Can facial massage sculpt your face? There’s a catch

“The goal is to move lymphatic fluid, to release fascia and release tension,” Daniela Ezratty, MSN, ACNP-BC, and owner of Ezratty Integrative Aesthetics in Virginia-Highland, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

It also increases circulation to the face, which can contribute to the glowy, dewy appearance people often notice afterward.

How does it work?

Facial massage manipulates big muscles in the face, such as the masseters, temporalis and platysma, as well as fascia.

“Fascia is connective tissue that wraps around and supports everything, such as muscles, fat, blood vessels and nerves,” said Ezratty, explaining that the fascia around facial muscles plays an important role in treatment outcomes, determining facial movement, tension and mobility.

“For example, if we are working on the frontalis or forehead muscle, there’s also fascia on top of it,” she said. “You have to release both to get results.”

There are several approaches to facial massage. The European style, which Ezratty offers, tends to be gentler and more rhythmic, with the practitioner following the lymphatic chain through the face and neck. Some techniques, such as gua sha, percussion massage or specialized devices, often use more pressure.

Many of today’s sculpting and lifting facial massages combine multiple techniques, combining manual manipulation, including lymphatic drainage, reflexology and buccal massage, which involves work inside the mouth.

A temporary fix

In the right hands, your face should be bouncy, glowy and dewy after a facial massage. The results are akin to a nonsurgical, temporary face-lift, Ezratty explained.

“You should see marked results in the cheek area, jawline, under eyes and in any puffiness.” However, she cautions that results can be quickly undone because of lifestyle choices. “One margarita that night, and you’re going to be puffy the next morning, although maybe not as much as you were the day before.”

Results are typically expected to last three to five days, making facial massage a popular option before a wedding, photo shoot or other special event. Ezratty said some clients find it relieves their migraines and tension headaches. While the sculpting effects are temporary, she said routine appointments could give you longer-lasting results.

“There is some pretty good evidence that routinely doing it does keep the face more lifted because you are training fluid not to be there,” she said. “By bringing that blood flow to your face, you’re nourishing the skin at a cellular level.”

Can you do a facial massage at home?

For anyone tempted to re-create the techniques at home, Ezratty strongly suggests seeing a professional.

There are common mistakes people make at home that could be costly to the skin, such as skipping proper sterilization. Dragging hands or tools across the face without adequately cleaning them, especially when using too much friction, can contribute to skin irritation, including contact dermatitis.

The draw of a facial massage may be less about chasing a more sculpted look and more about carving out moments of self-care in a busy schedule. If the goal is healthier skin, the safest results come from putting your face in trained hands.