Comparative effects of facial roller and gua sha massage on facial contour, muscle tone, and skin elasticity : randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of facial roller and gua sha massage on anthropometric facial contours, muscle tone, and skin elasticity parameters during an 8-week intervention period. Methods: Thirty-four women aged 20–50 years were randomly assigned to facial roller (n = 17) or gua sha (n = 17) groups. Participants performed the designated massage technique for 10 min, five times per week for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included facial surface distances (subnasale-to-sublobular distance, mid-point distance, labrale superius distance, jawline surface distance), muscle tone parameters (oscillation frequency [F], dynamic stiffness [s]), and skin elasticity indices (gross elasticity [R2], biological elasticity [R7]). Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in facial contour measurements, with reductions ranging from 2.23 to 2.40 mm in the gua sha group (p < 0.001 for all measurements) and 2.75–3.26 mm in the facial roller group (p < 0.001 for all measurements). The gua sha group demonstrated significant reductions in muscle tone parameters (F: −2.02 Hz, p < 0.001; S: −56.46 N/m, p = 0.002), while the facial roller group showed significant improvements in skin elasticity (R2: 8.6%, R7: 7.5%, p < 0.001). The between-group differences were significant for both muscle tone (p < 0.05) and skin elasticity parameters (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Both interventions effectively improved facial contours through distinct physiological mechanisms: gua sha primarily through changes in muscle properties and facial roller through enhanced skin elasticity. These findings support targeted treatment selection based on specific therapeutic goals in facial aesthetic practice.