De-puff your face with... a rubber band?
Key Takeaways
A new TikTok trend claims that putting rubber bands around the ears for 10 minutes can de-puff the face.
While some users say it works, physicians note there's no scientific backing for this—any effect is temporary and surface-level.
Compression might push fluid out briefly, but it comes with risks like tissue hypoxia, necrosis, or pseudocysts of the ear cartilage.
If you thought you'd seen it all, here's yet another internet beauty "hack" you need to be aware of among your patients: wrapping rubber bands around the ears to "de-puff" the face.
Influencers say to leave the rubber bands in place for up to 10 minutes to instantly slim the face. And, as absurd as it sounds, the trend gained traction after a New York-based dermatologist posted a video about it on TikTok, which now has over 6.3 million views.
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The science behind the de-puffing 'hack'
The premise is simple: by placing rubber bands around the ears to constrict the skin, fluid will drain fluid from the face via lymphatics. But, as board-certified dermatologist Janet Vafaie, MD, FAAD, tells MDLinx, “It is not a medically approved method and lacks scientific evidence."
"Such practices can be risky and may cause more harm than good."
— Janet Vafaie, MD, FAAD
The tightness from rubber bands may temporarily make the face look less puffy by pulling on the skin and underlying muscles—similar to a brief ‘face-lift’-like effect—but there is no real science here.
Mark Anton, MD, FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon in California, adds, "This can mimic the placebo effect I’ve observed in patients who assume immediate changes post-surgery, even when actual improvement takes time and proper medical interventions."
Board-certified plastic surgeon Arthur Shektman, MD, critically remarks, “This trend is not based on science, but I can see how these types of trends go viral. People are always looking for interesting, different, quick DIY solutions to a common problem. So when they see something like this—which seems ridiculous—but someone claims they've gotten results from it, you can understand how it spreads quickly on social media."
Outlining the risks
Alok Mohta, MD, MBBS, points out facial puffiness isn’t always about fluid retention. “While idiopathic facial edema can be seen in women of reproductive age, especially in the morning owing to sodium and water retention, not all cases of facial edema are due to fluid retention.”
The underlying causes of facial edema could be much more complex than just interstitial fluid accumulation, including allergies (eg, allergic conjunctivitis, angioedema, or anaphylaxis), cellulitis, sinus infections, and even systemic conditions like preeclampsia, hypothyroidism, and superior vena cava syndrome.
"Needless to say, tying a rubber band for facial edema is like slapping a band-aid on a bullet wound."
— Alok Mohta, MD, MBBS
The facial skin, especially around the ears, has fragile vascular networks and nerves that don’t respond well to prolonged pressure. Dr. Anton likens the rubber band hack to improper post-op bandaging, where unregulated pressure can harm the tissue rather than help it.
In the short term, applying rubber bands around the ears could lead to redness, irritation, or potentially even broken capillaries if it’s tight enough; prolonged or repeated use could damage the soft tissue around the ears and even cause premature skin laxity around the ears.
Board-certified dermatologist Hamdan Abdullah Hamed, MD, explains how restricting blood flow like this can induce tissue hypoxia and ischemia, depriving tissues of essential oxygen. It can even progress to necrosis.
Dr. Mohta also cautions that frequent use of rubber bands around the ears creates constant pressure and chronic irritation on the auricular cartilage. “This pressure can disrupt blood flow to cartilaginous tissue, leading to fluid pockets, or pseudocysts, between the skin and cartilage. If it keeps up, these cysts need drainage or even surgery to fix,” he warns.
Safer alternatives to reduce inflammation
Cold compress
"A chilled washcloth or gel mask can help lessen swelling by causing vasoconstriction," recommends Dr. Hamed. Cold therapy, such as chilled jade rollers, can help with fluid redistribution and is particularly useful for morning puffiness.
Lymphatic drainage massage
Dr. Vafaie recommends the use of lymphatic drainage massage for fluid dispersal. In support of this, a 2022 report in JAAD Case Reports describes a specialized form of lymphatic drainage called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which has been shown to reduce persistent facial swelling.[]
In OMT, the patient is positioned at a 30° angle to let gravity assist lymphatic flow. The process begins with a technique called thoracic inlet release to stimulate lymphatic movement in the chest area, followed by massaging the sternocleidomastoid muscle to stimulate the lymphatic pathway along the neck (cervical chain drainage). Next, the atlantooccipital joint is massaged to release tension (suboccipital decompression), and gentle pressure along cranial sutures accomplishes venous sinus release. Finally, light pressure under the jaw is used for submandibular release, and stroking over the forehead, temples, and cheeks guides fluid out through a technique called facial effleurage.
Treat the underlying cause
“The treatment options can completely differ based on the diagnosis," notes Dr. Mohta. Treating idiopathic facial edema involves both lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication. Low-dose diuretics like spironolactone, sympathomimetic amines, or ACE inhibitors can be used cautiously if further treatment is required. According to Dr. Mohta, evidence supports the role of diuretics in treating persistent facial edema due to Morbihan disease. Some patients have also benefited from pyridoxine and Ginkgo biloba extract.
Lastly, as part of lifestyle measures, patients should be advised to stay hydrated and reduce sodium and alcohol intake to help minimize interstitial fluid retention under the face.
What this means for you
The internet is flooded with beauty shortcuts that promise quick fixes but often lack scientific backing—and the rubber band de-puffing trick is a prime example. While occasional facial puffiness in the morning or idiopathic facial edema can be normal, persistent swelling shouldn't be ignored. Encourage your patients to seek medical advice if the puffiness sticks around. This way, underlying issues like allergies, infections, or systemic conditions like thyroid dysfunction can be identified and addressed promptly.