The face should never be worked with excessive force because facial tissues are delicate and layered. Beneath the skin lies the SMAS, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a thin fibrous network that connects the facial muscles to the skin and helps support the shape of the face. The SMAS is closely connected to facial muscles, fat pads, retaining ligaments, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and branches of the facial nerve. Repeated strong pressure through the SMAS can stimulate fibrosis, meaning the body lays down excess scar like connective tissue. Fibrosis makes the face feel tighter, heavier, and less mobile, and can contribute to puffiness and eventually sagging rather than lifting. The SMAS also helps distribute the pull of facial muscles across the face. If it is overstretched or repeatedly compressed with strong pressure, it can place strain on the retaining ligaments and surrounding tissues. Because branches of the facial nerve travel very close to the SMAS in several...