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While the beauty industry is filled with exaggerated promises about “miracle” skin care products and services, one too-good-to-be-true invention that I can firmly endorse is the microcurrent facial. It works by “training” your face muscles to seem more lifted, tightened, and firm with the use of a low-grade electrical current. Indeed, it is dubbed the “non-invasive facelift.”
You know it works since it has been used therapeutically since the 1980s when it was licensed by the FDA to treat Bell’s palsy and muscular paralysis. Microcurrent was used as an anti-aging technique following observations of better outcomes in individuals with atrophied, drooping facial muscles. Top facialists such as Joanna Vargas, Ildi Pekar, and Shamara Bondaroff recommended that at-home equipment like NuFace and Ziip have become more prevalent in daily skin regimens.
I experienced the enchantment of a microcurrent facial while staying at the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. I was seeking a treatment to contour my skin and restore its radiance after traveling and sipping seaside drinks to my heart’s delight (how could you not?). Before the facial, I allowed myself a half-hour to enjoy the extensive spa’s hydrotherapy circuit, which included jumping between massaging pools, saunas, and steam rooms. By the end, my muscles felt as if they were made of butter, and the steam prepared my face for Carillon esthetician Nerys Rodriguez to begin my 80-minute microcurrent facial.
I went out of the treatment room with clearly plumper skin, significant brow lift, a more defined jawline, and more pronounced cheekbones. I felt so secure that I completely omitted the contouring that I usually do while doing makeup later that day.
Before and After Microcurrent Facial
I was so taken with my results that I spoke with the esthetician about microcurrent facials, how they work, and why people love them so much that they have them regularly.
Microcurrent facials are similar to a facial exercise at the spa.
“Face muscles, like everything else, begin to deteriorate. We need to maintain it in shape. Thus, we employ electricity to activate the power, first at a low level and progressively increasing it until the desired stiffness is achieved, “Rodriguez elaborates. While Rodriguez believes that microcurrent facials are adequate once a month, she notes that her customers at Carillon—the health resort is also a residential community—come regularly.
Additionally, she points out that a microcurrent facial serves as a lymphatic drainage massage. “That explains why you were less puffy after that,” she explains. “We’re hitting a lot of the face’s pressure points.”
Microcurrent facials help maintain the firmness of the skin.
“As a result, the eyes will be elevated, the forehead will become tighter, and you will have a more ‘awakened’ appearance,” Rodriguez explains. “Additionally, it boosts collagen production, giving you a fuller appearance. Collagen is the primary protein required by the body to generate muscle. Collagen degrades as we age.” Microcurrent has been demonstrated to stimulate the generation of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), resulting in structural proteins such as elastin and collagen, Rodriguez says.
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The technique begins similarly to a standard facial.
Cleansing, LED light therapy, exfoliation, serums, and masking were all included in the process. Rodriguez applied a thin layer of conductive gel to my skin (you can use any water-based gel) and then used a microcurrent machine, which consisted of two wands through which the electrical current flowed. I experienced neither discomfort nor pain; all I felt were the cool metal wands lifting sections of my face and holding them for a few seconds before moving on to the next area. “It’s sending a signal to the muscle that this is the proper location for it,” Rodriguez explains of “training” the facial tissue by repeatedly going over different areas of the face.
Microcurrent is exceptionally safe for most people, with a few notable exceptions.
“People with heart problems, such as those who have a pacemaker, should avoid microcurrent facials because they stimulate the blood,” Rodriguez explains. Additionally, she does not recommend microcurrent facials for those suffering from severe acne, stating, “If it’s just a pimple here and there, we can take care of it. I would not recommend it if it is aggravated. There is a great deal of inflammation going on, and we don’t want to exacerbate it.” Additionally, pregnant women in their first trimester are advised against it.
If you’ve recently had fillers or Botox, you should wait two weeks before scheduling a facial. “We don’t want to sway their findings,” Rodriguez explains. However, following that period, “[Botox and fillers] work better with microcurrent, as it prolongs the duration of your procedure. I recommend it, and I’ve seen excellent results with fillers and Botox that last even longer.”
I saw higher, tighter cheeks and a more defined jawline following my microcurrent facial.
Microcurrent tools for use at home are practical but not as powerful as professional ones.
Rodriguez notes that younger people may get away with employing microcurrent maintenance gear at home. “You do not need to be so devoted to a professional microcurrent service unless you are determined to prevent sagging at all costs,” she explains. “If someone is 50 years old and exhibiting indications of aging, they need something stronger.” However, she recommends that all customers combine professional microcurrent facials with at-home instruments to get the best results. “It takes barely five minutes. And, I promise, I’m 45 years old, and I use it with fantastic success. I am not always required to use the professional machine at work; instead, I use the NuFace, which is also excellent, “Rodriguez continues.