Connective Tissue Health: A Closer Look at SFL

What is connective tissue?

Connective tissue is a diverse group of tissues that includes bone, cartilage, adipose (fat) tissue, blood, and lymph. It is composed of an extracellular matrix – a mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, and water – that surrounds and supports the cells of the tissue.

The many jobs of connective tissue include:

• Protecting organs such as the brain and spinal cord
• Providing structural support to organs and tissues
• Facilitating the transport of nutrients and waste products throughout the body
• Helping with immunity and inflammation

What is SFL?

Sculptural Face Lifting (SFL) is a relaxing yet stimulating technique which combines massage, lymphatic drainage, and muscle stimulation to the neck, décolletage, and face. An intra-oral component focuses on the inside of the mouth and cheek.

Developed by Yakov Gershkovich, a reputable Russian esthetician, the method aims to improve circulation, addressing muscle and connective tissue imbalances and targeting the mimic muscles, which express feelings and contribute to facial tension, lines, and other changes that are part of the natural aging process.

Why is SFL important?

Like the rest of the body, the face ages and changes throughout your lifetime.

Potential changes include:

• Slower lymphatic drainage and overall circulation
• Increased water retention and swelling
• Less collagen production
• Increased inflammation and tissue congestion
• Imbalanced muscle tone and jaw tension
• Visual facial stress

And that can all result in lax, dull, puffy, and droopy skin

SFL can help bring awareness of how feelings and thoughts contribute to general appearance and overall well-being.

What does SFL feel like?

During an SFL session, upward strokes lift the face, décolletage, and neck tissues. Most people feel energized and lighter after the treatment like their face is tingling.

How does SFL work?

The nervous system controls mimic muscles, the small facial expression muscles that move the face, including lifting the eyebrows, smiling and frowning. When we feel happiness, sadness, or surprise, the nervous system sends signals to the mimic muscles, causing them to contract and produce a facial expression.

Regular SFL sessions will help target muscular imbalance and connective tissue restrictions formed by over or under-use of mimic muscles by stimulating sensory proprioceptors.

The intra-oral component of SFL is an essential part of this technique. Massaging the inside of the mouth and cheek helps ease tension, soften lines around the mouth and nose, and lift droopy areas.

Activating proprioceptors

Sensory receptors, called proprioceptors, are located all over the body and respond to changes in temperature, pain, and the position and tension in muscles, skin, and connective tissue.

SFL activates proprioceptors, which constantly communicate with the brain and nervous system, stimulating them by trying to balance the facial muscles and relax restrictive connective tissue. The brain can “re-learn” what a healthy tone and posture are.

Putting it all together

Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve learned about Sculptural Face Lifting:

• SFL is a natural way to address facial changes related to daily stress, aging, and other life experiences
• It aims to tone, lift, and balance mimic muscle tension
• Promotes skin and connective tissue health by improving the circulation of micronutrients
• It increases lymphatic vessel contraction for better drainage
• SFL is suitable for both women and men
• It helps create awareness of how feelings reflect on the face through facial expression
• It is helpful for headaches, sinusitis and nasal congestion, dentist-related anxiety, jaw tension, and more!
• The inside of the mouth and cheek are treated for 15 minutes, aiming to relax tension and target lines and lift droopy areas
• You leave your SFL session feeling very relaxed