Cupping made headlines during the 2016 Rio Olympics, when MichaelPhelps attributed the round, purplebruises on his back to the alternative medicine practiceusedto treat everything from muscle soreness toarthritis and blood diseases. Now, celebrities are getting the skin-suctioning therapy on a newpart of their bodies: their faces.

Kim Kardashianrecently posted a photo onSnapchatof a collection of serum bottles and glass jars with balloons on top. "Face cupping facial at Nurse Jamie," she wrote on the pic. We wanted to know: doescuppingreally help rejuvenate skin? And what about the bruising?! (The reality star did not share apost-treatment selfie.)

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In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nurse Jamie (aka Jamie Sherrill), facialist to the stars,said thatcupping uses mild suction to drain lymph nodes, getting "rid of any sign of a jowl and fight[ing] inflammation for a perfect profile or over-the-shoulder photo moment."She uses the technique at Beauty Park Medical Spa, a destination forA-listersseekingnon-surgical skin treatments.Kate Beckinsdale's aesthetician, Kat Rudu, also uses facial cupping on her celebclients, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

To get a doctor's take on whether cupping really can lead to a younger-looking complexion, we spoke withNew York City-based dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD: "Facial cupping promotes circulation of blood to the face. For some people, its extremely relaxing," she says.And unlike body cupping, it doesn't leave marks.

The procedure works like this: Glass cups with balloons attached are placed on the skin and used to gently lift facial tissue for a massage-like effect. The sucking motion can drain lymph nodes and increase thesupply of oxygen and nutrients toyour skin, says Dr. Jaliman. Immediately after the procedure, clients often report that their muscles feel relaxed,and that they see a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines, she says.

There is a caveat however: The anti-agingeffects are fleeting. "The results last hours or days," says Dr. Jaliman, pointing out that unlike the average Jane, celebs can afford to splurge on fun treatments like cupping. (A75-minute session with Nurse Jamie costs $325.)

If you want youthful skin without paying top dollar for a face-sucking session, Dr. Jaliman recommends investing in quality anti-aging products, such as avitamin C serumandretinol cream. The results of a proper skincare regimen last much, much longer, she says.

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Should You Try Face Cupping, the Anti-Aging Treatment Celebs ... - Health.com