Facepulling, also known as thumbpulling or interoral facepulling, is a facial exercise rooted in Orthotropics. It is closely related to mewing in it’s effects, and how it’s applied to the face to cause changes. However, unlike mewing, facepulling lacks in clinical evidence.
So, should you try it? Let’s find out!
Facepulling is a technique with little to no evidence backing it up, for these reasons, I wouldn’t recommend it to your average person.
What Is Facepulling?
Facepulling is an orthotropic treatment where your thumbs are placed up against your upper palate and pushed out to widen the palate which benefits breathing and facial beauty.
While a small niche claims that this technique works, we can’t say for sure whether it’s benefits are from facepulling or by outside factors.
How Does Facepulling Work?
Facepulling follows the same principals as mewing, by applying a constant force to the palate, you can slowly widen it whilst changing your facial structure as a whole.
By pushing outwards and forwards against your upper palate with your thumb, you can promote forward growth, leading to a less recessed face and profile.
If you want to read about facepulling in much more detail, consider reading my article: What is Interoral Facepulling?
Should You Try Facepulling?
Due to the lack of evidence supporting facepulling, I wouldn’t recommend if for your average person.
If you haven’t seen any progress from mewing though, I advise that you look deeper to see if it might have noticeable changes to your facial structure.
I would only recommend facepulling for people who’ve experienced very slow progress from mewing, and need something more extreme to see progress. It’s most effective for people who have small or recessed upper jaws.
Benefits of Facepulling
One of the main benefits is that it is a non-surgical treatment option. Unlike traditional jaw surgery, which can be painful and require a long recovery period, it’s minimally invasive and has a shorter recovery time.
In addition, facepulling can help improve the appearance of the face. People who have a recessed or small upper jaw may have a sunken or flat appearance to their face can benefit significantly from this technique.
Facepulling can also correct dental issues such as overbite, underbite, and crossbite. By aligning the teeth and improving the bite, it improves overall dental health.
Risks and Side Effects
Like any orthodontic treatment, intraoral facepulling comes with risks and side effects. One of the main risks is that it can cause discomfort or pain in the jaw or teeth.
Facepulling also lacks heavily in research and may be dangerous if done incorrectly. Since there aren’t many sources, it can be dangerous, especially if your unknowingly doing the technique incorrectly.
While facepulling is a non-surgical treatment option, it is not a quick fix. You’ll need to be consistent for several months to see results, and even then, additional orthodontic treatment may be necessary to achieve the desired results.
Signs Facepulling Is For You
One of the main signs is a small or recessed upper jaw. People who have these will experience much faster, noticeable results.
In addition, if you have dental issues such as overbite, underbite, or crossbite, intraoral facepulling may be a good option for you. By aligning the teeth and improving the patient’s bite, intraoral facepulling can help improve overall dental health.
Finally, if you are looking for a non-surgical treatment option with a shorter recovery time, intraoral facepulling may be a good choice for you.
Facepulling vs Other Orthodontic Treatments
Non-surgical options like facepulling will not have the same effects as orthdontic treatments. These exercises take months of consistent effort for even small changes to occur, so it’s important to be realistic about the progress you’re going to make.
While it isn’t as effective as orthodontic treatments, it’s an option that anyone can do anywhere without having to sacrifice your time, money, and general wellness.
Summary
While facepulling does come with some risks and side effects, it may be a good choice for patients who are looking for a non-surgical treatment option with a shorter recovery time.
If you are considering facepulling, you should try it out and see how it works for you.