Maeng Seung-ji denies face-contouring surgery, credits 'ear filler' for slimmer look

Comedian Maeng Seung-ji has credited an "ear filler" procedure for changing the shape of her face. Rather than undergoing bone-shaving facial contouring surgery, she said altering the shape and projection of her ears created the illusion of a slimmer face. The procedure, recently drawing attention under the name "fairy ear filler," still involves a region where blood vessels and nerves run in complex patterns, experts caution. It should not be treated as a simple injection.

In a recent post on her SNS, Maeng shared her method for managing her face shape, saying, "My boyfriend's friends ask if I have gotten contouring surgery — I get misunderstood a lot. I never had surgery that touches the bone." She added, "My cheekbones look like they've gone in too, visually. Since I got the ear filler, people really do tell me, 'Your face is going to disappear.'"

The so-called "fairy ear filler" procedure typically involves injecting hyaluronic acid filler into the ear to make the auricle protrude slightly more when viewed from the front, or to change the angle and shape of the ear.

More recently, the procedure has also been used to non-surgically correct "lying ear," where the ear sits flat against the head. A small 2025 study injected hyaluronic acid filler into 30 people with a small angle between the ear and head, and found that the ear's protrusion angle increased on average two months later. However, the study had a small sample size, and researchers said further research is needed on long-term effects and complications.

When the ear appears slightly more prominent from the side, it does not actually reduce the bone or cheekbones of the face itself, but the proportion of the outline surrounding the face can change, making the central part of the face look relatively smaller. Maeng's remark that her cheekbones "look like they've gone in" can also be explained by this kind of visual shift.

However, ear filler is not a procedure that actually reduces face size or corrects cheekbones. How much smaller the face appears also varies greatly depending on the ear's original position and size, the width of the face, and the hairstyle.

The idea that showing more of the ear automatically makes a person look younger is also not medically established. The ratio between the ear and the face can influence overall impression, but a youthful look is determined by a combination of factors, including skin condition, facial fat distribution, bone structure, and the proportions of the eyes, nose and mouth.

Unlike contouring surgery that removes bone or ear reshaping surgery, ear filler involves no incision and comes with a relatively lighter recovery burden. When hyaluronic acid filler is used, it can also be dissolved if necessary using an enzyme called hyaluronidase.

But as ear filler procedures have become more common, research on the vascular structure around the ear and related complications has also emerged. Researchers who conducted cadaver dissections and imaging studies in 2025 said multiple blood vessels run in complex patterns around the ear, with considerable individual anatomical variation, and warned that the risk of vascular damage or occlusion must be carefully considered when performing ear filler procedures.

If filler enters a blood vessel or compresses a nearby vessel, it can cause vascular occlusion, blocking blood flow. Vascular occlusion caused by filler is rare, but when it occurs, it can lead to serious complications such as skin ischemia, necrosis and scarring. For vascular occlusion caused by hyaluronic acid filler, quickly recognizing the symptoms and starting treatment is critical to minimizing tissue damage.

Cases of vision damage following ear filler procedures have in fact been reported in medical literature. Researchers believe filler migrated toward blood vessels connected to the eye, due to anatomical connections or variations between vessels around the ear and those leading to the eyeball. In 2024, a case was reported in which the ophthalmic artery became blocked immediately after an ear filler procedure, causing vision damage, and additional cases of permanent vision loss following ear filler have since been reported. It is an extremely rare complication, but it is one reason ear filler should not be regarded simply as a light injection suited to the ear.

There have also been cases of localized hair loss occurring alongside vascular complications from filler. A study analyzing related literature said filler can disrupt blood flow in the area and affect hair follicles, leading to localized hair loss, though this is not a common side effect.

Other relatively common side effects include swelling and bruising at the injection site, tenderness, left-right asymmetry, infection and nodules.

Anyone considering ear filler should check the practitioner's anatomical knowledge and ability to respond to complications. Because blood vessels and nerves run through the ear's limited space, simply injecting a large volume to make the ear protrude more may not be appropriate.

Researchers who analyzed cases of vision damage following ear filler also said that injecting a large amount of hyaluronic acid into such a narrow area could compress blood vessels and nerves, and called for a cautious approach. They said that because long-term safety data remain insufficient, there is still limited evidence to regard ear filler as a general alternative to surgery for correcting lying ear.

After the procedure, it is best to avoid pressing or rubbing the ear firmly for the period recommended by medical staff. In the early period, it may also be worth taking care with consistently pressing one ear while sleeping, or wearing tight headphones or headbands, since excessive pressure while the filler settles can affect its shape.

In particular, it is important to distinguish ordinary bruising or swelling from signs of a vascular problem. If pain more severe than expected appears during or after the procedure, or if the skin turns pale or bluish, or shows a mottled, net-like discoloration, the possibility of vascular occlusion should be checked. For vascular occlusion caused by hyaluronic acid filler, rapid recognition and treatment using agents such as hyaluronidase are critical to reducing tissue necrosis.

If sudden blurred vision, decreased eyesight or eye pain occurs, immediate emergency evaluation is needed.

More important than the visual benefit of ear filler — a face that looks smaller — is checking whether the procedure is actually necessary for one's own ear shape, what product is used and how much, and whether the medical institution can respond immediately to any vascular complications. Weighing safety alongside effectiveness is also essential for healthy management of non-surgical procedures.