COSMETIC TOWN JOURNAL



Facial Yoga: The Best Skin Rejuvenation Technique?

Posted February 07, 2018

Some doctors are adding a new tool to their arsenal of anti-aging treatments such as Botox, plastic surgery and fillers. The latest addition is a noninvasive treatment known as facial yoga and some are claiming that it is the best skin rejuvenation technique.

A Clinical Study on Facial Yoga

According to a report in JAMA Dermatology, a group of dermatologists measured the improvements in a group of middle-aged women after they completed 30 minutes of daily face-toning exercises for a total of 8 weeks. They followed this exercise routine with alternate-day exercises for another 12 weeks.

According to Dr. Murad Alam, the lead author of the study and the vice-chair and professor of dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, the results were actually stronger than he expected.

The participants in the study included 27 women between the ages of 40 and 65. However, only 16 of the women actually completed the full course. The women were taught how to perform cheek pushups and eye bag removers and were then sent home to practice these exercises.

Dermatologists looked at unmarked “before and after” photos and saw improvements in the fullness of both the upper and lower cheeks. They also estimated the average age of the women who completed the program to be significantly younger than the start of the program. The age estimation dropped from 51 years of age to 48 years of age.

Dr. Alam says the study showed there is some evidence that facial exercises may improve facial aging as well as reduce some of the visible signs of aging. Dr. Alam also said the exercises enlarge and strengthen the facial muscles while also helping the tone and firmness of the face. The results are a younger facial appearance for patients.

Dr. John Chi, a plastic surgeon, and professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis feels the study raises more questions than the answers it provides. Dr. Chi would recommend facial yoga to patients who want to relax but he would not recommend it for the purpose of facial rejuvenation. He feels that facial yoga has not been examined enough in peer-reviewed studies, unlike Botox, fillers and facelifts.

Dr. Alam does agree that his study raises additional questions and that he would like to see a larger study conducted on the subject.

Ideal Patents for Facial Yoga

Studies show that for certain motivated patients, facial exercises could be beneficial as getting good results requires consistency and time. These exercises have to be performed consistently six to seven days a week for 20-30 minutes per day. It takes at least three to four weeks before you start to notice results. It is advisable that patients consult with a dermatologist before tackling a facial exercise regimen. They’re not a good idea if patients have previously had cosmetic injectables such as dermal fillers. Facial exercises may cause dermal fillers not to last as long and, for others, facial exercises could make signs of aging more noticeable.

Facial Yoga Exercises

Follow these tips to effectively perform facial yoga to get the best results!

Warm-Up

Start your workout by blowing exaggerated raspberries with the lips and with the cheeks as well. The bigger vibration is better for relaxing facial muscles. Lip muscles are a core muscle for the face. By relaxing these muscles, other muscles are relaxed too.

Slim Your Double Chin

Keeping your shoulders down and relaxed, tip your chin up to the ceiling until you feel a good stretch in the upper neck and chin area. Alternate making duck lips and sticking out your tongue while holding each “pose” for 5 seconds each. Repeat three times. Make sure to keep your chin extended and keep your neck taut the whole while.

Smooth Smile Lines

First off, don’t stop smiling and laughing! If you don’t smile, you're not going to develop cheek muscles. Instead, tackle smile lines by breaking down the tension in the muscle from the inside out by using the tongue. Starting up by the nose, where the lines tend to be deepest, stick your tongue inside your mouth and make a tiny circle on the labial line. Do five circles clockwise and counterclockwise on each side to smooth smile lines.

Puff Up Your Cheeks

Puff out both of your cheeks and shift the air in your mouth from one cheek to the other for a total of 5 times. Then release the air while making a small “O”. Repeat the exercise three-four times to keep your cheeks firm.

Stick Your Tongue Out

Stick your tongue out as far as it will go and hold this pose for 60 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

Look Up at the Ceiling

Look up and pucker your mouth like you’re about to kiss something. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times. For a more prominent jawline and high cheekbones, you can also stick out your tongue while looking up at the ceiling in order to stretch and strengthen the muscles in your neck. Return to a neutral position to continue the exercise every time.

Fish Face

Smile while pursing your lips and then create a fish face by sucking the inside of your cheeks into the gap between the sides of your teeth. Perform this exercise five times to firm and tone your lips and cheeks.

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