“Bonesmashing” is an unproven, non-medical practice popularized on social media. It claims to alter facial bone structure for aesthetic purposes by repeatedly applying blunt force or intense pressure to areas like the jawline, cheekbones, or brow ridge. Proponents believe this intentional, repeated trauma stimulates new bone growth, resulting in a more defined or “chiseled” appearance. This article evaluates these claims by examining the flawed theoretical basis and the actual biological response of bone to uncontrolled stress.
The Flawed Premise: How Bonesmashing is Supposed to Work
The belief system driving bonesmashing fundamentally misinterprets Wolff’s Law, which states that bone tissue adapts and remodels itself based on mechanical stresses. Practitioners mistakenly interpret this to mean that significant, uncontrolled blunt force will stimulate osteogenesis, resulting in a stronger, larger bone structure.
This theory suggests striking facial bones is analogous to lifting weights to build muscle, aiming for a wider jaw or more prominent features. However, bonesmashing involves trauma and microfractures, a biological event vastly different from the controlled, cyclic loading Wolff’s Law describes. Proponents overlook the distinction between physiological, controlled mechanical loading and traumatic injury.
Scientific Mechanism: How Bone Actually Responds to Stress
Bone tissue is a dynamic living material constantly broken down and rebuilt through bone remodeling. This process is managed by two primary cell types: osteoclasts, which resorb old bone tissue, and osteoblasts, the “builder” cells that deposit new bone matrix. This balance between resorption and formation allows bone to adapt to appropriate mechanical loading, such as forces generated by chewing or resistance exercise.
The key difference lies in the type of force applied. Controlled, physiological stress falls within a specific strain range that encourages osteoblasts to deposit new bone in an organized manner. Traumatic force, like the blunt impact used in bonesmashing, creates strains far exceeding this beneficial range, potentially reaching 25,000 microstrain—a level close to the bone’s fracture threshold. This extreme, uncontrolled stress causes bone damage, not controlled growth.
When facial bone is subjected to this trauma, the biological response focuses on repair, not aesthetic enhancement. The injury triggers inflammation and microfractures, causing the repair process to result in chaotic, disorganized healing. This often leads to the formation of a bony callus—a lump of disorganized new bone—or bone resorption, where osteoclasts break down damaged bone faster than osteoblasts can rebuild it. The result is unpredictable, uneven growth or a weakened site, which is the opposite of the desired outcome.
Immediate and Long-Term Health Consequences
Applying blunt force to the facial skeleton carries a high risk of immediate and serious injury. Acute consequences include facial fractures, severe bruising, hematoma, and an increased risk of infection as trauma damages the skin and underlying soft tissues. Facial bones, particularly around the eyes and nose, are relatively thin and vulnerable to fracture, often requiring complex surgical intervention to repair.
The long-term consequences are often permanent and debilitating, extending beyond aesthetics. Trauma to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can lead to chronic pain, stiffness, and TMJ dysfunction, making it difficult to chew, speak, or open the mouth fully. Damage to the jaw can also result in permanent malocclusion, or a misalignment of the bite.
The facial skeleton also contains numerous nerves and blood vessels, making nerve damage a significant risk. Blunt force can cause permanent numbness, weakness, or even paralysis in parts of the face. Instead of a symmetrical, defined look, the practice is far more likely to result in facial asymmetry, disfigurement, and chronic neurosensory disturbances.