NuFace: What You Need to Know
Pros & cons
How to use it
Fast facts
NuFace is a line of at-home devices that emit microcurrents, to improve facial contours and skin firmness.
This extremely low-voltage (and painless) electricity is intended to rejuvenate skin in two ways, one that produces cumulative benefits and another that yields more immediate results:
- It boosts the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy-carrying molecule found in the cells of all living things, by as much as 500%, according to one study performed on animals. ATP drives the creation of key structural proteins, such as skin-firming collagen and elastin, slowly over time.
- The increased ATP stimulates facial musclesâsimilarly to how exercise energizes the muscles of our bodies, according to the manufacturer. Since the facial muscles are directly connected to the skin, the result is an instant tightening and lifting effect that lasts three to four hours. The company calls the treatment the â5-Minute Facial-Lift.âÂ
Some experts say the results are subtle, at best. âNuFace and other nonsurgical microcurrent devices may create a temporary appearance of âlifting,â often by causing temporary swelling,â says Dr. Brian Coan, a plastic surgeon in Cary, North Carolina. âThese devices donât provide the long-term results that fillers like Sculptra or a surgical facelift can offer.â
Nashville dermatologic surgeon Dr. Michael Gold concurs. âMicrocurrents probably have a minimal effect on the skin and even less of an effect on the collagen under the skin. While these are used quite commonly in spas, we know that if you need collagen stimulation or enhancement, something more significant will be needed.â
Pros
- NuFace is an affordable alternative to in-office microcurrent treatments.
- Thereâs no downtime or recovery, and you can use it at home.
- The treatment is quick (five minutes) and painless.
- The device uses low-voltage micro-electric currents that are considered to be totally safe.
Cons
- Itâs a daily commitment for at least the first two months.
- Facial muscles tend to recover quickly from electrical stimulation, so any results will be short-lived, say doctors on RealSelf.
- The large metal prongs can make it difficult to target smaller areas of the face.
- NuFace canât be used on certain areas, such as nasolabial folds or upper eyelids.
- Doctors on RealSelf are divided on whether NuFace might make the effects of Botox and dermal fillers wear off faster. Some actually think the electrical stimulation might be beneficial when using Botox, to keep the immobilized muscles from atrophyingâwhich can make you look older. In a RealSelf Q&A, Los Angeles physician Dr. Robert Cohen recommends waiting at least two weeks after having Botox or filler injections, to minimize any negative effects of the microcurrent treatment.
Here's how you can get the best results from a NuFace device:
- Start by cleansing your face.
- Apply a mask-like layer of the hyaluronic acid gel primer (also sold by the manufacturer) in sections as you treat them, beginning with the cheeks. Your skin should look and feel wet, since moisture is required to enhance conductivity of the electrical current.
- The device has two metal probes that deliver a circuit of mild electricity from one probe to the other. Work these probes over your facial contours (like the cheekbones and jawline), applying light pressure and moving upward.
- Repeat each glide three times. The NuFace will emit a beep to let you know when to move to a different area.
- When treating the neck, work the device across and up, toward the ears.
For the first 60 days, use the NuFace at least five times a week, for five minutes per treatment. After 60 days, use it two or three times a week to maintain your results.
The NuFace shouldnât be used by anyone with a pacemaker, electronic implanted devices, epilepsy, or cancer.
Updated June 13, 2023