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Lymphatic facial · South Berkeley
For the face that looks back at you puffier than you feel.
You wake up, you look in the mirror, and something is heavier than it should be. Under the eyes, along the jaw, one side more than the other. It is not weight and it is not age, it is fluid that has not moved. This is the service people book for that, and it is also the answer to a set of complaints most people would never think to connect to it.
- Length
- 90 minutes
- Includes
- Facial plus focused lymph work
- Also helps
- Sinus, ears, jaw, congestion
- First step
- A free phone call with me
The connection nobody makes
Sinus, ears and jaw are lymphatic too.
If you have chronic sinus congestion, blocked-feeling ears, or a jaw that aches, you are unlikely to type lymphatic facial into a search box. There is no reason you would. But that region drains through the same pathways as the puffiness under your eyes, and it responds to the same work.
So this page is for two kinds of people who do not realise they are looking for the same thing. The person who wants to look less swollen, and the person who has been congested for years and has run out of ideas.
One important caveat. If you have recently had facial surgery, you may not be ready for a facial at all. What you probably need is lymph drainage focused on the face and neck, which is a different service. If you are new to me and dealing with chronic sinus issues, I often want to do focused drainage first as well, to get the system open before anything else happens.
What actually happens
The 90 minutes, start to finish.
I would rather tell you exactly than have you wonder. This is the full sequence.
- First
Cleanse and look
I cleanse, then look properly at your skin. If there are one or two easy blackheads I will take them out, but this is not an extraction facial and that is not the point of it.
- Then
Papaya enzyme
A gentle enzyme exfoliation rather than acids. I am not a fan of acids and this is kinder. Then a second cleanse.
- Then
Massage
Proper muscular work on the face, neck and shoulders. Swedish, for blood flow and for the pleasure of it.
- Then
Serum and the alginate mask
A serum chosen for what your skin needs, then a peel-off alginate mask mixed in a bowl. It goes on thick, cool and creamy and sets like rubber. While it sets I work your arms, neck and shoulders.
- Then
The lymph work
Mask off, toner, skin dry. This is when the lymphatic portion happens, focused wherever you need it most. Puffy eyes, jaw, sinuses. A full round takes about ten minutes and I will often do two.
- Last
Eye cream and moisturiser
Finished properly, the way any good facial ends. Then you sit up slowly, because most people are somewhere else by this point.
Which one you need
Facial, or drainage?
If you are generally well and want to look and feel less puffy, the facial is what you want.
If you have had facial surgery recently, or you have chronic sinus problems and we have not met, I usually want to do focused lymph drainage on the face, head and neck first. Getting the system open and moving has to come before working on the face itself.
If you are not sure, that is what the free call is for. I would genuinely rather redirect you than take your money for the wrong service.
Worth saying plainly
What this is not.
It is not a treatment for skin conditions
This is not acne care, and it is not dermatology.
It is not permanent
Fluid comes back. That is what fluid does. Regular sessions hold the change, one session shows you what is possible.
It is not right immediately after surgery
You may need drainage rather than a facial. I will tell you which.
It will not change your face
It moves fluid. It does not lift, fill or restructure anything, and I will not imply otherwise.
Before you call
Questions I get asked.
What is the difference between a lymphatic facial and a regular facial?
A regular facial is skincare. This includes the skincare, and then adds a focused lymphatic portion aimed at moving fluid out of the face and neck. The lymph work is the reason people notice a change in how their face looks by the end.
Can it help my sinuses?
Often yes, and this is the thing people are most surprised by. Sinus congestion, blocked-feeling ears and jaw tension all sit in the same drainage territory as facial puffiness.
Can I have one after a facelift?
Eventually, but often not straight away. Early on you are likely to need lymph drainage focused on the face and neck rather than a facial. Book the free call and I will tell you which you need.
How long does the effect last?
Days to a couple of weeks, depending on you, on your sleep, salt, hormones and stress. It is not permanent, and anyone telling you otherwise is overselling.
Do you use acids or strong exfoliants?
No. I use a papaya enzyme, which is gentle. I am not a fan of acids for this work.
Is 90 minutes really necessary?
Yes, and it is deliberate. The treatment could be squeezed shorter, but then either the massage or the lymph work gets rushed, and there is no time to actually talk. I would rather do it properly.
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The next step
Tell me what you are noticing.
Fifteen free minutes on the phone with me. Describe what your face is doing and I will tell you honestly whether the facial is the right thing, or whether we should start with focused drainage instead.