Can You Spell Myoplasticity?

A New Facial Massage Technique
Enters the Stu

If I’ve seen you in the past month or so, I may have told you about a fascinating massage technique called Myoplastic Facial Massage, in which I recently trained. Developed by the Russian dermatologist Dr. Sergey Shchurevich, Myoplastic Facial Massage focuses on tissue regeneration and repairing deformations of the facial contour caused by aging. Through precise, deep tissue work on the muscular corset of the face and neck, we can restore muscle tone, reactivate blood circulation and nerve traction, and smooth the facial contours. It can even be applied before plastic surgery and as post-trauma rehabilitation to help speed recovery and aid in scar reduction. 

How can massage do all that, you ask? Well, the secret lies in microtrauma. 

There is a fundamental principle in biology: when tissue is damaged, the body begins a repair and regeneration process to restore balance (homeostasis). In the case of large injuries, the immune system is heavily involved, breaking down damaged tissue and managing inflammation. Only after this cleanup phase can healing and cell regeneration begin – and this process takes time and often leaves scars or other structural changes.

In contrast, microtrauma from massage is much more subtle. It causes just enough stress to tissues – such as tiny blood vessels, muscle fibers, and connective tissue – to prompt a regenerative response, but without triggering full-scale immune activation. This means healing can begin almost immediately, and with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues.

Additionally, these tiny injuries stimulate the release of growth factors, which are biological signals that tell the body to repair and regenerate tissue. For example, EGF, or Epidermal Growth Factor, encourages the growth of new blood vessels in areas with low oxygen. FGF, or Fibroblast Growth Factor, promotes the repair and regeneration of skin, muscle and nerve tissue. 

Interestingly, recent research shows that muscles don’t just contract – they also act like small endocrine glands. When stimulated, they release substances called myokines. These include Decorin, which supports muscle growth and tissue remodeling, and Interleukin-6 (IL-6), which helps fuel muscle activity and can even affect energy balance in the body as a whole.

The production of these myokines is stimulated by physical stress – like during exercise or, in this case, during an intense, well-targeted massage. The goal is to apply enough pressure to challenge the tissue (suprathreshold stimulation) without causing real harm (like bruising or pain). If the pressure is too light – comparable to everyday movement – it won’t trigger any meaningful adaptation or regeneration.

Now that that’s covered, let’s talk about the experience. It’s not a massage for relaxation, although you may fall asleep. It isn’t painful either, however certain areas can be uncomfortable. We’re pulling the muscle away from the face to knead and release fascial adhesions. We’re rolling and pinching to create those microtraumas. There’s decompression, there’s drainage, there’s vibration. There’s a noticeable difference when you pause midway through the massage and compare one side to the other.

The beauty of Myoplastic Face Massage is that it’s not a rote protocol. It’s a technique and a philosophy rather than choreography. As my long-term clients know, every certification I earn deepens my knowledge of the body systems and facial anatomy, and parts of each training enter my repertoire. There’s a high likelihood that I’ll perform at least some part of this technique next time I see you, and if you want to focus on this Myoplastic massage just ask! In a perfect world, receiving this type of facial massage would be a lifestyle habit, like going to the gym a few times per week. However, even my most dedicated clients aren’t coming for twice-weekly facials, and rest assured that you can and will benefit from Myoplastic Face Massage even if you’re only coming once a month. 

So there you have it! The magic of Myoplastic Face Massage. I can’t wait for you to experience it.

xx Raquel