TikTok’s Latest Obsession? “Recessed Maxilla” Searches Skyrocket 798%, BUT Experts Say The Viral Fixes Don’t Work

TikTok’s latest beauty fixation isn’t a serum or new aesthetic treatment - it’s bone structure. 

Google searches for “recessed maxilla” have surged 798% in the past week and hit 96k global searches this month*. The phrase is dominating For You Pages as creators warn viewers about “underdeveloped midfaces,” “recessed chins,” and “how to fix your maxilla with mewing.”

But how much of this viral trend is grounded in reality?

Annabelle Taurua, beauty and skincare expert at Fresha, the world’s leading beauty and wellness marketplace, explains below what a recessed maxilla actually is, how to tell if you have one, whether non-surgical fixes are possible, and why the internet’s panic about facial bone structure is mostly unnecessary.

// What is a recessed maxilla?

Beauty and skincare expert at Fresha, Annabelle Taurua, explains: “The maxilla is the upper jawbone. It’s the structure that shapes your midface, supports the cheeks, anchors the nose and teeth, and defines facial projection. A ‘recessed maxilla’ simply means the upper jaw sits further back than average. In severe cases, it can affect breathing, bite alignment and jaw function. In mild cases, it's often just a natural anatomical variation.”

// How can you tell if you have one?

TikTok often oversimplifies this, but Annabelle says there are a few signs:

A flatter midface or shorter under-eye support

A bite where the top teeth sit further back than expected

A chin that appears further back (because the lower jaw follows the upper jaw)

Mouth breathing or narrow nasal passages in some cases

But she stresses: “A range of facial structures is completely normal. Social media tends to frame natural variation as a problem to ‘fix’, when in reality most people don’t have perfectly projected midfaces, and that’s perfectly normal.”

// Why is this a rising trend?

“We’re in an era where very angular, sculpted faces are seen everywhere online, usually featuring sharp jawlines and high cheek projection. A lot of this is genetics, lighting, contouring, fillers or even surgery, but people on TikTok often think it’s all natural,” says Annabelle.

“When you constantly see those faces on your feed, it’s easy to start analysing your own from every angle. That’s why more adults are suddenly worried about midface projection or looking into things like chin filler or orthodontics. They’re trying to match an aesthetic that’s unrealistic for most people. It’s not that anything is ‘wrong’ with their bone structure. It’s that beauty standards have become incredibly specific and hyper-defined.”

// Can a recessed maxilla be fixed without surgery?

The short answer is no. This is where TikTok is most misleading.

Annabelle explains: “Once you’re an adult, your facial bones have fused. Exercises, massages or posture work may help muscles, but they cannot move the maxilla forward. Only orthodontic appliances in childhood or orthognathic surgery in adulthood can change bone position.”

// What can TikTok users’ advice actually do?

Although these techniques can’t change bone structure, Annabelle says they can provide meaningful functional and soft-tissue benefits.

Osteopathic Facial Massage: “Osteopathic facial massage won’t move the maxilla or alter bone structure, but it can make a huge difference to how your face feels,” says Annabelle. “I see many clients who come in with headaches, jaw tension or clenching from stress. Facial osteopathy can reduce tightness, ease TMJ discomfort, improve lymphatic drainage and even create a temporary lifted, de-puffed look, but it doesn’t change the skeleton.”

Posture & tongue-placement habits: “Good posture and better tongue placement won’t reshape the bones, but they can absolutely help with comfort,” Annabelle explains. “People often notice improvements in nasal breathing, less neck tension, reduced clenching and more awareness of how they’re holding their jaw day-to-day.”

Breathing retraining: “Improving nasal breathing is one of the most underrated changes you can make,” Annabelle says. “It can support better sleep, reduce facial tension and even ease headaches. Again, these are functional benefits, not changes to your facial bones, but they can make a real difference to how you feel.”

// Why you shouldn’t worry about it

“A recessed maxilla is not a medical emergency, and in most cases, it’s simply a variation, not deformity,” says Annabelle “If you’re not experiencing breathing issues or bite problems, there is nothing that needs ‘fixing’. If someone chooses aesthetic treatments to feel more confident, that’s completely personal, but it’s important not to let TikTok convince you that your natural bone structure is a flaw. Most faces don’t fit these hyper-sculpted beauty ideals, and they’re not meant to. Your face isn’t a problem to fix, it’s something to understand and take care of, not critique.”