Extreme 'bone smashing' trend explained as disturbing 'looksmaxxer' method grows among teens

There's a pretty alarming trend popping up on social media and it seems to be growing among the younger generation.

'Bone smashing' is about as horrifying as it sounds and sees young men taking a hammer to their faces, in a bid to reshape jawlines and cheek bones to try and improve appearance.

Naturally, the dangerous trend is causing a great deal of concern among medics, who have been warning about some of the side effects, including nerve damage, broken bones and loss of sensation.

Bone smashing is as horrifying as it sounds (Getty Stock Photo)

What is bone smashing?

Bone smashing essentially involves taking a hammer or similar type of object to the bones and structures in your face to try and alter appearance.

Those who believe in the trend seem to be following, or rather, misinterpreting a theory called Wolff's Law - named after German surgeon Julius Wolff - which discusses the idea that bones will adapt and change based on repeated pressure and stress.

However, the risks involved with repeated DIY bone smashing can be pretty serious, which is why the medical community are so concerned about the trend.

Profile Aesthetic explains: "Wolff's law requires controlled, cyclic loading along stress lines to thicken bone. Think targeted resistance exercise.

"Bone smashing is sporadic, undirected trauma. There's no control over where microfractures and swelling occur. You can't reshape bone predictably like working out muscles.

"Smashing may microfracture facial bones, but not along defined lines matching your desired end-result. Such uncontrolled injuries cause haphazard areas of swelling and thickening."

What are the risks of bone smashing?

Not only can bone smashing cause pain and swelling, it can also lead to muscle tears and asymmetrical results.

Fractured bones as a result of impact could also lead to the need for surgery, as well as deformity as the fractures heal.

The trend can cause fractures and bruising (Getty Stock Photo)

How did it start?

Bone smashing was invented by a male subculture known as looksmaxxers. Looksmaxxing is the idea of focusing intensely on appearance and self-improvement.

It was developed in the early 2010s and generally is split into two categories - 'softmaxxing', which includes male grooming habits such as skincare or fitness - and 'hardmaxxing', which is the more dangerous and extreme form, including things like surgery and steroid use.

Due to the extreme nature of bone smashing, it certainly falls into the hardmaxxing category.

What have doctors said?

Doctors have a very clear opinion on bone smashing - don't do it.

Dr Joshua Rosenberg, plastic surgeon and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Mount Sinai told GQ: “The very basic premise, that repetitive mechanical load can influence bone density or remodeling, is not completely divorced from science.

“It’s just wildly misunderstood and misapplied here... The idea that you can create ‘controlled’ microfractures, trauma, or whatever term you want to use, in any bone—particularly in the face—is inherently flawed because it’s not controlled."

Meanwhile, Dr Richard Grillo called the trend a 'stupid idea' adding: “The list of risky points is enormous.”