Facial stimulators are not very effective

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Do it yourself face lift devices provide little improvement to aging skin, according to a study.
As people age, the skin starts to sag because of collagen loss. A traditional face lift involves surgery and, although many do opt for it, a less invasive solution may be welcome. Facial stimulators can be bought over the counter. They supposedly work by electrical stimulation which firms and tones the skin.

A team at Washington Medical Center's Cosmetic Surgery Center looked at two of these devices, asking study participants to use them for four months. Two plastic surgeons examined them before and after and were unable to detect any improvement in signs of facial aging. The particpatns themselves felt the devices were minimally effective at best and were also associated with mild discomfort. There are actually over 50 of these devices being sold over the counter and on the Internet. The message seems to be - there are better ways to spend your money.

Source
Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery January/February 2006

Please take a moment to give us your comments. For questions about Health matters you may check our "Questions & Answers" Portal and Service.