Do Facial Exercises Really Work For Fine Lines And Wrinkles? We Asked A Plastic Surgeon
August 4, 2023 by Marissa Matozzo
This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
While many effective anti-aging beauty endeavors often include surgeries, facelifts and other more permanent measures, there are still ways to achieve a youthful look in more temporary or less drastic ways.
On TikTok, one ubiquitous facial exercise trend many beauty are utilizing is gua sha, or as WebMD explains, “a traditional Chinese healing method” in which a “smooth-edged tool,” such as a jade stone is used to stroke the skin and lift it upwards (often revealing one’s cheekbones as seen in viral TikTok videos).
As countless 20-somethings swear by the method on the video-sharing app, we wondered, could anyone over 40 benefit from the practice as well?
To learn more about facial exercises, gua sha and its anti-aging effectiveness, we reached out to Dr. Kim Harris, ND, Naturopathic Medical Doctor and skincare expert at Prescott Medical Aesthetics, Dr. Alexis Parcells, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of SUNNIE Skincare and Dr. Michele Koo, board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon and creator of Dr. Koo Private Practice Skincare.
While the act of applying smooth stones to the skin in upwards motions is nothing new (and been around for thousands of years), gua sha’s recent popularity on Tik Tok has led to more interest in it across generations. Gen-Z Tik Tok users are certainly fans, but creators over 30 or 40 too have praised the practice on the app as well. Gua sha, or jade scraper, has been around for centuries, Parcells explains.
“This healing technique was first documented in Chinese medicine back in 220 CE.” The idea of ‘sha,’ or ‘redness,’ she says, has long been attributed to skin healing. She notes that the principle behind gua sha is lymphatic drainage.
“Strategically massaging your skin in a methodical motion can promote circulation and drain fluid trapped under the skin towards the lymph nodes to detoxify your skin,” Parcells adds, “Benefits can be seen at any age, and with a variety of health conditions, especially those that contribute to bloating.”