It’s a well-known fact that our aging begins from the moment we are born. It sounds a bit dramatic, but the process of maturation comes along with anatomical and physiological changes that our body undergoes throughout its lifetime. Moreover, our lifestyle, habits, stress level, and unreleased emotions can speed up the process of change and accelerate age-related transformations. For example, you are only in your early 30's and already see a second chin. Your cheeks’ volume is lost on the sides of the face, and you just don’t understand how come your smile lines become so deep. You begin to hustle finding a skin care service or treatment that is going to correct those imperfections!
You are not alone. Many men and women of all ages experience the same issue.
Natural aging processes are inevitable. Our skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag. We lose the volume on our faces because fat packs thin out and disappear. We were taught these basic principles of aging, and we believe that this is true. And it is, to some extent. As the person gets older, these processes do take place and influence the aesthetics of our face. However, we have not been taught what the underlying causes are of those structural changes on our faces. What speeds up skin sagging and loss of volume on our faces? What makes us develop a second chin and droopiness around the jawline?
I want to invite you to think about your face as a complex anatomical structure which is built of many layers of tissues. There are bones, fat pockets, muscles, and fascia. Each of them depends on the homeostasis of one another. The skin is the last, most superficial layer. Unfortunately, that is the only layer that we are able to see. All the by-products of the underlying tissue’s activities are shown on our skin. As a result, we see wrinkles, sagging, loss of volume and definition, discoloration, dry skin, etc. We think that our skin is guilty of all of those imperfections, and we rush to fix our skin. What if I tell you that skin care only will leave you frustrated? What if I tell you that the reason why you have jowls, sagging, loss of volume, second chin, etc., lies in the chronic muscle tightness.
Let’s look at the muscles that play the most important role in those changes on our faces. They are the masseter (chewing muscle), SCM (sternocleidomastoid), and trapezius.
As a result of chronic stress and over-contraction, the upper portion of the trapezius muscle and the SCM (Sternocleidomastoid) muscle become shortened. Overly contracted trapezius muscle pulls the shoulder up to the ear. At the same time, tightness of the SCM muscle creates inflammation in that area and causes fibrous tissue overgrowth. Consequently, we have our neck shorter, the jawline loses its definition, and we experience a second chin. Moreover, the lymph drainage passages are blocked, which causes stagnation. Over time, the accumulation of trapped lymph adds on volume and causes the skin to sag.
The masseter muscle is the most powerful muscle of our face. It plays a vital role in our lives. We endlessly use it during chewing and biting. Muscle overuse from teeth grinding and jaw clenching causes the muscles to become tense, inflamed, and very painful. What is more, it causes such defects as nasolabial folds, loss of volume on the cheeks, and loss of facial definition. Don’t get discouraged. Knowledge is power.
Working with the root cause of the issue is the most effective tool in correcting the problem and its prevention.
Manual massage therapy works great to restore normal muscle tone. Techniques like lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, and buccal massage work together to free the area from stagnation, adhesions, and restore blood supply.
At Sculptiko Beauty Spa in Boulder, we are dedicated to correct the problem at its roots. We incorporate advanced face massage techniques to achieve the best results during our skin care treatments. We perform more than a traditional facial. At our spa we treat not only your skin but all the underlying structures that play a huge role in premature aging.