It Looks Weird. It Feels Amazing. Here's the Truth About Buccal Massage.

I know buccal massage, sometimes pronounced as “buckle,” is really popular online right now, and it can look a little crazy and a bit strange, but you MUST trust the process, because what’s on the other side of this treatment is pure bliss.

This intraoral massage is performed by working the inside and outside of the mouth at the same time. Meaning one finger sits inside the mouth while the rest are lifting, smoothing, and massaging from the outside, allowing us to access the muscles we typically couldn’t reach from the outside alone.

BUCCAL BENEFITS?

When I think of buccal massage from a practitioner perspective, I think of all the benefits it has for my clients like:

For the face and jaw

• relaxes tight jaw muscles

• relieves TMJ pain and reduces headaches and migraines caused by clenching

• improves jaw mobility

• rejuvenates and tones the lower face

• sculpts and defines the jawline

• softens lines and creases around the mouth and lips

• reduces puffiness and heaviness in the cheeks

For the skin

• boosts circulation, delivering nutrient-rich oxygenated blood to the skin and muscles, supporting a brighter, healthier glow

• stimulates collagen production for improved elasticity and firmness

• improves the skin's ability to retain moisture

• enhances the absorption and effectiveness of skincare products applied afterward

For the lymphatic system

• encourages healthy lymphatic drainage of the face

• reduces fluid retention and puffiness

• supports healthy detoxification

For the mind and body

• reduces stress and anxiety through the deeply relaxing nature of the treatment

• helps your overall nervous system regulation

• provides that rare sense of release that comes from letting go of tension you didn't even know you were holding onto

NOW YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHY IT’S CALLED BUCCAL MASSAGE?

Well, it comes from the Latin term bucca, meaning cheek, and also because when we perform buccal massage, we address a muscle called the buccinator muscle, which is a major muscle that fills the space between the upper and lower jaw. It’s basically the reason you can chew, smile, and sip your iced coffee through a straw.

DOES BUCCAL MASSAGE HELP WITH AGAING?

This is a go-to treatment for me and is one of my absolute favourites to do in our spa, because not only do you feel some relief right away, especially if it’s jaw pain that’s bothering you, but also you can visibly see the difference in the lift of the face and reduction of those fine lines.

Most skincare or facial treatments focus on the surface of the skin, but the skin likes to be a lot more complex than that. It has different depths and layers to it, just like you and me. So instead of staying in a shallow conversation no one wants to be in, we’re gonna go even deeper. Buccal massage takes us into the workings of the muscles, the fascia that encases them, and the lymphatic system that ensures everything is running smoothly.

As we age, changes occur all through these systems:

• skin loses collagen and elastin, leading to more pronounced sagging like jowls and wrinkles when the underlying muscles are tight

• repetitive facial expressions deepen into permanent lines when muscles are constantly contracted

• restricted circulation means less oxygen and fewer nutrients reaching the skin, increasing dullness and an uneven tone

• impaired lymphatic drainage leads to fluid buildup, puffiness, and that tired appearance that no amount of sleep seems to fix

• chronic stress and muscle tension trigger cortisol, which weakens the skin barrier, reduces hyaluronic acid production, and speeds up collagen breakdown

• tight muscles compromise the skin's barrier function, making it harder to hold onto hydration

• skincare products absorb less effectively when the muscles beneath the skin are tight

This tension and restriction in the face builds up over time from repetitive contractions of just day to day life. Smiling, frowning, grinding your teeth, clenching your jaw, especially smoking or vaping, can all cause this tightness to accumulate in these muscles and fascia. Having stiff facial muscles and restricted fascia can inhibit proper blood flow and can lead to slow lymphatic circulation, meaning your tissues aren’t receiving enough of the nutrients and oxygen they need. Leading to a sluggish detoxification system, causing a dull complexion, puffiness and even a drooping of the cheeks from the weight of water retention,

So, this is exactly where buccal massage comes in.

By releasing these muscles and fascia from the inside out, circulation improves, lymph flows more freely, the skin receives better nourishment, and the face naturally lifts and firms as a result of working on the actual muscle itself. It is one of the most powerful anti-aging tools I know of, and it requires no needles, no machines, and no downtime. Just the power of our hands.

BUCCAL MASSAGE AT OUR LACOMBE SPA

Buccal massage is one of the techniques that is woven into our Marble Muse Facial, a 75-minute experience devoted entirely to the artful, hands-on sculpting massage of the face. Through slow and intentional intraoral and exterior massage movements, your facial tensions melts away, and the jawline becomes more defined, jowls are lifted, and your face comes back into symmetry.

This is both a preventive and corrective treatment, meaning it's not only for those already experiencing jaw pain or visible signs of aging. It's also for those who want to get ahead of it, supporting muscle strength, maintaining facial health, keeping lymph moving, and skin nourished from beneath the surface of what you can see.

One important note: buccal massage is not recommended within two weeks of Botox or filler injections, or following any recent facial or dental surgery. If you're unsure if this treatment is right for you, reach out, and we'd be happy to help you in any way we can.

LEARN AT-HOME BUCCAL MASSAGE

If you’re wanting some relief at home for your jaw pain and you happen to have some gloves on hand I created this tutorial for you over on Substack to do in the comfort of your own home to hopefully help relieves some of that discomfort for yeah. It walks you through two buccal movements you can do inbetween your facial sessions.