The Benefits of Buccal Massage

Want a More Sculpted Jawline? Start Here

Say hello to buccal massage, the “inside-out facial.”

Have you ever heard of buccal massage? The term (derived from the latin word bucca, for cheek) is as equally exotic as the technique, which involves massaging muscles deep inside the cheek and jaw area to release tension, improve circulation, and, of course, promote youthful looking skin.

Touted as the ultimate facelift alternative without going under the knife, buccal massage is currently practiced by only a handful of facialists in New Zealand,

The Sculptural Buccal Technique®

In New Zealand, the advanced technique of Buccal massage has been trademarked under the name The Sculptural Buccal Technique®. Created by celebrity facial sculpting expert Kate Michelmore, this technique embodies the pinnacle of Buccal massage practices.

Kate, championed The Buccal Massage in New Zealand back in 2019 when she travelled to Los Angeles to train under internationally acclaimed Russian specialist. and holds the distinction of having the most extensive experience and is currently the only Facialist to hold the Advanced Level Certification in the country.

"I felt that facialists were missing the mark with buccal massage, so I wanted to create my own version that intentionally used much deeper pressure point and lymphatic-based massage movements" - Kate Michelmore

Additionally, Kate trains therapists across New Zealand and Australia, ensuring that her trademarked technique is performed to the highest standards.

Buccal Massage Can Give You an Instantly Sculpted Jawline.

This massage is unique because it is intraoral, meaning that the service professional will also massage the inside of the guests’'s mouth with gloved hands to 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. The intraoral aspect allows for isolated manipulation of each facial muscle aand, thus, more noticeable results.

In this Journal entry, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the unconventional mouth massage—from how it should be done to its benefits internally, and when you know it’s time for you to try one out for yourself.

What is Buccal Massage?

Buccal massage, or intraoral massage, is a unique facial treatment that intricately works on the muscles inside the mouth. By massaging the cheeks, jawline, and areas around the mouth from the inside, this technique targets deep muscle layers often overlooked by traditional facials. Initially popularized in Europe, Buccal massage has garnered significant acclaim for its exceptional benefits.

The Science Behind Buccal Massage

Our facial muscles, much like any other muscles in the body, can accumulate tension and stress. Buccal massage directly addresses this tension, promoting muscle relaxation and enhancing blood circulation. The increased blood flow introduces more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, resulting in a natural, healthy glow. Additionally, this massage technique stimulates lymphatic drainage, helping to reduce puffiness and detoxify the skin.

Did you know you have 57 muscles above the collarbone?

It’s mainly about working on the muscle, ligaments and fascia – all muscles have a memory, so the more you stimulate them, the more they return to their original shape. And, by working on the fascia and ligaments, you make sure they stay in that specific position.

How does it work?

Everything in this massage is designed to increase blood flow to different tissue depths. More and more people are realising that having stiff muscles in your face can cause unhealthy blood flow and poor lymphatic circulation, This means our tissues do not receive enough nutrients and oxygen, thus resulting in inadequate detoxification in our system. The result of that is often a dull complexion, puffiness, and drooping of the cheeks due to the weight of water retention. That’s where a buccal massage comes in.

The buccal massage is one of the facial massage techniques that specifically targets the drooping of the jowls (the lower region of the chin), a universally known problem area. A buccal massage looks a lot like a traditional lymphatic massage of the face, except it takes place inside the mouth, of course.

Your skin is first prepared + cleansed with Bioactive+ Cleansing Oil eliminating any surface debris. We then drench the skin with signature Shea butter balm, deep massage movements using pressure point and lymphatic drainage to sculpt, contour, and enhance the face including cheekbones and jawline using firm, gua sha-like massage of the external facial muscles.

Kate will perform a range of lifting and sculpting movements - think vigorous toning movements and high energy whipping strokes - to boost blood circulation and collagen production. De-stressing muscle tissue allows features to become stronger and skin more vibrant. Flushed with blood and nutrients, from there the massage turns buccal.

By stretching, relaxing and strengthening select muscles, we’re able to re-train a more natural facial posture with the right amount of sessions. It helps the skin detoxify correctly, as we have many lymph nodes in the cheeks, jaw and neck, de-puff eyes and sagging skin and improve muscle elasticity. After every session, the skin feels refreshed and the facial structure more defined.

Inside Job

With a pair of surgical gloves we begin the buccal technique inside of the mouth, lips and jawline where mimical muscles are deeply massaged and tension released. The muscles are sculpted + toned using precise movements. You will immediately feel more open, lighter & deeply relaxed.

It's very important to work with a therapist who really understands facial anatomy.

By removing excess fluid that settles in the soft tissue, the natural bone structure of the face is highlighted, including the cheekbones. Having optimal function of our facial muscles will bring more supple, chiseled, brighter, tighter skin with less redness. As a result, the facial features are more defined because the skin is receiving enough nutrients and oxygen, thus more optimal detoxification of the system (and less puffiness overall).
 

The benefits of a buccal massage

Buccal massage can really change your face. Many of the benefits, that guests can expect to feel is less tension in the jaw area, noticeable decrease in puffiness, help to stimulate the ligaments and fascia of the muscles. Regular treatments can help diminish fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a firmer, plumper look.

• Smoothes lines and wrinkles
  Buccal massage is amazing for contouring, aka skin tightening, draining, which helps with skin clarity, and releasing tension to improve lines and wrinkles—a similar concept to Botox’s muscle-relaxing abilities.
  

• Helps with skin clarity
  While we don’t tend to think of deep tissue massage as a mode of promoting clearer skin, buccal massage creates a vibrant, fresh foundation for the skin to heal and prevent future breakouts.
  
  A lot of times breaks outs are just a result of poor circulation and stagnation of the lymphatic system. So, by moving things around and removing blockages, the skin will definitely experience better clarity. Just make sure when you massage the skin, you use non-comedogenic oil, and wash the face before and after massage.
  

• Emotional tension release
  Buccal massage not only releases muscle tension, but other types of stagnation in the body. We store a lot of emotions in the jaw. Remember when you are stressed, you hold your jaw tight—all the aggression, sadness, and pain is being stored in your body. So by releasing that tension, we also release emotions and trauma behind it.
  

• Therapeutic for TMJ
  Because those inner tissues and muscles are so hard to access otherwise, buccal massage can help relieve long-built-up tension and tightness in the jaw due to TMJ disorder, which is exacerbated by stress. A lot of people suffer from bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth), and sometimes you just need a good, deep massage to relieve it.

• Natural Facelift

  A prominent benefit of Buccal massage is its ability to function as a natural facelift. By working on the deeper muscle layers, this massage helps to tone and lift facial contours, reducing sagging and imparting a youthful appearance.

• Stress Relief

  Facial tension’s impact on overall well-being is often underestimated. Buccal massage offers profound relaxation, releasing built-up tension in the jaw and facial muscles. This not only enhances skin health but also fosters a sense of calm and mental clarity

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. 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. 

The result?

An even more relaxed face that rests in a more lifted position (hence, the face-lift effect), which can last up to three days, and even longer, if you practice facial massage at home daily with a face oil for five to six minutes. Your skin will have a soft rosy glow to it, cheeks appear lifted, deliciously smooth + contoured. You will walk away from the experience with plumped cheekbones and a less tight, chiseled jawline.

How Often Should You Get a Buccal Facial Massage?

For the best results, getting ten done over ten weeks, and that after that, going in once a month is perfect for maintenance.

The more consistently you can go for The Buccal Massage, the better your skin and facial structure will fare over time, although you should leave at least a week between treatment. Facial Sculpting Massage has a cumulative effect, so the more consistent, the better the long term results. Like working out, regular gym sessions reap the best results.

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