What to Expect The Cost The Final Takeaway
If you follow aesthetic trends, you’ve undoubtedly heard of buccal fat removal. This facial surgery involves removing your buccal fat pads to achieve a more sculpted facial structure. It has spiked in popularity in recent years, with many celebrities and influencers rumored to have undergone the procedure. However, while buccal fat removal has become highly sought-after, there’s no negating how invasive and costly the service is.
In light of this, buccal massages have emerged as a less intense and more affordable alternative. The buzzy skincare treatment is a form of facial massage that creates a more contoured appearance sans downtime. Sound intriguing? I think so. To learn more about buccal massages, I tried the treatment myself and chatted with celebrity facial sculpting expert Joseph Carrillo along with estheticians Raquel Medina-Cleghorn and Gianna Graham.
Ahead, find everything you need to know about buccal massage.
What Is a Buccal Massage?
A buccal massage is a treatment that focuses on the buccal pad—a pouch of fat tissue that sits between the cheekbone and jaw. The massage releases tightness within the facial muscles surrounding the pad and manually drains lymphatic fluid to give a temporarily more contoured and chiseled appearance. "The massage works on the muscles, helping to smooth them out and relax the tension holding [the muscles] tight," Medina-Cleghorn says.
This massage is unique because it is intraoral, meaning that the service professional will also massage the inside of the client's mouth with gloved hands. "This service aims to relieve the tension that is held in the facial muscles, and you're able to access them from a different angle when working intraorally," Medina-Cleghorn explains. Since the buccal pad is located along the teeth, if one were to massage from the outside, it would simply push the skin and muscles into the teeth. The intraoral aspect allows for isolated manipulation and, thus, more noticeable results.
The Benefits
- Enhanced definition between the cheekbones and jawline
- A more lifted and sculpted appearance
- Relaxation of the facial muscles
- Enhanced blood circulation
- Brighter and more "awake" looking skin
- Reduced pain stemming from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) and tension headaches
- Relief from sinusitis
- Emotional stress relief
Buccal massage works by combining muscle relaxation techniques with lymphatic drainage. The combination allows for a more apparent distinction between the cheekbones and jawline, giving the face a natural contour. “The buccal massage relaxes the mouth, platysma, and masseter,” Carillo says. “The side effect is that people’s faces appear slimmer.”
While the treatment has gained popularity recently for its aesthetic benefits, the technique was initially created to treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction, commonly referred to as TMJ. By relaxing the facial muscles, buccal massages can help relieve TMJ-related pain.
Buccal massages can also offer emotional benefits. “Our face is where all our emotion is expressed,” Medina-Cleghorn says. “We hold tension there relating to stress, sadness, anger, happiness. So when you manually release that tension, you’re also helping the client experience an emotional release.”
How to Prepare
As with most facial massages, you will want to avoid getting a buccal massage within two weeks of getting filler or Botox to prevent the migration of the injections. Graham says you’ll also want to avoid any “abrasive or ablative skin treatments” in the weeks prior—this includes services like lasers or microneedling. Additionally, you should hold off on getting the massage if you are in your first or third trimester of pregnancy, have broken skin from chronic conditions (like acne, eczema, or psoriasis), or if the intraoral nature of the massage makes you uncomfortable.
What to Expect
Warming up the Muscles
The service will start with what Carrillo refers to as "waking up the lymphatic system." This can consist of several different techniques. During my treatment with Graham, she started using a facial yoga ball followed by knuckling and "whipping" finger motions to heat the muscles. She then proceeded to gently pinch my skin to increase oxygenation. "Everything in this massage is designed to increase blood flow to different tissue depths," Graham says.
Conversely, Carrillo began by applying pressure to acupressure points and followed up with facial cupping. Both of these exercises were very relaxing and really did feel like a gentle warm-up before a workout.
Lymphatic Drainage
Though the warm-up includes techniques aiding lymphatic drainage, this phase is much more rigorous. Medina-Cleghorn likens this portion of the massage to “liquefying” the loose connective tissue in the face. Graham used a warm Gua Sha to move the fluid from the shoulders, neck, jaw, cheeks, and forehead to the lymph nodes next to the ears to then drain down the body. “Lymphatic fluid flows extremely close to the skin’s surface, so it is easy to bypass it with too much pressure,” she notes.
Buccal Massage
This part of the massage typically only lasts about five to 15 minutes, depending on the specialist. The esthetician will massage the buccal pad and the other muscles surrounding it, such as the masseter (the strongest muscle in the mouth), squeezing and stretching the pad and muscles to push lymphatic fluid out of that area. This approach relaxes the muscles and assists with lymphatic drainage to achieve a sculpted appearance. I expected this portion to feel very invasive, similar to going to the dentist, and frankly, I was not looking forward to it. Surprisingly, it felt very natural with Carrillo and Graham. Having their fingers inside my mouth felt more stabilizing than anything else; it didn’t feel like a ton of movement was going on.
Finishing Touches
The final phase includes more lymphatic drainage and bonus treatments to improve the appearance of the skin. For example, Medina-Cleghorn adds serums and provides LED light therapy, while Graham finishes with a cool Gua Sha and a microcurrent and electric muscle stimulation device.
The results of a buccal massage are immediately apparent and continue to develop over several days. Carrillo explains that clients should see their best results around days two and three after the treatment. One can prolong results for several weeks by performing maintenance routines at home, like doing facial exercises or using a Gua Sha.
As Carrillo advised, I noticed results immediately after my appointments that continued to improve for several days afterward. My cheekbones looked more defined, my jawline closest to my neck looked sharper, and my skin plumper and more radiant. I also found that my TMJ symptoms were significantly improved for over a week after the treatment; I experienced far less locking in the mornings.
The Cost
Buccal massages are typically performed as a 5-15 minute service within a facial or facial massage. For facials that include buccal massage, the price generally ranges between $150-$500. However, depending on your location and the professional you visit, it can be slightly more or less. For reference, Carillo charges $275 for his Sculpting Energetic Lifting Facial, while Medina-Cleghorn’s facials start at $500.
The Final Takeaway
Though buccal massage's results are not permanent or as obvious as those of buccal fat removal, the facial treatment is excellent for those looking for a non-surgical approach to face sculpting. The massage techniques—which include intraoral massage, lymphatic drainage, and sculpting tools—provide you with an immediately more contoured appearance and help relieve tension held in the lower region of your face. In my opinion, it's a treatment that's definitely worthwhile.
