A client's experience: buccal massage for TMJ at our Beverly Hills location

A few weeks ago, one of our Beverly Hills clients came in for a TMJ buccal massage with Mercedes, and she brought a friend. Her friend was visiting from out of town and had never received a buccal massage before, so she scheduled a lymphatic drainage facial with Caitlin while she was here.

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After the procedure

Our client reported feeling noticeably lighter, less tense, and more relaxed following their appointments, while her friend, who had no idea what to expect, was completely taken aback by how she felt afterward.

The word "lighter" is one I hear from TMJ clients more than almost anything else. It's particularly challenging to fully explain until you feel it yourself, but it's the most accurate way to describe what actually changes in a session.

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What it's like to live with jaw tension

When you've had TMJ for a while, the tension just becomes your normal. Your jaw feels heavy, there's a dull ache somewhere around your temples or behind your ears, and mornings feel stiff before the day has even started. You figure out how to manage around it, reminding yourself to stop clenching throughout the day.

The majority of our clients have been dealing with these symptoms for months, if not years. They don't expect a miracle. They just want to feel somewhat better.

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What the session with Mercedes actually feels like

Mercedes starts outside the mouth first, working along the jaw, temples, and neck to understand where the tension is sitting and how the tissue is responding.

With TMJ clients, there's almost always one spot in the masseter where the muscle has locked itself in place, and pressing into it tells you everything about why it's been so tight.

Then comes the intraoral work: gloved hands working inside the mouth to reach the pterygoid muscles, which are located just behind the back teeth and are completely inaccessible from the outside. Most TMJ clients have never had these muscles properly addressed by any treatment they've tried, which is a major reason why nothing has worked.

If you want to understand more about why intraoral massage works differently from anything external, we go into the full detail in our buccal massage for TMJ guide.

By the end of the session, the jaw just feels different. That heavy locked feeling you stopped noticing because it was always there, it lifts. Lighter, just as our client told us.

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Lymphatic drainage facial Beverly Hills: what to expect your first time

Another client (her friend) came in for a lymphatic drainage facial with Caitlin — no jaw pain or TMJ, just curiosity. She walked out completely surprised at how incredible she felt, which is something we frequently hear from first-time clients.

Most people have more tension in their faces than they realize, and a session with Caitlin can help you see the difference.

If you're new to facial treatments and want to understand the difference between lymphatic drainage and buccal massage, we've got you covered here: lymphatic drainage vs buccal massage.

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Come see us in Beverly Hills

Our specialists work with TMJ and jaw tension clients every day at our Beverly Hills location. If morning jaw stiffness is something you deal with regularly, our article on morning jaw pain and buccal massage is worth a read before you book.

A lot of our TMJ clients don't realize until after their first session that jaw tension has been quietly affecting their sleep for years. If that sounds familiar, this piece on jaw tension and sleep is worth reading before you book.

And if you're ready to stop managing it and actually address it — book your first visit at our Beverly Hills location. Every session starts with a short consultation so we know exactly what your jaw needs before we begin.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general wellness and informational purposes only. FACECO is an aesthetic buccal massage salon, not a medical facility. We do not diagnose or treat medical conditions. Our treatments are non-invasive aesthetic services and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are experiencing TMJ symptoms, please consult a qualified healthcare provider.