Skin Tightening Forum
Skin Tighteningbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

369 people and 171 doctors are talking about Skin Tightening

Get Free Email Updates

Facial exercises are for crazy people?

Posted 20 Feb 2008

A facial plastic surgeon told me that doing facial exercises was a waste of time & for "crazy people".  according to him theres no benefit that comes from exercising facial muscles. You need a facelift or botox to get results. Does anyone disagree...that face exercises do work?

Comments (101)

Post a Comment Sort:
tia11 (unregistered guest) 22 Feb 2008
your doctor is right. facial exercising is quack science and most often part of a get-rich-quick scheme that has been going on for hundreds of years...dont u think that if it worked we'd all be doing it? your face ages becs of lost collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin (not muscle) that erodes from years of sun exposure and free radical damage. its a natural process that can only really be reversed if you add it back (injections like restylane) or getting your body to repair damage (example: heating skin tissue with a laser). ladies save your time and money, buy a great sunscreen and see a cosmetic dermatologist if you're determined to get results tia
keithsmith76 5 Oct 2010
Hello, You have no idea what you are talking about. You sound like a Medical encyclopedia. I have been using Carolyn's Facial Fitness Exercises for less than a month and the results are AMAZING! I am 41 but I am told now I look 28! CRAZY!! YES they work! I have sent before and after photos to Carolyn and once I finish my 3rd month, my pics will be live. P.S. - Your Doctor is WRONG!! They just want you MONEY - THOUSANDS!!! My face looks and FEELS like It did when I was 20! Seriously! - Keith S. Black Mountain, NC
beann 6 Oct 2010
"dont u think that if it worked we'd all be doing it?" Are you kidding? What a ridiculous question. Isn't it true that people know the dangers of drugs? Or eating fast food? Or smoking? Everybody knows that if you work out and exercise, you will loose weight and be more healthy. It's undeniable that that is a fact! BUT does everyone do it? No. The fact of the matter is, exercise (even facial exercise) takes work and dedication. So, to answer your question . . . No. Not everyone will do it even if it works. Why do you think there are still many unhealthy, over-wieght people? Because not everyone will do the work, that's why. You will not find one person that has done the facial exercises for at least three of four months, five days a week, that will say it doesn't work. Why don't you try it yourself before you cast your opinion instead of going by what doctors are telling you?
beann 6 Oct 2010
Also, you are correct in saying that it is not muscle loss that contribute to aging. It is FAT LOSS that contributes to aging. Facial exercises build up the muscle to counter-act the fat loss. That's how it works.
bronzie 13 Jan 2012
The fact is that facial exercises are a total scam. The more you stretch your face, the more dynamic lines you will end up with. That is what Dysport and Botox treats; dynamic lines. Add to this the fact that we loose subcutaneous fat in the mid face as we age, except if you are very obese, so it's a recipe for disaster. Those who preach the exercises have been misled and or have a vested interest in pushing the scam. The more still you keep your face, the less wear and tear. Have a Mona Lisa smile, over exaggerated facial expressions and frowning cause over many years, permanent lines.

I never frown or raise my eyebrows, ever, and I have very few lines on the forehead at age 48 1/2. I also wear bangs which are good as they provide a shield to the forehead from the sun, as well as a big hat and always, always wear big wrap around sunglasses and don't smoke.
vanessa_the_ness 4 Feb 2012
honey, you are a little crazy...
John D. 29 Feb 2012
Prove it, or YOU have no idea what you're talking about.

You are told you look 28? Well. how old did you look BEFORE you started doing your facial exercises?

That "medical encyclopaedia" you're talking about? Yeah, that one... the aggregate of decades upon decades of learning, studying, experience and research by thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world in every branch of the medical sciences and beyond... you know, people who have FORGOTTEN more about the human body than you will ever LEARN in the first place...yeah, those people.

I love watching the kneejerk gut reaction comments from people who either have an axe to grind against the medical profession (them big bad elitist establishment meanies!!!) or have a snake oil solution of their own to peddle.

You're either shilling for the snake-oilers, self-delusional, or you're just plain ignorant and you like it that way.

"Don't go bothering me with confusin' scientifical stuff... face exercises, now there's something I can understand! There's somethin' I can do all by myselfs and I don't gotta go payin' no money to some overeducated snob with a stethescope!"

YOU have no idea what you are talking about. Either put up or shut up.
Megan P (Community Manager) 1 Mar 2012

Alright, we are here to discuss different solutions and share our experiences with one another - not to turn on one another. Please keep your comments constructive & in keeping with the RealSelf Community guidelines.

Shazzaa 12 Apr 2012
-:- Message from RealSelf staff -:-

This comment does not follow our Community Guidelines and/or Terms of Service. We reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
panterochka (unregistered guest) 23 Feb 2008
I know for sure that in Europe facial exersising is Very popular!!! and it works!!!
tia11 (unregistered guest) 23 Feb 2008
if something is "popular" it doesnt mean it works or is good for you. in europe smoking is very popular. oh, then you say facial exercise "works". Ok panterochka, lets here the science to back up your claim.
secrets 3 May 2008
well i live in the UK ,and i did try facial exercise for a while. it does work a little,but its a constant ,daily regime, and my thoughts are that when you stop,you have more 'sag'than before,and thats not good.!
calcalan 7 Aug 2008
I have been exercising(my face muscles) for 29 years and obviously it helps keep my skin 15 years younger. So I have experiment on myself. But I never had sunburned my face. And run away from sun expose.
keithsmith76 5 Oct 2010
RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS is ALL you need to back up a claim. What are you an EXPERT on EVERYONE'S face in the world? Popularity? BOTOX and INJECTIONS are Popular, but have you seen the long term results. SCARY! Exercise is GOOD for you - injecting chemicals is bad - period.
wieneke (unregistered guest) 1 Mar 2008
Hi Anise, I do believe facial exercise works! It makes perfect sense to me that as you loose muscle mass, which makes you look toned, on your body if you don't work-out regularly, the same applies to your face. I am 45 years old, have been working out for most of my life almost on a daily basis, in combination with a healthy diet, and I'm very happy with how my body looks! I am Dutch, and it's true that facial exercise is quite popular in Europe. A very good example of how well it works, is my aerobics teacher. She's 42 and has been doing facial facial exercise for years, and looks at least 10 years younger! I Just started the Flex-effect program (you can buy the package with DVD and exercisebook on-line at the Flex effect website for about 70$). If you look at this website under the subject of 'Thermage' you will find that here it also says that the muscle mass is important, without that, even after a face-lift you would get sagging skin again. And Tia who writes: 'dont u think that if it worked we'd all be doing it?', no, because the key her is consistency: You have to commit to doing the exercise 5x a week for 30 minutes! A lot of people don't have the time or the interest to keep up with it. (don't know if I will be able myself :-). (The same applies to being overweight, no? everyone knows how to get in shape, still there's a lot of overweight people...) Also, applying a sunscreen on a daily basis of course is neccesary to prevent against new wrinkles, it's not tighten sagging skin!
lkjh (unregistered guest) 6 Apr 2008
I ordered the facial flex pack which took ages to arrive. I got so impatient waiting and wanted quick results for my aging face. Ive just turned 38 and have noticed deep Nasolabial Lines and lines from corners of my mouth, lines under my eyes, I looked awful.. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a shop window and looked like an old hag with vertical lines from my face which I had never noticed before. I had also just lost weight quickly which probably contributed to the way I looked. Anyhow I panicked and went into a local beautician where she recommended hyaluronic acid which would only last 3 months. I was so depressed I got it done and costed a fortune, regretted it the next day as my face felt really uncomfortable. Anyhow in the meantime my facial flex arrived and started using it straight away.. After a week of using the facial flex the Nasolabial Lines were lifting and not as vertical also the lines around my mouth were gone. Im not sure if it was the injections or the facial flex that did the job, but i looked like 25 again. But 2 days ago noticed one side of my mouth sagging again and now thinking maybe it was the injections that gave the youthful appearance. I am now afraid to use the facial flex incase it causes sagging lines around the mouth! Im not a believer in injections etc and prefer to make improvements naturally. Any advice?
vanessa_the_ness 4 Feb 2012
yup, isolate your variables before you make conclusions on your results.
plus, a couple weeks of exercise won't be able to cause wrinkling, let alone saying --which, by the way would not make sense to be a result of exercise because exercise tones and enlarges muscles which in effect will lift skin, not cause it to sag.
you should try the exercises more. :) you have nothing to lose.
and do expect your other side of your mouth to drop too because the product you used will inevitably wear off.
nyky 30 Jul 2008
Facial exercises absolutely work! I have been doing them for years. Consider this, you know how children are usually a younger version of their parents? Their faces just like tighter and younger. Same concept. I do not trust the medical profession. Many doctors are trained in medical terminology, but have a poor understanding of the body, anatomy and the working connection of the body. Muscles in your face are no different than muscles anywhere else in your body. It kills me when they say doing face exercises give you wrinkles. Ridiculous. In two months face exercises make your face more beautiful and muscles tighter. Do it yourself and I GUARANTEE you will be a believer. PROMISE. You know how I'm so sure? Well, there are times when I'll do them for a few months then stop and when you stop the results stop. Then you notice your face beginsd to lose the tightness. This is the only reason I can think that doctors and others would try yo spread their propoganda about not doing them. This must be a bad attempt to scare people from doing them. Do them and you will thank me later.
Belle 7 Oct 2008
I totally agree. Doing facial excercise is very helpful. It not only firms but stretches your muscles to control wrinkles. Who cares about what people or doctors think. Do it you will see the difference. Bottom line, don't believe everything you hear. Try it, see for yourself, then you will know.
chellamia 7 Jul 2010
I bought one of those neck things you see on info TV for $16 at Bed Bath and Beyond and the kid working there said his mom loved it. Then I had to go ask some surgeon and he acted like it would make my (slightly loose) neck muscles worse so I never have used it. Wow. How stupid of me. The power of these doctors is unbelievable. I am going to use it and I promise I will come back in three months and report and possibly share a picture too.
Tbell54 24 Oct 2008
I'm not going to weigh in on whether facial exercises work, but I'm wondering if doing facial exercises could actually result in more fine lines and wrinkles? Just wondering because I feel like these "exercises" would be unnecessarily stressing your skin!
secrets 13 Dec 2008
i absolutely agree with you,and once one stops,you end up worse than before.
AMills36 27 Oct 2008
That's a good question because I know people that are really animated in the way they talk and with their facial expressions and I think they're getting excess wrinkles so it would only make sense that if you're forcibly making your face contort on a daily basis it would have to do some harm.
Tim G 2 Nov 2008
Facial exercises do work. I've never bought a book or DVD and I wasnt even doing them for cosmetic reasons. I started playing the saxophone and my instructor taught me exercises to strenghen my mouth muscles, to increase indurance when I play. This is going to sound like an exaggeration but the truth is, within 2 weeks, people were noticing the development of my face. It was becoming much more angular and toned and I completely wasnt expecting it. Im going to buy a book about different exercises now. I wish i had before and after pictures because honestly, my appearance has changed, not dramatically of course, but its much improved and athletic looking. I'm also a nurse and studied anatomy and can tell you your face and its tone, its circulation and its muscles are the same as any other muscle group. With exerises, they will grow and become toned.
Angela O'Hara (unregistered guest) 10 Dec 2008
I've just started the facial flex and I have to say that I do feel that it is working and one of the things that I've noticed the most is the increased blood flow to my face which has given me a healthy glow--that's a big improvement in itself. Aside from that, my boyfriend remembers meeting an actress who taught him facial exercises--said she'd been doing them regularly for years--she was over sixty but according to him, looked thirty--the only evidence of her true age being the wrinkles on her hands!

Post a Comment

used for verification