With the constant battle against aging, electric currents are used in so many different ways. I recently spoke with Intothegloss.com about NuFACE, which is a device that we use at Art of Skin MD as well as sell for patients to use at home as a part of their daily beauty regimens.
We use electric “current” in so many facets of dermatology. The hyfercator used to cauterize vessels during skin surgery is electrically based. Radiofrequency, a technology that uses electrical current, is used in many device applications from skin tightening to fat reduction. Microcurrent is a miniature, lesser powered, very distant cousin to some of the technologies I’ve described. At our clinic, we offer the NuFACE, which uses the mircrocurrent.
Many facial muscles you do not want to “train” to have increased tone. Most facial muscles, when activated over decades, cause wrinkles – think angry 11’s between the brows, forehead furrows, laugh lines around mouth/cheeks and lip lines. Instead, skin firmness, elasticity and proper volume support should be the gold standard. I do not believe that microcurrent is a substitute for proper injectable use for relaxation and rebalancing of the face, along with various laser, light, or energy-based technology for skin tone, texture, and tightening. But it is a nice compliment to add into a daily routine. Any patient who wants to complement skin tightening and firming skin procedures performed in the clinic with at-home participation is a good candidate for using a microcurrent device such as NuFACE. NuFACE shows a visible difference immediately after use, but it is temporary, and the user must understand that use of the microcurrent device must become a part of their daily beauty routine to have an enduring result. If it is used inconsistently, consumer dissatisfaction is more likely.
The lower-power electrical microcurrent energy delivered from the device drives the production of ATP. ATP is the energy source for all of our cells. When NuFACE is used on the face, it is thought that increased ATP production helps with skin firming by encouraging increased production of collagen and elastin. Both of these proteins impart firmness, structure and/or elasticity to the skin. What perhaps is just as or more important with microcurrent technology from NuFACE is using this system with topical products to try and drive active ingredients more effectively into the skin.
For people who want to enhance delivery of some of their skin care products, NuFACE can be used in conjunction with these products. Most patients will tolerate the device well. As with any product or device, with sensitive skin types, it may be best to perform a test site first.
While this can be a helpful adjunctive treatment, more dramatic results are often seen with in-office procedures. In general, the degree of downtime with a procedure is related to the degree of physical improvement in the skin. Therefore, expectations with microcurrent device must be tempered and reasonable. Keeping all of this in mind, many of my patients who use NuFACE regularly are quite happy and continue to use the device.
One of the many ways that we use electrical currents at Art of Skin MD is with our Ultherapy treatment. This treatment uses ultrasound to lift and tone sagging tissues and is a great alternative to traditional facelifts, brow lifts and neck lifts. Ulthera utilizes targeted ultrasound energy to penetrate deep below the skin and fat layer of the face to gently but effectively target connective tissue. Connective tissue is a firm, tough layer that supports the neck and facial contours. Although the results are not as drastic as surgical results and occur more gradually, they can be dramatic and long-lasting. As our patients’ comfort is extremely important to us, we do provide numbing for anyone receiving Ultherapy.
Our Registered Nurse, Jessica Scott, administers the Ultherapy treatment and our patients have been very happy with the results. She is hosting a lunch and learn Thursday, July 14 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. During this event, she is offering a complimentary treatment to the crow’s feet area for each attendee so they can experience the treatment firsthand. For more information, or to RSVP for this event, please call us at 858-792-7546.
