Microcurrent lifts your sagging face

The greatest demand is for treatments that will give the skin, muscles and overall visage a more youthful appearance.

by Linda Leibl — 

Over the last decade, the demand for anti-aging products and procedures by people who want to look younger than their actual age has exploded. Our overall perception of aging has changed as a result. While some may choose to ignore this new trend, many of us will embrace it and fully take charge of our anti-aging strategies.

The greatest demand is for treatments that will give the skin, muscles and overall visage a more youthful appearance. As we age, our skin needs more attention more frequently, and while facials may be a pleasurable experience, they are unlikely to produce any lasting results for a person of maturity.

Some of the best options available for those over the age of 35 include microcurrent, injections, light therapies, light-to-medium exfoliating peels, laser resurfacing and other innovative, noninvasive techniques and treatments. Because so many excellent choices are available today, it is important to research the procedures as thoroughly as possible and weigh all the options before committing to a specific treatment.

The latest findings indicate that people desire no-scalpel procedures with a short recovery time, fast results, few visible after-effects, affordable costs, and the least amount of pain, risk or discomfort possible. Given these parameters, microcurrent therapy makes an optimal anti-aging choice.

The origin of microcurrent

Microcurrent began in the medical field about 60 years ago in Germany. A physician’s mother had recovered from a stroke but was still suffering from paralyzed muscles on the left side of her face. The muscles had lost their elasticity completely and were hanging in the jowl area.

This physician had an engineering friend who had been working with microcurrent for various medical healing modalities. They decided to try treating the damaged side of the mother’s face with the microcurrent machine to see how her muscles would respond. The results were astonishing. The sagging muscles became taut, which gave her a more youthful appearance, with even better results than the untreated side of her face.

In the late 1970s, this discovery was introduced to aestheticians and skincare specialists in the United States. Today, it is offered not only by aestheticians, but also by licensed professionals such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, and naturopathic and homeopathic physicians.

How microcurrent works

Microcurrent is a passive electrical stimulation similar to a heartbeat. Its proven and accepted properties have ranged from wound healing and muscle rehabilitation to muscular regeneration. It seems to be a limitless modality for all types and levels of therapies in medicine, sports medicine, fitness, and the anti-aging and beautifying fields.

Who should use microcurrent?

Microcurrent is becoming more popular and better known to consumers every year. Many clients in their early 40s — who historically have used fillers or injections — are now turning to microcurrent therapy. With microcurrent, there is no need for concern about unknown and/or possible long-term harmful effects (that someday may come to light with injectable products like Botox, Rystylane and collagen).

But for those who do use injections and fillers, microcurrent is an excellent synergistic modality. Restylane and collagen provide a quick and effective filling effect, diminishing visible creases and lines on the face; however, they do nothing for muscle contour, natural collagen and elastin production, and enhanced circulation — all of which are addressed by microcurrent.

Barb Schell, M.D., of the Ageless Center for Rejuvenation, in Seattle, Wash., says, “I love the concept of utilizing every efficacious available technology and product concurrently to maximize the end result. There is not one magic product, technology or procedure that is the cure-all for aging, so you really need to address the situation from many angles. I am a big advocate of microcurrent and find it necessary to sculpt and contour the muscles of the face to maximize and complete the effect of fillers.”

Remember that the more damage, creases, lines, wrinkles and sagging you have, the more serious the approach you will need to consider. I have been performing microcurrent facelifts since 1986 and have seen nothing but positive results. For example, in most of my clients, pores are reduced and tightened, tiny broken capillaries around the nose area have been reduced, and complexions have taken on a pink glow that comes from the increased circulation created by the mild current.

I recently performed the “fast-track” facelift on Scott Pasmore, a morning news reporter on Channel 3 in Phoenix. Scott says, “I had never experienced anything like this, so naturally I was a little apprehensive. But it turned out to be very enjoyable. The hour-long procedure goes by very fast. There is no pain, whatsoever; in fact, it feels more like a facial massage. It took a few procedures, but halfway through, I really did see a difference. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for an inexpensive, painless way to make their skin look younger.”

Linda L. Leibl, B.S., therapeutic aesthetician, founded Advanced Skin Technology in 1993. LindaL@myarbonne.com or 480-443-3445.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 28, Number 6, Dec 2009/Jan 2010.