In the age of social media beauty trends, face wraps have gone from niche anti-aging hacks to mainstream must-haves. In a National Geographic article titled “Face wraps promise a snatched jawline—but do they really work?” MetroDerm’s Dr. Foad Nahai was invited to discuss face wraps, drawing on his extensive experience, alongside other experts.
Marketed as balaclava-like garments that tighten the jawline, they promise a tighter, sculpted look without the need for needles or surgery. But can face wraps really lift sagging skin? The answer is more complicated than the hype suggests.
Where Face Wraps Come From
Compression masks aren’t new. Their medical use dates back to World War I, when they were used to treat facial injuries. By the 1980s, compression garments became a staple in plastic surgery recovery. “The body’s natural reaction to a surgery is to swell, to gather fluid,” explains Dr. Nahai. After facelifts, he requires patients to wear compression wraps for up to a week because “it compresses and reduces the swelling in front of the ear, especially on the neck.”
Beyond swelling, compression is also highly effective for scar management. “Early in my career, when I was taking care of burn victims, we used to put them in a custom-made face mask, not unlike the wraps that you see on social media, to compress the scars,” Dr. Nahai recalls.
The Limits of Face Wrapping
While face wraps may offer a fleetingly sculpted look, the results are temporary. Compression can push out excess lymphatic fluid, reducing puffiness for a few hours.
There are also other issues to take into consideration – “If you compress too tight, you compress all the arteries and the blood vessels, and there won’t be as much blood coming through into the tissues,” Dr. Nahai warns. Over time, this lack of circulation can harm rather than benefit skin health.
In fact, Dr. Nahai is clear: “There is absolutely no evidence that face wrapping has any lasting effect on facial rejuvenation.” At best, it’s a temporary solution for a few hours, but not a substitute for genuine anti-aging treatments.
Better Ways to Support Skin Health
Instead of relying on wraps, Dr. Nahai suggests proven alternatives. “Limit your exposure to the sun, don’t smoke, keep your skin hydrated – those are the things that will prevent or at least will slow down the aging and the sagging of the skin,” he advises. Professional-grade options, such as radiofrequency, ultrasound, and lasers, can stimulate collagen, while surgery remains the gold standard for addressing advanced sagging. For at-home care, Dr. Nahai recommends retinol: “Backed by decades of research, these vitamin A-derived ingredients provide a greater return on investment than an elastic wrap.”
Bottom Line: Face wraps may give you a short-lived “snatched” look, but lasting results come from science-backed skin care and, when necessary, surgical solutions. Dr. Nahai emphasizes, “There’s no substitute for removing excess skin other than to re-drape it and surgically remove the excess.”
Dr. Foad Nahai sees patients at MetroDerm’s Center for Plastic Surgery in Sandy Springs. Request a consultation with Dr. Nahai right here on our website.
Get To Know Award-Winning Plastic Surgery Dr. Foad Nahai
Dr. Foad Nahai is an internationally recognized, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at the MetroDerm’s Center for Plastic Surgery. With decades of experience, he has authored more than 200 scientific articles and several leading textbooks in plastic and aesthetic surgery, including the widely referenced Aesthetic Surgery Journal, where he also served as Editor-in-Chief. Dr. Nahai is a past president of both the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and he continues to be a sought-after speaker and educator worldwide. At MetroDerm, he provides patients with advanced surgical solutions for facial rejuvenation, breast and body contouring, and complex reconstructive needs, delivering care that reflects both artistry and medical excellence.