Buccal fat removal is one of the top trending aesthetic treatments this year. The search term “Buccal fat removal before and after” is soaring on Google searches, and on TikTok #buccalfatremoval has 192 millions views and counting. The surgical procedure involves the removal of fat from the cheeks, and has drummed up much debate about which celebrities may have had the procedure, as well as the long-term effects of the invasive treatment.
Aesthetic doctor and Lumenis practitioner Dr Saleena Zimri says that the procedure is becoming more popular, particularly amongst younger patients, but the long-term effects are something to seriously consider. “Well-defined cheek hollows and less fat on the face looks good now in younger patients, but as we age, we lose volume in our face, and this can cause us to look visibly older,” she says. “I wouldn’t recommend this procedure to anyone over the age of 40, as it may lead to an appearance that enhances the visible signs of ageing. Also, if your face is already angular, buccal fat removal could make you look gaunt and older than you are.”
With celebrity influence and the impact of social media on our self-image, the desire for chiselled cheekbones and a defined jawline has grown significantly. Of course, no one needs to change their appearance, however, with interest in the procedure skyrocketing, I was keen to investigate other ways to non-surgically—and non-permanently—sculpt the face. That was when an email landed in my inbox asking if I wanted to try a “buccal facial” with leading lymphatic drainage and Ayurveda expert, Dimple Amani.
I’d been following Amani on Instagram for a while, and was in awe of her lymphatic-drainage treatments that leave her clients looking svelte and sculpted. In fact, many celebrities see her for buccal facials ahead of major events and magazine shoots. I was surprised to learn that buccal massage comes with a whole host of other benefits, too. “Buccal facials help to release jaw tension, sinus [blockages]and headaches, as well as helping to sculpt the face,” says Amani.
I’m someone who (like so many of us) clenches my jaw subconsciously by day and my teeth by night, so I knew I could benefit from the tension-releasing effects of this treatment. It turns out that all that clenching is doing our skin no favours, either. “Having stiff muscles in your face can cause unhealthy blood flow and poor lymphatic circulation, which means our tissues do not receive enough nutrients and oxygen, resulting in inadequate detoxification in our lymphatic system,” explains Amani. “Therefore, this often results in a dull complexion, puffiness and drooping of the cheeks due to the weight of water retention.” Buccal massage helps to shift stagnant lymph and water retention that can sit in the lower half of the face.
Amani explains that buccal facial massage can also help with stress, anxiety and mental clarity, as well as leaving the face looking chiselled and improving skin from the inside out. And when I say inside out, I mean that literally—Amani’s facial involves massaging inside the mouth with her fingers to fully maximise the benefits.
Ahead, read my review on this buccal facial massage treatment, as well as Amani’s step-by-step guide to doing a DIY buccal facial massage at home.
The first step in an at-home buccal massage is to apply face oil or a similar product to your skin to give it some slip. Amani applied her Miracle Velvet Facial Oil (£85) to begin my treatment. She explained that it’s important to first activate the lymph nodes to help the detoxifying process. “The lymph nodes are activated gently with circular movements and a pumping motion in order to prep the skin for lymphatic drainage and to help push the lymph (or fluids) into the lymph nodes, which are the ‘exit holes’, and you will then naturally flush out the toxins through your kidneys and in the loo,” she says.
Amani massaged behind my ears and around my shoulders and collarbones to activate the lymph nodes prior to massaging my face. At this point, she also applied a drop of her Lymph Drain Body and Navel Oil (£85) into my belly button, explaining that this would help to improve my digestion and thus benefit the breakouts I was experiencing around my chin and jaw.
Next was the part of the facial I was most intrigued by. Amani began massaging inside my mouth, targeting my cheeks and jaw. It’s a weird sensation to begin with, but, I soon got used to it and could feel the tension in my jaw slowly melt away. As she did one side, I was actually quite shocked at how much tension had been released.
“The buccal massage looks like traditional lymphatic drainage massage, but is performed inside the mouth and is slightly deeper to release tension,” says Amani, noting to go gently around the jaw if you’re doing this for the first time. The masseter muscle (which sits over our jaw) can hold on to a lot of tension, so it can feel very tender here. It actually felt quite sore to massage during my treatment, so Amani advises to go gently and build the pressure over time as your adjust.
“The buccal massage is one of the facial massage techniques that specifically targets the drooping of the jowls, the lower region of the chin, which is a known problem area for some,” she says. If you’re doing this at home, she recommends thoroughly washing your hands, or wearing gloves, to gently massage inside your mouth.
If you don’t fancy putting your hands in your mouth, Amani says there are alternatives you can try. “If you are not comfortable putting your fingers in your mouth, you can gently use your hands or a facial tool with your favourite facial oil to perform lymphatic drainage,” she says.
Next, I Tried the Lymphatic Drainage Tool That’s All Over TikTok—Here’s What Happened
