How to firm up your face?

Some people also advocate that facial gymnastics could be an effective technique for strengthening the muscles of the face and improving the flexibility and firmness of the skin. There are several types of exercises, most of which work the orbicular muscles, around the eye contour, and the masseters, the jaw muscles. These exercises could increase the production of collagen and elastin, the supportive protein fibers of the skin, and stimulate blood flow. However, the currently available scientific data is insufficient to assert that facial exercises can effectively help to tighten the skin of the face.

Indeed, the few studies that have examined the effect of facial gymnastics on skin aging have numerous limitations. They were all conducted with very small samples, less than ten people, and did not use a randomization process, nor a control group. Furthermore, the evaluations of the effectiveness of facial gymnastics were purely subjective, conducted by the authors and/or the patients themselves, without measurement instruments. More research, conducted on a large scale and implementing a rigorous protocol, is necessary to conclude the effectiveness of facial gymnastics in firming the skin of the face.

If you are tempted to try facial gymnastics to firm up the skin on your face, you can find here most of the recommended exercises.

Diet can also be an interesting lever to firm up the skin of one's face. Indeed, certain nutrients, particularly antioxidants such as vitamin C and omega-3s, actively participate in the protection of dermal structures against external aggressions. By limiting oxidative damage and modulating the enzymatic activity involved in collagen degradation, these compounds can help slow down skin sagging and maintain firmer skin. A study conducted by MEINKE and his team with 33 volunteers over four weeks showed that oral intake of vitamin C (100 to 180 mg/day) significantly increased the skin's ability to eliminate free radicals, thus reducing structural damage.

Furthermore, omega-3s, found particularly in vegetable oils, nuts, and fatty fish, play a key role in modulating the inflammatory and enzymatic processes involved in skin sagging. A study by EZZEDINE and his team with 2919 volunteers showed that a higher consumption of omega-3s was associated with a decrease in photoaging. This action is based particularly on the ability of these molecules to reduce the activity of matrix metalloproteinases, and thus the degradation of collagen and elastin, by inhibiting the MEK1/ERK/c-Fos and SEK1/JNK/c-Jun signaling pathways.

Beyond its crucial impact on overall health, a balanced diet could also contribute to firming the skin of the face.

Finally, although the techniques mentioned above may contribute to improving skin firmness, aesthetic medicine remains today the most effective method for visible and rapid results. Techniques such as hyaluronic acid injections, botulinum toxin, microneedling, radiofrequency, or even laser, can restore skin volume, improve its tone, and stimulate collagen production. However, these procedures have certain drawbacks: they can be quite invasive and lead to varying degrees of side effects, ranging from simple redness to bacterial infections, and even swelling. Lastly, aesthetic medicine comes at a cost, sometimes a high one.

The advantages and disadvantages of various aesthetic medicine methods for tightening facial skin are compiled in the table below.