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Will Electric Stimulation Machines Help Firm Facial Muscles?

What do you think about using an electrical stimulation machine to firm up facial muscles? I'm on a facial exercise regimen - which I'm going to try for 4 mos & I also have a electrical muscle stimulator - which I'm using on my facial muscles - we'll see what happens.

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by Neil Redmond

Doctor Answers (15)
Community Comments (4)

Electrical Stimulation (e-stim) for muscle growth or muscle bulk or as as substitute for resistance exercise

Electrical stimulation has been used to maintain muscle growth/volume to prevent atrophy in cases of denervation (nerve injury) or when resistance is eliminated (zero gravity enviroments that occurs with astronauts) but it is my understanding that it has not been successful in enhancing muscle growth or bulk.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Will Electric Stimulation Machines Help Firm Facial Muscles?

Although there are a lot of proactive steps you can take to help prevent the signs of aging from showing up in the first place, there’s not much you can do at home that will reverse lax facial muscles. Electrical stimulation for facial muscles is usually reserved for treatment of serious health issues like nerve paralysis or Bell’s palsy. Despite claims to the contrary, positive effects from using electrical stimulation for cosmetic or anti-aging purposes don’t have any scientific... more

Muscles with electrical stimulation

Electric stimulation to muscles is not a new concept. Some patients have tried these in the past. I am unaware of any evidence based peer review which shows long term improvement.In my past, I have used good surgical technique to improve appearance, and the long term results have been successful.all the best

There is No Scientific Data to Suggest that Facial Stimulation or Facial Exercise has any Impact on Facial Aging

There is no scientific data to suggest that facial stimulation or facial exercise has any impact on facial aging. Never the less, claims are frequently made that devices that utilize facial stimulation and exercise can reverse the aging process. These claims are numerous and can be frequently seen on late night television. If you have significant facial aging your best option is a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. Every patient has unique aesthetic... more

Electrical Stimulation of Facial Muscles

There is no scientific evidence of any benefit from electrical stimulation of facial muscles. What are you trying to achieve? Ask to see pictures of individuals ( I won't call them patients) who previously experienced your regimen. It may feel good, but at what cost?

Richard W. Fleming, MD

9 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Electric Therapy Has been a Quack Treatment for over 100 years

Use electricity to smooth wrinkles, reduce weight, relieve menstrual cramps, increase male potency and female sexual interest, among MANY others, has been used since the late 1890's. http://thequackdoctor.com/index.php/self-adjusting-curative-and-electric-belt/ http://www.collectmedicalantiques.com/quack3.html http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/944-1880s-quack-electric-doctor-norristown-pa Look at old Sears catalogs and you will see the many "applications" the wonder of... more

Facial stimulation will not be visibly apparent

Facial stimulation may tone the muscles but it will not be anything that is externally visible or significant from a functional stand-point. The outer skin and fat contours that you see will not change. It is the quality of the skin and distribution of the fat that gives you the facial appearance that you will see. To look younger you need to consider skin treatments as well as skin toning. Best Wishes.

Marcus L. Peterson, MD

4 reviews

Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Facial muscle stimulators do not work

Facial exercises and muscle stimulators do not work. The facial muscles are not weight bearing muscles and do not respond to exercises etc the way that core body muscles do. There are many gimmicks and devices that are advertised on infomercials but there is no merit to these things and you will be wasting your money and time.

Electrical stimulation machines do not prevent facial aging

There have been no scientific studies that demonstrate any long term improvement in facial tone or appearance from using electrical stimulation machines. That is the reason why all these devices are no longer being advertised. The FDA has pulled them for false advertising. You may look better for a short period of time, while the muscles are still contracting (or twitching) but the results don't last. You may also look better temporarily from swelling induced by these machines.... more

Facial exercises and electrostimulation for facial aging

I am not aware of any respected study demonstrating noticable benefits from facial exercises. I am aware of many of my patients who tried them before their facelifts. None of them noted a significant improvement. Personally, I would be even less enthusiastic about electrostimulation. Do you plan on having this procedure performed by an experienced plastic surgeon or physician? In order them such a treatment to go deep enough to reach the SMAS, significant currents would have to be delivered.... more

Electric Stimulation Does Not Work

Electric stimulation devices cannot give you a facelift. Devices as these that are seen on the television on internet are totally worthless and have no scientific basis for actually shaping or re-shaping your face or neck. It is indeed a marketing scam with no scientific basis.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Electrical Stimulation DOES NOT improve wrinkles

Hi there- Please don't waste your money or time... These things not only do not work, but may cause you harm. Find a reputable surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and visit for a discussion about the concerns you have developed as you have aged. Remember- addressing your appearance is only a positive thing to do if it is done safely, responsibly, and ethically.

Electrical stimulation causes wrinkles,

It is the contraction of facial muscles that causes wrinkles and does not prevent them. That is the purpose of Botox. Relaxation prevents the wrinkles.

Toby Mayer, MD

7 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Relax mucles for improvement in facial appearance

Think about it for a minute: facial wrinkles are caused by hyperactive muscles repeatedly folding the skin, which is why Botox works so well. There may be some elevation short-term in the lower face with muscle toning, but not upper face or neck where wrinkles will get worse.

Electrical stimulation and facial muscles

You will probably be disappointed with the results. Be careful, certain movements will make things worse, for instance all those movements that we are all trying to minimize with Botox injections.

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Comments (4)

HerpDerp 1 Dec 2012

I keep commenting... here's an article http://www.livestrong.com/article/156836-facial-muscles-tension-exercises/ I have gotten my face to become sore doing exercises so it may work. I have not been disciplined enough to do them consistently.

HerpDerp 1 Dec 2012

Another thing to note is that there are attractive people with wrinkles. Tone and bone structure are more important than eliminating signs of age.

HerpDerp 1 Dec 2012

The first step would be neural recruitment. So if you already bought one use it for a while and see if you can transition into some kind of "exercise" where you attempt to create resistance with your fingers or what have you. Eccentric contraction will cause the most growth(extending the muscle while it bears tension: ie: the lowering of the dumbbell during a bicep curl). So try to release slowly (3sec).

HerpDerp 1 Dec 2012

Electrical stimulators will have the ability to enhance neural recruitment of the muscle it innervates, so you will be more likely to use it. It might be useful if you have a muscle one one side that you don't seem to use in facial expressions causing asymmetry. On the subject of muscle growth, however, myofibriliar growth is not possible because the muscle actually needs to tear due to high tension. Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is not likely to occur, but is more likely. I suppose if you had a stimulator that really fatigues the muscle within 45sec -90sec, the muscle may resort to fermentation as a primary source of energy (depleting glycogen stores and PCr/ATP). You would need to treat this like any other sarcoplasmic workout and repeat for 3-4 sets and break about 45-60sec between sets. This will not, if it works, however, cause true muscle growth. It will only cause the cells to fill with extra energy stores and water will follow osmoticly to causing muscular swelling (which appears as muscle growth). The cells will not continue to grow because muscle is not being built. On the subject of Botox...I am a huge critic of Botox. Botox does everything you don't want to your face. It may reduce wrinkles, but it does it the opposite way it should be done. Muscular tone is far more attractive. Botox metaphorically tells a woman not to workout her abs so her gut doesn't wrinkle, as a result the girl winds up being skinny and fat (one of the most unattractive combinations possible). Obviously since we don't know what activates myosatellite cells (and creating muscle tension on facial muscles is difficult or impossible), achieving facial tone is something that can only be fixed by muscle grafts and skin stretching. I'm not saying not to try, not many people bother with the concept of facial muscle tone because society tells them not to. Hopefully someone figures out a way.

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