I tried face massage in Songpa and felt like my face was being rearranged

Unexpected decision for a Saturday afternoon

I ended up booking a facial massage appointment in Songpa on a whim last Saturday. It wasn’t really a planned thing, but my face felt unusually swollen after a week of eating way too much salt—mostly from hitting up a new omakase spot near Seokchon Station. I had looked at some spots in Jamsil before, but most places were either booked solid or wanted some massive membership fee. I finally found this small clinic near the Songridan-gil area. It cost about 80,000 won for a single session, which felt like a gamble, but I just wanted to feel less puffy for once.

The actual sensation of the massage

When I got there, the space was quiet, though the walls felt thin enough that I could hear someone else talking in the hallway. The therapist started pushing into my jawline and temples. I’ve heard people talk about face massage effects being life-changing, but honestly, it just felt like my bones were being shifted around. There was this lingering smell of some kind of fragrance oil—maybe lavender or cedarwood—that was supposed to be relaxing, but I was too focused on the pressure near my cheekbones. It wasn’t unbearable, but it definitely wasn’t a spa-like nap session either. You really have to hold your breath for a few seconds when they hit those tight spots.

Walking around afterwards

After the session, I walked out toward Songridan-gil. My face felt a bit hot and tingly, and I kept touching my jaw to see if it actually looked any different. I think it did? Or maybe I was just projecting because I had just spent a decent chunk of money. I stopped by a small store nearby that sold those DIY perfume kits—the ones where you mix your own fragrance oils. I didn’t end up buying anything because I was still in that weird, post-massage daze, and the thought of concentrating on mixing scents sounded like too much effort at that moment.

Lingering questions about the process

I’m still not entirely sure if the facial massage effects are permanent or just a temporary fix for water retention. By the time I took the subway back home, the initial ‘lifted’ feeling had already settled into just being tired. Everyone says you need at least ten sessions to really see a structural change, but paying 800,000 won for a series of appointments feels like a pretty big leap of faith. I’ve seen people online argue about whether these massages even do anything or if it’s just manual lymph drainage that wears off by the next morning.

Observations on the area

Songpa is honestly exhausting on a weekend. Between the people trying to squeeze into trendy cafes near the old Jamsil blocks and the constant construction noise, it’s a lot to take in. I walked past the ancient tomb area near Seokchon-dong again. It’s quiet there, which is a nice contrast to the crowded cafes. I might go back for another session if I feel particularly bloated again, but I’m not rushing to sign up for a package. It was an okay way to kill two hours, but I wonder if just sleeping early would have yielded similar results for free. I guess I’ll see how I look tomorrow morning when I wake up.