Cheek massages are très chic. (Photo: Getty Images) By Libby Nichols Full confession: I did not fully know what to expect going into a buccal facial massage. The unusual treatment focuses less on traditional skincare steps and more on manual muscle work. I arrived at Fejeran Wellness Society in She rman Hill for my appointment with Aleisha Knight, a licensed esthetician and founder of the Fejeran space (pronounced fair-in), a collective of independent wellness businesses and providers. She runs her own facial services, Skin by Knight, out of the collective. The facial massage works both externally and intra-orally, meaning the muscles of the jaw and cheeks are massaged from outside and inside the mouth. It sounds more intimidating than it actually is, since most of us aren’t used to having a gloved hand work along the jawline from within. But within minutes, that hesitation fades. Knight approaches the treatment with such precision and calm that it quickly becomes less about the novelty and more about your body’s response. Unlike a traditional facial, this work goes deeper, targeting the muscles responsible for jaw clenching and tension in the face, while supporting natural lymphatic flow. “Lymphatic fluid helps remove cellular waste from the body, but unlike blood, it doesn’t have a pump like the heart,” Knight explained. “The lymphatic system relies on muscle movement to keep things moving, and this treatment helps stimulate that flow.” As she moves through the jaw, cheeks, neck, and shoulders, you begin to notice just how much tightness lives there. Areas you didn’t realize were holding stress start to release, slowly and almost surprisingly. At certain points, it feels less like a skincare treatment and more like a full-body exhale. Subtle, but unmistakable. And then there is the mirror moment. Post facial, skin looks lifted, more sculpted and less puffy. But what stands out more is how it feels: There is a lightness and softness beneath the surface. It is a treatment that stays with you, not just in how you look, but in how you carry that release afterward. The Fejeran Wellness Society helps extend that experience beyond the treatment room, offering a relaxation lounge where guests can linger with herbal tea or infused water and ease back into their day at their own pace. If you’re curious to experience it for yourself, appointments can be booked directly through her website. I highly recommend treating yourself to the relaxation room before or after your treatment. Libby Nichols is the creator of Meet DSM. She also writes about local businesses, travel and lifestyle for dsm magazine. ...read more read less