Facial compression masks and straps marketed as 'jaw shapers' have gained popularity on social media platforms, with promises of lifting, tightening, and reducing puffiness in the chin and neck area. However, medical experts are raising concerns about the potential risks associated with this beauty trend.
These devices, often available for under $10, are designed to hold the chin and upper neck tissue taut against the jawbone. While proponents claim they can quickly eliminate double chins, plastic surgeons advise caution regarding prolonged use.
Dr. Frank Agullo, a Texas-based plastic surgeon, stated that wearing these jaw shapers for 20 to 30 minutes might be acceptable, but extending use, such as overnight, can lead to side effects. Common issues include breakouts and folliculitis due to the synthetic material's tight grip on the skin. "A jaw shaper is literally a band made of stretchy material that holds the chin and upper neck tissue taut up and into the jaw bone and the jaw joints," Dr. Agullo explained.
Users may also experience soreness in the jaw and ear area after prolonged wear. Dr. Agullo noted that the strap can cause aggravation and clenching during sleep, exacerbating existing jaw pain. He specifically advises against their use for individuals with a history of jaw pain, clicking, or bruxism.
Dr. Carol Eisenstat, founder of Line Eraser MD in New Jersey, expressed similar concerns, particularly about products that compress the jaw or neck. As an anesthesiologist, she is cautious about devices that could impede breathing in individuals who snore or have sleep-disordered breathing.
Both surgeons emphasize that these products have not undergone rigorous scientific study to establish their safety or efficacy for long-term use. "They're marketed with big promises, but there really isn't any good clinical evidence suggesting they're effective or even establishing how safe they are with long-term use," Dr. Eisenstat said. "If you're relying on social media instead of actual data, you're just experimenting on yourself."
Furthermore, the perceived immediate effects of jaw shapers are often misleading, according to Dr. Agullo. He explains that the devices primarily work by temporarily redistributing fluid within the tissue, creating a temporary slimming effect. "What it does is just push the fluid out between the tissue," he said. "It has that real effect, which is why the mirror looks good to you for maybe an hour, in the morning when the fluids have settled, but after about 1-2 hours, it will just go back to how your jaw always is."
Doctors suggest that for persistent fullness under the chin related to weight, improving overall body composition is more effective. For excess fat, treatments like deoxycholic acid injections or liposuction may be appropriate for selected candidates. Skin laxity in the neck and chin area, however, requires different approaches, such as energy-based devices that stimulate collagen, microneedling with radiofrequency, or surgical interventions. "The main thing here is matching the treatment to the underlying problem," Dr. Eisenstat advised. "A single product that's marketed as a solution for everyone usually isn't addressing the actual cause or creating a real benefit."