The Amazing Benefits of Non- Surgical , Micro-Current Facelifts! May 07 2015
The Missing Link in Anti-Aging Technology
HOW DO WE AGE?
Our face is the first to be affected by visible signs of aging. The effects of time, sun exposure, stress and tobacco quickly show through on our skin. The ability of the skin to regenerate new tissue slows, and the skin's natural moisturizing ability begins to fail.
Our complexion is dulled and discolored, fluid buildup cause’s puffiness, our cheeks and eyelids begin to droop, wrinkles start to appear. Facial muscles are attached to the skin, so the skin sags and droops along with the muscles as we age.
Although the muscles of the face differ from the muscles of our bodies, our body is not immune to this same reality and cannot escape it either. Our silhouette is gradually transformed as little by little, weight gain and cellulite appear.
Until the mid-thirties, most women retain the fresh smooth, wrinkle free skin of their youth. Both skin and facial muscles are still firm and elastic, so facial contours remain smooth and well defined. It is shortly after the age of thirty-five, however, that the first signs of aging appear.
The aging process happens so gradually that you won't even notice. That is, until you compare your reflection in the mirror to a photograph taken just five years ago. You will be shocked to find you look different, you look older.
If we look at the muscle enhancement abilities of these machines we need to understand what happens to muscle tissue as we get older. The facial muscles either relax causing poor tonus in the facial tissue, or stay contracted due to stress and habitual contraction. For example, in a young client, the zygomaticus muscles of the cheeks are nice and firm and there is definition to the cheek and jaw line. In a more mature client, the same muscles have relaxed and the definition of the cheek and jaw line is much softer. Continual frowning systematically contributes to permanent vertical lines above the nose. These changes in the muscle tonus develop over time and are due to the golgi apparatus of the muscles not responding as efficiently to nerve stimulation. It is the collapse of the upper cheek muscles which may cause most of the aging signs on the face. By the age of forty-five, the upper cheek muscles may elongate by as much as half an inch, dragging the skin over the cheeks downward to form plump little pouches by the corners of the mouth (called jowls). The muscles under the chin become looser and the jaw line loses its firm contour. Even as little as a quarter of an inch stretch in the tiny eye muscles will cause the outer corners of the upper eyelids to droop over the lower ones. The alert freshness of youth will be gone. The overly stretched skin around the eyes creates a heavy lidded appearance with many lines and folds. Pouches collect beneath the eyes. By the age of fifty-five, the upper cheek muscles will have stretched by at least three quarters of an inch, forming creases around the ears, mouth and the jaw line. Neck muscles will have also lost their tone and become slack and start to form neck rolls or cords. Loose, stretched skin sags toward the forward part of the neck. In profile the tip of the chin seems to be an extension of the neck the beginning of the all too familiar "turkey neck" of old age. You can reduce the signs of aging skin by getting sufficient sleep, avoiding excessive exposure to UV rays, exercising, drinking plenty of water, and by not smoking.
We age because:
- Decreased circulation. As people age, the number and size of the capillaries supplying oxygen and other vital nutrients to the epidermis and dermis decrease which causes the cells of the skin to gradually begin to atrophy.
- Muscle atrophy. Sagging jowls, hollow cheeks, eye orbits, double chin and others are all signs of muscle atrophy. The supportive connective tissue attaching the muscle to skin breaks down and gravity forces the skin to droop, fold and wrinkle.
- Expression patterns. Repeated expressions result in a strengthening and shortening of contractive muscle and a weakening and stretching of the distended muscles. This forms wrinkles and creases.
- Environment. dark blotches, abnormal growths and cell abnormalities cause our skin to look older and more worn.
HISTORY OF MICROCURRENT
Thomas W. Wing. D.C., N.D., LAc. a fifth generation Chinese Doctor is credited with introducing a micro current instrument in the late 1970's. According to Dr. Wing the doors opened to acupuncture after President Nixon's visit to China in 1972. Almost overnight thousands of doctors were interested in all forms of acupuncture. One of these methods was adding current to the acupuncture needles to create a more potent application. . In 1975 Dr. Wing introduced what was known as the first comfortable US made non-needle acupuncture (Surface Electrical Acupuncture) instrument with diagnostics. Needles were replaced by pencil looking items with brass tips and later converted to Q-Tip ends to just touch the surface of the skin. He called it the Accu-O Matic this stood for Accurate and Automatic. Dr. Wings instruments created quite a stir. Physicians flocked to learn about this method and were so impressed with the results they were quick to incorporate them in their practices.
In 1977 as a result of the Medical device act of May 28, 1976 FDA (Food and Drug Administration) informed Dr. Wing he could not use the Accu-O-Matic to treat because they were claiming to cure conditions. In 1978 FDA agents visited again and said acupuncture had not been "proven safe and effective" in the experimental use period of one year. The FDA told Dr. Wing he could reapply with his instrument under the 1976 Medical Device and Cosmetology Act if he took the reading portion of the unit and not refer to it as an electrical acupuncture device. This new model in 1980 added a new wave form, micro current, and was found beneficial in the treatments of muscles to lengthen, shorten and strengthen. It was approved as a muscle stimulator. It also found new life in the Cosmetology industry for cellular regeneration (rejuvenation), facial toning and wrinkle reduction.
Micro current techniques have been proven successful in treating a variety of medical conditions including Bell’s Palsy. Bell’s Palsy is facial paralysis, usually effects one side of the face only. The cause is unknown, but inflammation of one of the facial nerves results in muscle paralysis to one side of the face. This usually recovers over a period of months, but on occasions can be permanent.
Electric currents have been incorporated into facial machines for many years. The research and development conducted to assist the “baby boomers” in maintaining a youthful appearance has promoted their evolution to the highly efficient apparatuses we have at our disposal today. Understandably, there is a great deal of interest around the muscle enhancement abilities of micro current.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF MICROCURRENT?
Micro current produces proliferation of cells by fibroblasts' secretion of proteins such as collagen. Additionally, it works on the nerves and muscle cells to increase tonicity of the fine facial muscles. Research has shown that the results of the micro current are not only dramatic but long lasting. Micro current heals and regenerates tissue; it is a corrective and preventive anti-aging treatment unlike other relative systems such as muscle stimulators whose temporary effect acts as a band-aid in the aging process.
The effects of micro current are as follows:
- It is able to reconstruct or re-educate the muscle tissue stretching or tightening as necessary. It will stretch out cramped and shortened muscles as occur, for example, around the eyes, mouth and forehead, so reducing fine lines and wrinkles. On the other hand it will strengthen and tone loose and slack muscles, for instance, around the cheeks, jaw line, bottom, thighs and breast, giving a firmer appearance to the face and body.
- Micro current stimulates and speeds up the rate at which the body produces its own muscle protein, adenosine triphosphate synthesis (Aredreno) fibers to reduce the ageing effects on muscle tissue.
- It is able to stimulate and speed up the rate at which the skin produces its own connective tissue fibers, collagen and elastin, increasing the supportive framework of the dermis.
- Micro current has a regenerative effect, increasing the local metabolism of the skin and muscle tissue, resulting in corrective and preventative anti-aging treatment.
In the human body; cell growth, metabolism, cell breed and abruption are all functioned by microcurrent. When human starts aging, the biological current which the body can generate declines, thus, skin cell cannot maintain equilibrium electric current flow. It leads to many skin problems, loosing firmness, wrinkles and age spots, etc. Micro current facial treatment counteracts the ravages of sun and aging and poor dietary habits.
Micro current is what promotes collagen and elastin production in your skin, and increases ATP production 500%. ATP is basically the vitality of your cells. The buildup in ATP explains the lasting effects of microcurrent on re-educating the facial muscles to tighten and tone. To quote D. Tsoklis, an expert on the subject, “Micro current is the reproduction of your own biological current. As we age, this current, which sends messages from the brain to the muscles via the spinal cord, does not send those messages properly.” The microcurrent treatment restores those messages from the brain to tell the skin to rejuvenate. It helps tone facial muscles by replicating our own biological currents.
Clinical studies have shown that after twenty days of treatment collagen production increases by 14 percent, elastin increases by 48 percent, and blood circulation increases by 38 percent. Scientists have also found that microcurrent facelift treatments trigger the body’s production of amino acids and ATP. Both of these accelerate cell repair and promote healthier cell production.
HOW DOES THE CELLS REGENERATE?
A number of investigators have found that under the influence of low frequency microcurrent, cells are capable of de-differentiation. Mature, fully differentiated cells are able to retrogress to an embryonic form, and re-differentiate into whatever cell types are needed for complete regeneration. In order to regenerate, the cell needs a certain amount of energy. The total energy of the cell can be estimated chemically from the amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) available. This molecule is the basic energy source of all cell activities, including protein synthesis such as Collagen and Elastin and the synthesis of DNA. ATP also serves a direct vital function in the active transport mechanism known as the sodium pump that is responsible for the movement of sodium, potassium, and calcium across the cell’s membranes. When the pump is not functioning, cellular metabolic waste builds up in toxic concentrations while the cell is starving. Several studies have shown a significant increase of ATP up to 500% with low intensity microcurrent stimulation, under 1,000 microamps.
“The retonification of facial muscles using microcurrent results from accelerated ATP [adenosine triphosphate] generation along with increased production of collagen and elastin,” says Dr. Robert Loss of Dermatology Associates of Rochester (N.Y.). “Unlike Thermage, the results are very immediate, the process completely safe and painless, and the cost for the consumer very low comparatively.”
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Micro current “recharges” facial tissue. It works by combining a unique electrical waveform using dual tipped probes, in combination with the naturally occurring biological current of the body. This technology has the capacity to work internally on the muscle fiber and tissue for visible, external results – just like taking the face to the gym. The combination of different frequency variations allows these machines to show great results in tissue enhancement and repair. The frequency variation in the current can be concentrated on specific tissues and adapted to the individual needs of each client. The microcurrent utilized produce different effects on the muscle and the tissue of the skin.
The method of applying a specific current to certain muscular areas of the face reverses and corrects habitual muscle patterns and reverses atrophy.
Micro current systems can be used to improve the muscle reception and re-educate the muscle to respond more effectively to regular nerve stimulation. The desired relaxed state of a muscle is semi-contracted, allowing it to function effectively. The microcurrent can help bring this “memory” back to the muscle, giving better tonus to the face and relaxing over contracted muscles. To the patient this means a firmer facial tonus and diminished lines.
This system is quite different from Electro-Muscle Stimulation (E.M.S.) which is a medical procedure utilizing a very strong current to force repeated muscular contraction and expansion.
BENEFITS OF MICROURRENT
Micro current delivers a variety of benefits to patients who wish to maintain/attain a healthier and younger looking appearance. Micro current is safe and effective for the following purposes:
- Improve facial and neck muscle tone
- Lift jowls and eyebrows
- Rejuvenate the skin
- Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduce puffiness
- Even out skin tone
- Improve facial circulation
- Aids in skin exfoliation
- Increase lymphatic drainage
- Increase product penetration
- Acts as a sun damage treatment
- Reduce cellulite
- Enhances the body’s natural collagen and elastin production
- Re-hydrates skin
- Increase cellular metabolism (ATP)
- Improves hormonal balance which aids in the successful treatment of acne
- Allows for an easier Make-up application
- Tightens enlarged pores
BENEFITS OF MICROCURRENT & COSMETIC SURGERY
For patients who have already had a surgical facelift, pre and post-operative microcurrent treatments can amplify results and promote healing function 5 times faster than the body is normally capable of performing during a healing crisis. The treatments can relieve potential pain or numbness and eliminate the possibility of side effects, risks, swelling, scarring and bruising associated with plastic surgery. Benefits also
include:
o Improve skin texture and circulation
o Soften and prevent scar tissue
o Reduces puffiness & fluid retention
o Improves muscles tone
o Softens lines and wrinkles
o Repair bruised skin
o Clinically proven to give significant healing improvements
o Pain relief
o Maintain results of surgery and peels
o Enhance well being
o Safe pre and post-operative care
Anika’s offers complimentary skincare consultations to see if Micro current is right for you.
If Micro current is not recommended Anika’s does offer additional options for anti- aging treatments and homecare. For more information please call 603.595.0224