Lunchtime Facelift or Microcurrent Facial Sculpting Q & A
Why does our skin show aging?
In simple terms, as we get older, two components of our skin--collagen and elastin--degenerate, setting the stage for the appearance of wrinkles, creases, folds, and furrows. The breakdown of these components, accelerated by such things as exposure to UV rays, gravity, pollution, smoking, lack of exercise, and/or a consistently poor diet, results in the more visible signs of old age on our skin.
Years of facial expressions trigger small temporary folds in the skin to form where our muscles move; with age, depleting levels of collagen and loosening elastin fibers develop a memory of each crease. The Epidermis also becomes thinner and the connective tissue weaker. Combined with the lack of tone in aging facial muscles, the Epidermis begins to sag and droop, while natural folds become unnaturally pronounced by fatty cheeks, neck, and chin. Reduction of blood circulation and restriction of blood vessels lead to a loss in youthful hue and manifests in a dull grayish color to the face.
What is Microcurrent?
Microcurrent is a modality providing electric current in millionths of an ampere, called Microamperes. It is the closest known electrical current that can be delivered on a near identical magnitude as the electrical current the human body naturally produces on its own; it is therefore physiologic and safe.
Microcurrent is subsensory and should not be felt while it is being delivered, since there is barely enough current to stimulate the sensory receptors. Microcurrent modalities are different than TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), which uses a form of electrical current measured in Milliamperes commonly used as a therapy to block pain. Microcurrent is from 10-100 times less powerful than TENS, and should never cause muscle contraction or be uncomfortable during cosmetic applications.
Microcurrent is part of the TENS current range; however, Microcurrent provides accumulative healing affects, whereas TENS blocks pain but has virtually no healing effect. The Microcurrent modality used in medical healing is referred to as MENS, but its use for aesthetic treatment is termed Facial Sculpting or Facial Toning.
Microcurrent, because of its close proximity to our own body's current, works on a more cellular level to aid in the healing process. It is upon this initial cellular healing platform that we began our research and development into the use of Microcurrent for aesthetic regeneration.
How is Microcurrent used for cosmetic treatment and why is it so effective?
The short answer:
As we age, our body loses much of its natural electrical energy, much like a battery gradually losing its charge. On a cellular level, this leads to a breakdown of collagen and elastin in our skin, which leads to sagging and unevenness of texture; lines, wrinkles, and folds become the inevitable result. Beneath the skin, the facial muscles become increasingly contracted over years of facial expression and constant gravity, allowing the overall lift of our face to decline.
Microcurrent emits subtle electrical frequencies that mimic the body’s own electrical signals, thereby increasing the amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the chemical fuel of human cells) by as much as 500%. Such increased levels of ATP speed cellular metabolism; the result is a detoxification that increases the rate of waste and impurity elimination. Protein synthesis and cellular membrane transport are also increased, as well as the reconstitution of collagen and elastin.
The results of these processes can be seen in improved skin tone and coloration, the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, and the firming of sagging areas of the face.
All of these combinations are key factors in the effectiveness of Microcurrent Facial Sculpting. The body is literally being recharged back to its more youthful electrical state, as though a draining battery were plugged into a charger. With each treatment, ATP levels are stockpiled or stored, which is why Microcurrent Facial Treatment results are cumulative and become better as a series of treatments progresses. Beautiful Image Facial Sculpting will show good results with only one treatment; however such results may last only 48-72 hours in the initial treatment, then 3-4 days as you reach your 4th or 5th treatment. By the 6th or 8th treatment, muscle memory takes over and progress becomes more rapid and longer lasting, until only a booster treatment is needed every 4-6 weeks to maintain the results. This is called “muscle re-education.
The dramatic increase of ATP levels allows muscles to stay in the re-educated positions for longer periods of time. The other attributing factor is an increase in blood circulation. Blood circulation has everything to do with the function, condition, color, and overall health of the skin, as well as underlying tissue.
Compare that to any “skin resurfacing?procedure which only stimulates collagen by wounding the dermis. Microcurrent does not rely upon wounding, nor does it require a healing process to show results.
How soon will I see results?
While other Microcurrent Facial Treatments proclaim individuals may see some minor change after 3-4 sessions, and significant change only after 15-20 sessions, Beautiful Image Facial Sculpting?will produce noticeable changes on your first session. Further changes will be even more effective and lasting as your facial “memory?is achieved and sustained at 8-10 sessions.
How many sessions are recommended for the full treatment and how often?
Most clients need 10 treatments to achieve a full “facelift makeover. Clients with greater aging effects such as severe neck sagging, deep creases, or distinguished “crow’s feet at the brow, may need up to 15 sessions. Clients need a minimum of 2 sessions their first week, then one per week thereafter until treatment is complete. Those who are on a short timeline (preparing for a wedding, accepting an award, etc.) may be treated twice per week in order to complete their treatment quicker. After your 10 sessions, your look is maintained by receiving booster treatments every 4-6 weeks.
How long should I expect the results to last?
You cosmetic investment is preserved as long as you are receiving booster treatments every 4-6 weeks after the initial treatment span. If you stop booster treatments, you risk losing the muscle memory after about 6 months and will have to start a new treatment span again to regain the original youthful look.
Who should NOT be treated with microcurrent and contraindications?
•Pacemaker
•Pregnancy
•Thrombosis
•Phlebitis
•Epilepsy
•Cancer
Research on microcurrent technology.
No other esthetic service can come close to these proven results! This is why a microcurrent facial is one of the fastest growing services in the esthetic anti-aging industry today. Microcurrent has been proven to show a:
•increase in cellular energy (ATP) to muscle cells leading to increased muscular tone
•increase in 20 days in natural collagen production to increase hydration and fullness
•increase in 20 days in natural elastin production
•increase in 20 days in blood circulation
What are the benefits of Microcurrent treatments?
•Diminished appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
•Improved circulation
•Cleared up or reduced acne
•Improved muscle tone in face and neck
•Lift of jowls and eyebrows
•Calming rosacea
•Lymphatic drainage
•Sun damage treatment
•Skin pigment improvement
•Product penetration
•Smoother, firmer skin
•Hydrated and revitalized skin
•Improved elasticity
Recommended Treatments
The number of sessions depends on the client age and skin condition. The effects of microcurrent are immediate and cumulative. Clients go through a series of treatments followed by regular maintenance to keep a more youthful appearance. Each time a treatment is performed the new contour maintains its position better and longer.
Typically clients will notice a 5 to 7 year reduction in facial aging.
•0-30 years old: As preventative to slow down the aging process
•0-35 years old: Initial series of 4-6, 1 time per week (maintenance 6-8 weeks)
•5-40 years old: Initial series of 6-10, 2 times per week (maintenance 6-8 weeks)
•0-50 years old: Initial series of 8-12, 3 times per week for 1 week and 2 times per week thereafter (maintenance every 4-8 weeks)
•0-60 years old: Initial series of 12-15, 3 times per week for 2 weeks and 2 times per week thereafter (maintenance every 4-8 weeks)
•0-70 plus years old: Initial series of 15, 3 times per week (maintenance every 4 weeks)