Understanding ‘Looksmaxxing’: How Young Men Are Using Pseudoscience to Justify Extreme Physical Transformations

Understanding ‘Looksmaxxing’: How Young Men Are Using Pseudoscience to Justify Extreme Physical Transformations

In recent years, a dangerous trend called ‘looksmaxxing’ has been gaining popularity among young men. Looksmaxxing refers to the pursuit of extreme physical transformations in order to upgrade one’s “sexual market value.” It is based on a pseudoscientific calculation of worth to a potential sexual partner, taking into account every aspect of one’s face. This trend has emerged from the darkest corners of the internet, with forums and videos promoting aesthetic changes for men. However, looksmaxxing is not just about physical transformations; it also involves cutting away at men’s mental health.

Looksmaxxing has now entered the mainstream, thanks to popular platforms like TikTok. Unlike the positive concept of a “glow up,” which celebrates personal growth and confidence, looksmaxxing is rooted in harsh critiques and the belief that physical appearance is the sole cause of relationship issues. This trend is closely tied to the “incel” (involuntarily celibate) community, who blame women’s supposed superficiality for their own struggles in love.

There are different levels to looksmaxxing. “Softmaxxing” refers to nonsurgical changes that can be made to the face, such as shaping the jaw with tongue exercises or getting a trendy haircut. On the other hand, “hardmaxxing” involves extreme alterations, including plastic surgery. The toxic influence of looksmaxxing has led to a spike in young men seeking cosmetic procedures, with some even traveling overseas for the best and cheapest services.

One of the leading influencers in the looksmaxxing community is Kareem Shami, a 22-year-old student from San Diego. Shami experienced constant bullying for his looks after moving to America from Syria. He has since undergone a dramatic transformation, changing his hairstyle, eyebrows, lips, and face structure. Shami claims to only promote softmaxxing, the nonsurgical changes, but there are many videos circulating online that advocate for extreme practices like “bone smashing.” These videos suggest repeatedly hitting one’s bones with a hard object to create micro-fractures in the hopes of improving facial structure. While there is no evidence that men are actually engaging in this practice, the fact that such videos exist demonstrates the troubling nature of looksmaxxing.

The most concerning aspect of looksmaxxing is its impact on men’s mental health. Many individuals who have joined the looksmaxxing community have reported negative experiences. James, a young man who discovered looksmaxxing at the age of 16, shared his encounter with The Guardian. He described the community as mean-spirited, often mocking individuals for their facial flaws. James has already spent $11,000 on procedures and plans to spend thousands more. Unfortunately, according to some hardline looksmaxxers, not all flaws can be fixed, which can be detrimental to teenagers’ mental health.

Looksmaxxing is a dangerous trend that promotes unrealistic beauty standards and places excessive emphasis on physical appearance. It perpetuates toxic notions about self-worth and can have severe consequences for individuals’ mental well-being. Young men should be encouraged to embrace their unique qualities and focus on personal growth rather than resorting to extreme measures to fit society’s narrow definition of attractiveness. It is essential to raise awareness about the harmful effects of looksmaxxing and provide support for those who may be negatively affected by this trend.