A gentle Ayurvedic face massage with herbal oils, working on the facial marma points to relax the muscles of the face.
Mukha Abhyangam is an Ayurvedic oil massage of the face: mukha means face and abhyanga means rubbing warm oil into the skin. It belongs to the head and face therapies and follows the same principles as a full-body massage on a smaller scale, with attention to the marma points around the eyes, nose, cheeks, jaw and temples. It is a gentle therapy, not a cosmetic procedure.
A session runs about 30–45 minutes. Mukha Abhyangam is carried out at Sri Vinayaga Ayurvibe, a doctor-led Ayurveda hospital at Nookampalayam, Perumbakkam, Chennai 600131 — within reach of Medavakkam, Sholinganallur, OMR, Pallikaranai, Velachery and Tambaram.
What Mukha Abhyangam is traditionally used for
Mukha Abhyangam is traditionally used for facial skin care, tense facial muscles, dull skin tone and facial relaxation.
Mukha Abhyangam is traditionally used to support dry, dull or tired-looking skin, a face that holds tension in the jaw and brow, and puffiness around the eyes after poor sleep. It is also part of the clinic’s plan for Psoriasis, eczema & skin, where a mild facial oil may suit skin that has become dry and tight.
It is typically planned for people who clench their teeth or work long hours at a screen, for skin that dries in air-conditioning, and as a calm addition to a longer course of head or body therapies. Women are treated by a female therapist.
What happens in a session
You lie on your back with your hair tied away from the face, and the face is cleaned with a warm, damp cloth.
A little warm oil, chosen for whether your skin is dry, oily or sensitive, is spread over the face, neck and upper shoulders.
The strokes run upwards and outwards, never dragging the skin down, and the therapist holds gentle pressure on marma points such as Sthapani between the eyebrows and Shankha at the temples, working slowly along the jaw.
Warm towels lift away the excess oil, and you rest a few minutes before sitting up; the session takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Who should not have Mukha Abhyangam
Active acne with pus-filled spots, or oily skin that breaks out easily — oil and rubbing can spread it.
A cold sore, a skin infection, an open cut or a burn on the face, including sunburn.
A peel, laser, microneedling, fillers or anti-wrinkle injections in recent weeks — wait for the gap your dermatologist advises.
Facial nerve pain that touch sets off, such as trigeminal neuralgia; the massage is left out or done without pressure.
Skin that flushes or reacts to many products — the oil can be tried on a small patch first.
How many sessions?
Mukha Abhyangam can be had once, as a calm session on its own, or as a short series within a skin or stress plan, sometimes alongside Navara Mukha Lepam.
The doctor decides after looking at your skin, diet and sleep. In Ayurveda the skin reflects what is happening inside, so a facial therapy is usually paired with advice on food or internal medicine rather than relied on alone.
Before you come
Do not shave, wax, thread or bleach the face in the two days before; freshly treated skin is more likely to sting.
Bring a list of the creams and prescription skin medicines you use, especially retinoids or acid exfoliants, which make skin sensitive to rubbing.
Take out contact lenses before the massage, as oil near the eyes can get onto them.
Afterwards
Your face may look flushed and feel warm for a short while; that settles on its own.
Leave the film of oil on for an hour or two if you can, then wash with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser; no scrubs or make-up until the next morning.
If red bumps, itching or swelling appear over the next day, call us on +91 81229 39197; if swelling reaches the lips or eyes, or you feel breathless, go to emergency care.
Cost
Cost depends on the duration and whether the doctor plans a single session or a course. Call +91 81229 39197 and we will tell you before you book — there are no surprises at the counter.
A salon facial usually works on the surface with cleansers, scrubs and masks. Mukha Abhyangam uses a medicated oil chosen after a doctor’s assessment, and works on the marma points and muscles of the face as much as the skin. Steaming machines, peels and extraction are not part of it.
Will the oil give me pimples?
It can, if the oil is wrong for the skin. That is why it is chosen for your skin type; for breakout-prone skin the doctor may pick a light oil, use very little, or advise a different therapy.
Can I have it during pregnancy?
Usually, after the doctor has checked. The oil is chosen with the pregnancy in mind, and because lying flat late in pregnancy can make you light-headed, the position is adjusted.
What does Mukha Abhyangam cost in Chennai?
Cost depends on the duration and whether the doctor plans a single session or a course. Call +91 81229 39197 and we will tell you before you book — there are no surprises at the counter.
Sri Vinayaga Ayurvibe — 12/597, Main Road, Nethaji Nagar Main Rd,
Nookampalayam, Perumbakkam, Chennai 600131. Phone:
+91 81229 39197.
