The skin loses its structure and elasticity as you get older, mainly because of the muscle and connective tissue. Facelifts remain a go-to choice when you have a lot of excess skin that no longer responds to injectables. However, for those with mild to moderate facial sagging, EMFACE® treatments remain a good option.

Many choose to combine EMFACE® treatments with fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic for a comprehensive rejuvenation effect. However, one can’t help but wonder: can it work just as well without injectables? The short answer to that is “yes,” but there are a few catches to keep in mind. 

How Does EMFACE® Work?

EMFACE® is a treatment that uses dual-energy technology to increase muscle firmness and improve skin quality. The technologies include the following: 

• High-Intensity Facial Electrical Stimulation (HIFES™): This delivers electrical pulses into the muscles and triggers their contraction, similar to how it happens during a workout. This helps strengthen and tone the face, creating a better structural support from underneath.
• Synchronized Radiofrequency (RF): A thermal heating process that safely heats the top and deep layers of the skin, creating microscopic injuries. This stimulates the fibroblasts, which start a new production of collagen and elastin. Once matured, skin firmness improves.

Unlike surgical facelifts, patients don’t have to deal with anesthesia, recovery time, or incisions. Since it targets both the muscles and the skin, it improves definition and contour, creating a “lifted” look.

How Does It Compare to Injectables? 

EMFACE®, fillers, and BOTOX® Cosmetic can all have a lifting effect, but they do so through a different mechanism. For instance, BOTOX® Cosmetic works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles, keeping them from contracting and forming creases in the skin. EMFACE® does the opposite of that by strengthening the muscle, toning, and lifting your contour.

Fillers manually add volume beneath the skin and can last for up to 18 months (depending on the filler’s viscosity). EMFACE® relies on the body’s natural ability to produce collagen. This improves skin quality without adding artificial bulk.

What Can You Obtain with Just EMFACE®? 

Patients should set their expectations before an EMFACE® treatment. Below are several effects that patients can see with just EMFACE®: 

1. Facial Lifting and Rejuvenation

EMFACE® can stimulate facial and connective tissue in the upper and lower face. This leads to a subtle lift in the eyebrow area, slightly elevated cheeks, and a soft improvement in the jawline contour.

2. Better Jawline Contour

The combination of muscle toning and skin tightening reduces the appearance of mild to moderate jowls. This usually works when the amount of excess skin is not severe. With EMFACE® alone, patients can improve facial balance and get a more defined jawline with time.

3. Reduction of Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Most wrinkles, particularly those in the lower half of the face, form because collagen and elastin production is reduced. EMFACE® triggers the production of more of these proteins by using the RF technology. Most patients notice reduced intensity in their nasolabial folds and marionette lines, but the fine lines around the eyes may also be decreased.

4. Improves Muscle Strength and Facial Tone

Facial fat and skin need a strong “foundation” to stay in place, and that’s the muscle. Once the muscles weaken, they can no longer support the fat and skin, causing them to sag. EMFACE® delivers 75,000 muscle contractions in a 20-minute session, which is more than the average workout can achieve. This creates a lifting effect as the muscles become stronger.

5. Non-Invasive Lifting 

Traditional facelifts involve making incisions at specific points on the face to remove excess skin. While they are concealed, there will still be scars. Injectables have a lower risk of scarring, but the needles will still prick the skin and require some downtime. EMFACE® doesn’t break the skin’s surface, so most clients can return to their routine right away.

When Should Fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic Still Be Considered?

EMFACE® works just as well on its own to create a lifting effect, but it’s not an all-powerful treatment. Depending on your goals, administering injectables can achieve the desired effect more efficiently. Consider combination treatments if you: 

• Want to Replace Lost Volume: If you lost facial volume around the cheeks and temples as a result of weight loss or fillers, EMFACE® alone can’t support that. Consider using HA dermal fillers or fat transfers to make up for the lost volume.
• Have Stubborn Dynamic Wrinkles: EMFACE® can help tone the skin and reduce the intensity of mild forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet. However, it doesn’t relax the muscles, so you may need BOTOX® Cosmetic to address deeper dynamic wrinkles.
• Want Immediate Structural Changes: HA fillers have a gel-like consistency and bind to water molecules, which offers instant structural support. EMFACE® requires a few weeks for the collagen fibers to mature, so most clients won’t see improvement for at least a month. 

Your skin quality and goals will generally determine whether you need fillers added to an EMFACE® treatment. An appointment with Dr. Ariel Ostad will help create an appropriate plan.

Get Your EMFACE® Treatment Today!

EMFACE® treatments can tighten and lift the face just as well without fillers or BOTOX® Cosmetic. While they can’t replace lost volume or relax the muscles, they tone them and create a stronger structure for the skin. Schedule an appointment for EMFACE® and give your face the lift it deserves!

To learn more about EMFACE®, contact Dr. Ariel Ostad at 212-517-7900. He can help offer you the insight you need to reach optimal results. Alternatively, fill out the online contact form, and we will get in touch with you shortly!