What is EMFACE, the needle-free filler replacement that promises to lift your face?

What is EMFACE and how does it work?

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Dr Lam Bee Lan: EMFACE is the first US FDA-cleared and CE-marked non-invasive device on the market utilising the simultaneous application of both synchronized radiofrequency (RF) and High-Intensity Focused Electrical Stimulation (HIFES) energies for non-invasive facial lifting and wrinkle reduction.

Synchronized RF remodels and smooths skin by heating the dermis and increasing the levels of collagen and elastin fibres.

The HIFES technology is designed to selectively induce supramaximal contractions of the elevator muscles (including the Frontalis muscles in the forehead, Zygomaticus Major, Zygomaticus Minor and Risorius muscles in the midface) in the face by restoring and elevating support of facial tissues by selectively contracting muscles as well as increase the density and quality of muscle structure.

The frontalis muscles are a pair of vertically oriented muscles in the forehead that lift the eyebrows. The zygomaticus major, zygomaticus minor and risorius muscles are responsible for elevating the mid-face and cheeks. Zygomaticus major muscles control facial expression, drawing the mouth’s angle upward and outward, while the zygomaticus minor muscles draw the upper lip backwards, upwards and outwards. The risorius muscle's function is to aid in facial expression by pulling the corner of the mouth laterally via its contraction in an outward and upward motion.

Who are the ideal candidates for EMFACE?

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Almost everyone is suitable for EMFACE. EMFACE is ideal for patients seeking facial treatments without injections. Patients in the age range from 40 to 55 years old may see the greatest improvement.

It is beneficial to patients who are concerned about mild skin laxity, wrinkles, loss of skin plumpness, elastin, and collagen or saggy jawline. It is a more natural solution for younger patients not yet ready for a surgical facelift.

Therefore, for those who do not want to have a surgical facelift, EMFACE is the only option that offers a whole new approach by not only using RF but also HIFES to help enhance muscles tone of the face and lift specific areas of laxity at the cheeks, jawline and forehead.

How does the EMFACE treatment feel?

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EMFACE treatment is painless. EMFACE produces some sensations while the two energies — HIFES and RF — are emitted to the skin. You will feel a mild feeling of warmth and gentle pulling of the face while the facial muscles are contracted. This innovative device kills fat cells, stimulates muscle growth and increases the resting muscle tone of the targeted muscles. At the same time, it tightens the skin and stimulates the growth of collagen. All these are achieved without causing any harm or discomfort to the surrounding skin tissue on the face.

How long does the EMFACE treatment take and what are the steps involved?

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One EMFACE treatment takes 20mins.

Step 1: Remove any jewellery from the patients.

Step 2: Clean the face and remove any makeup or cosmetics from the treatment area. The skin must be cleaned thoroughly and completely dry before sticking the applicator to the treatment area.

Step 3: The treatment area should be free from hair. Shave the treatment area if necessary.

Step 4: Position the EMFACE forehead applicator to the middle of the forehead right above the eyebrows. Apply the applicator securely to the skin accordingly.

Step 5: Position the EMFACE cheek applicators in the left and right cheek areas. The cheek applicators are designed to stimulate the muscles of the cheeks. Apply the applicator securely to the skin accordingly.

Step 6: Connect the applicators to the patient cable connectors and start the treatment.

What results can one expect after an EMFACE treatment?

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Generally, you will see a visible improvement after one EMFACE treatment.

EMFACE results are enduring with high patient satisfaction and there are zero discomforts reported by most patients. During clinical trials, no adverse events were observed or reported during any of the clinical test sites.

In clinical studies, patients enjoyed:

37% reduction in wrinkles
23% lifting effect
26% increase in collagen
30% increase in muscle tone

How often should one do EMFACE?

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It is recommended to do at least four sessions of EMFACE, scheduled once a week.

When can I expect visible results and how long do they last?

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Generally, four sessions of 20 minutes of EMFACE at weekly intervals can last between six to 12 months, depending on your skin condition. Boosting sessions of EMFACE to maintain the good effects may be required at three-month intervals for optimal results. For more elderly patients with more sagginess, more sessions of EMFACE, for example six sessions, may be needed for optimal results.

In a recent study by Dr Yael Halaas, a US cosmetic surgeon, the results of EMFACE can last up to 12 months, depending on the individual’s skin condition.

What are the risks involved?

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Some patients experience a warm sensation and pinkness in the skin after EMFACE treatment, but these effects will resolve on their own. EMFACE is a no-downtime and no-risk treatment and patients can return to their daily routine after the treatment. It is recommended to follow a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and proper hydration for best results.

How much does an EMFACE treatment cost?

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The price for EMFACE starts at $1,500 for one session.

How does EMFACE differ from needle-free options?

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There are various treatments or devices that use RF or ultrasound to lift and tighten the skin.

Thermage utilizes monopolar radiofrequency to tighten your skin. The procedure involves using energy waves to heat the deep layer of your skin known as the dermis. This heat stimulates the production of collagen.

Ultrasound improves the appearance of moderately loose or sagging skin by depositing focused ultrasound energy below the skin surface to stimulate the body's creation of new collagen. Some popular treatments that utilise ultrasound are Ultherapy.

Both Thermage and Ultherapy require one session and the effects can last up to 12 months. Both treatments can cause some discomfort.

Exilis Ultra 360 is another device that uses a combination of RF and ultrasound to tighten the skin.

Although the treatments mentioned here are non-surgical, some of them require some recovery time. They all stimulate the production of collagen and thus improve the overall skin texture and quality. However, none of these devices is able to increase muscle fibres and resting muscle tone.

How does EMFACE differ from options requiring needles in the market?

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Some non-needle-free options include botulinum toxins and dermal fillers injections.

Botulinum toxin injections are used to treat the expression lines of the forehead and between brows. They work by partially immobilising the muscles that form expression lines so the skin smooths out, although some deep expression lines may not go away. Botulinum toxins are injected into the depressor muscles of the face, namely the procerus, corrugator supercilli and orbicularis oculi muscles to relax and soften the glabellar frown lines and crow’s feet while EMFACE targets the elevator muscles of the forehead and the midface, sparing the depressors.

In fact, the HIFES technology selectively targets the facial muscles and fascia to increase the resting muscle tone, therefore helping to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

Dermal fillers are used to treat lines created by lost collagen and fat. Popular areas for injections are the pair of lines that extend down from the nose to the corners of the mouth, known as the nasolabial folds, and another pair that extends down from the corners of the mouth to the chin, known as marionette lines. While fillers help to restore facial volume loss and contour/sculpt the face, EMFACE tones facial muscles and lifts the face and at the same time rejuvenates the skin for overall improvement of skin quality.

The combination treatments of EMFACE and dermal fillers or botulinum toxins complement each other.