Dental Council hearing held earlier this month after treatments for 2-year-old and 6-year-old patients were deemed “inappropriate and/or misleading,” per hearing documents.
Does mewing actually work?
Experts say it makes sense that everyone is thinking more about their lower face right now – “for the last three years, we’ve all been on Zoom,” Shafer says, noting his office has seen a large spike in appointments for neck liposuction and chin or jaw augmentations.
Mewing is viewed online as a free alternative to plastic surgery or orthodontia, which can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. But those in the industry say the results aren’t what they’re made up to be. And even the Mews originally intended for the treatment to focus on children, not fully-developed adults.
Fortunately, experts say there aren’t any major negative side effects to mewing – “except being disappointed,” Chang says. “If it’s too good to be true, it generally is.”
If your goal is to look different while taking a single photo, mewing is a quick fix. But those hoping it can bring about the same kind of sustained change as surgery are mistaken.
“If it’s not something you’re going to be disciplined and keep up with, then you’re not going to see sustained or long-term results and it’s definitely a result that will go away once you stop doing the motion,” Shafer says. “It’s not something that’s risky. It’s not something that’s going to cause you harm. (But) I think people need to have guarded expectations.”
More on social media and viral beauty trends
What is ‘slugging,’ the viral moisturizing hack? Does it work?
More:Relatability and transparency drive beauty influencers’ ability to sell makeup and trends
And: Natalia Dyer, that controversial TikTok and when cosmetic ‘advice’ backfires
Everybody wants to influence the world:Inside the fame, money and evolution of influencers
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