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.