“Can flushing toxins, kneading out your masseter muscles and going inside the mouth really compete with a trip to Kris Jenner’s plastic surgeon?”
2026 is the year of the buccal massage reports MICAELA ENGLISH.
As a skincare-obsessed almost-41-year-old, I have one goal: snatch me to the heavens, but don’t cut me open. Facelifts and blepharoplasties have become as normalized as Labubus on designer bags, but the question is: can flushing toxins, kneading out your masseter muscles and going inside the mouth really compete with a trip to Kris Jenner’s plastic surgeon? Shockingly, yes.
Buccal (a.k.a. intraoral) massage has quietly become the glow-giving “it” treatment behind all the “you look so lifted” faces bopping around the Big Apple. It’s a treatment with bite (literally; you might, by accident, like me, bite your esthetician). Surgical-gloved hands slip inside your mouth, methodically massaging, slapping and maneuvering the tension out of your face.
I was onto buccal massage long before it went mainstream. Six years ago, I was lying on a table with esthetician Edyta Jarosz at the Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue. I’d seen her viral “Lift · Sculpt · Slap” massage all over social media. While the word “slap” doesn’t conjure images of cucumber slices and mud masks, oddly, it felt just as soothing, and with results. It also happens to be one of Jarosz’s most-requested treatments. Her client list includes faces you regularly see on magazine covers. “Buccal massage has become a coveted pre-event treatment because it delivers immediate, camera-ready results without downtime,” Jarosz tells AVENUE. “By working the facial muscles both externally and intra-orally, the technique releases deep muscular tension that often holds the face downward, allowing the features to lift and realign naturally.”
Jade Haifa, of Jade Haifa Studio, says that buccal isn’t just a beauty treatment. “More people are turning toward holistic, natural approaches to skincare, choosing long-term wellness over quick fixes or invasive procedures,” Haifa says. “Buccal aligns perfectly with that mindset, offering real results without needles or surgery. Buccal has gained momentum thanks to celeb endorsement — stars like Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Markle and Kristen Bell are fans of the technique.”
“While the word “slap” doesn’t conjure images of cucumber slices and mud masks, oddly, it felt just as soothing, and with results.”
As a newly minted buccal buff, I can tell you: you’ll emerge less puffy, distinctly more chiseled and field lots of envious “Did you get work done?” queries from your inner circle.
THE BEST BUCCAL MASSAGES IN NYC
Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue / 535 Fifth Avenue, #212-888-7770
Edyta Jarosz’ treatment room is filled with crystals and photos of women who inspire her—including some very recognizable faces who are also clients. Jarosz’s energy is infectious, her facials are transformative, and the results last. She’s earned her facial “street cred” for a reason: you leave looking like the most elevated version of yourself.
You were one of the first to offer buccal.
I was introduced to buccal massage through advanced European facial techniques, and I formally learned the method in Paris several years ago—where working with the facial muscles, not just the skin, has long been considered essential. Early in my career, I became fascinated by how deeply held tension in the jaw and lower face impacts both facial structure and expression. Buccal massage felt like a natural extension of that philosophy. It has become an integral part of my sculpting approach, particularly when immediate lift, de-puffing and a relaxed, elegant appearance are needed.
Buccal massage is like a fast lift without incisions.
Learning the technique in Paris reinforced the importance of working with the facial muscles to create true lift and balance. Buccal massage allows me to sculpt the face from the inside out, releasing tension while enhancing natural contours and delivering immediate, refined results.
“Surgical-gloved hands slip inside your mouth, methodically massaging, slapping and maneuvering the tension out of your face.”
JADE HAIFA STUDIO / 940 Third Avenue, #917-472-7626
Inside this intimate, sun-drenched studio, Jade Haifa begins each session with breathwork and nervous system regulation, easing you into a deep state of calm before her signature treatment of kneading and lymphatic drainage. By the time Haifa moves into the buccal work, I am something between awake and asleep—completely blissed out.
Buccal massage has become so popular.
The visible results shared on social media—from before-and-after photos to in-session videos—continue to fuel curiosity and demand. The treatment’s unique intraoral technique is eye-catching and delivers noticeable lifting, contouring and rejuvenation, making it both fascinating and effective.
How long until you see results?
People usually notice results the same day: reduced puffiness, more defined cheekbones and jawline and a subtle lifted look. The skin looks brighter thanks to increased blood flow and improvements can continue to show gradually in the following days.
AZ Essence Studio / 144 W 37th Street, #646-322-8317
This cozy space feels like a secret hideaway, a place to relax, reconnect and completely deflate. I discovered AZ Essence’s Aigerem Zhunussova on Instagram, and her buccal massage is truly unique. You can add on additional lymphatic drainage to legs, chest, stomach if you’re craving a full body debloat.
Buccal massage is all over my Instagram feed.
People are shifting from ‘frozen beauty’ to natural vitality. Social media has shown how transformative buccal work can be — not just with how you look, but how you feel. It’s beauty that starts from within. Beauty and emotion are deeply connected. When we release facial tension, we also release inner tension. Buccal massage became my way to help people not only look radiant — but feel free.
What’s the most common response post-buccal massage?
Most clients feel lighter — like their face can finally breathe. Their jaw is relaxed, their skin is glowing and they walk out smiling.
SAGE & SOUND / 1481 Third Avenue, #646-677-5155
SAGE & SOUND’s plant-filled oasis is a modern wellness playground with a menu that reads longer than a diner: energy work, buccal and lymphatic drainage, guided meditation classes and more.
You added buccal massage to your menu.
We noticed clients coming in with jaw tightness, TMJ, sinus pressure and headaches, which are all signs of facial tension. Buccal massage offers something very different from a traditional facial: it works inside the mouth to release deep muscular holding patterns that affect everything from facial symmetry to emotional stress. Incorporating this felt like a natural evolution toward a more therapeutic, integrative approach to facial wellness.
