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by Chris
(New Jersey)
Can facial exercise really lift my sagging cheeks?
When I was younger my cheeks looked fuller and more lifted. But now they seem sort of flattened.
Are there any face exercises that work to lift or plump up sagging cheeks?
I've seen some facial exercises online and frankly, they scare me because there is a lot of skin pulling and pushing going on and I’m afraid I’ll make matters worse.
Editor's Note:
Hi Chris, good question.
One of the best exercise I've found for sagging cheeks is really simple and doesn't require any pulling of the skin.
- You simply lie down
- Contract the face and cheeks
- Place an index finger on top of each cheek bone
- Rhythmically lift and lower your head as you pump your cheek muscles by making a wide smile.
You perform 40 quick lifts all while lying down. It’s so simple!
Why do these lying down? This allows you to take advantage of gravity and provide the much needed resistance to help build up cheek muscles so your whole cheek area will look fuller and lifted.
Plus, the position of this exercise also helps firm up the lower half of the face - like jowls and neck too.
But, please try to refrain from spot training. You really want a nice lift to the whole face and neck, so it’s best to a complete facial workout to address all the muscles in the face.
I follow Carolyn’s Facial Fitness which only takes 15 minutes and it only needs to be done about 3 times a week.
For details on the cheek lifting exercise along with pictures and more information about her workout Click Here.
I’ve tried many other facial exercises before and came back to Carolyn's because it’s easy, quick, does not require excessive tugging or pulling of the skin and it works.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
by A.K.
Hi Anti-Aging Beauty Zone,
Great website, very informative. I'm interested in learning how I can tighten my face and skin. I'm 50 and have started to notice a lot of sagging and drooping under my eyes and cheeks.
I used to have very high cheekbones, but now they've seem like they're sliding down my face!
I see all kinds of gadgets and yoga type exercises for face toning. Do they really work? How would I know which one is best or which face exercises work?
I saw one article on the internet that said if you smile really hard and open your mouth really wide a couple of times a day you can firm up the cheeks.
Can smiling really firm the face? I thought smiling is what caused wrinkles?
I'm so confused, can you offer some advice?
Thanks
A.K.
Editors Note: Hi,
Thanks for your question regarding exercises for toning the face. First I have to say....
YES. I'm a huge advocate for facial exercising. I've seen first hand what they have done for me and others.
NO. I'm not a fan of exercise gadgets or machines - and I'll tell you why.
I've tried them. And while they might do a little good, they don't stimulate your skin via massaging and they can't possibly reach all 58 muscles of the face and neck.
All these muscles are interconnected and need to be exercised.
For example, the facial position used to firm the cheeks (as seen in the picture) will also help smooth nasolabial folds and lift a sagging neck.
Plus, one of the benefits of doing facial exercises (at least if you follow a good program) is that your fingers massage and stimulate the skin, muscles, and facials bones.
This brings oxygen and nutrients to your facial skin, causes lymphatic drainage (which can help de-puff eyes and face) and stimulates healthy bone mass which keeps your face from sagging too.
As far as those yoga exercises, they are good to a point. But again, you need to stimulate and massage the skin with your clean bare fingers.
Many of the facial yoga exercises I've seen only require you to hold certain facial positions, but you never touch your face.
Now if you combine the two (like CFF does) you have the best of both worlds - tone and lift.
You can see some before and after pictures here and read more about these type of exercises for face toning and lift.
Give it a try, you have nothing to lose (you can always return it).
You should see some results in about 5 weeks and really dramatic results within 6-12 months.
Good luck and happy exercising!
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