Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for facial wrinkles and sagging: The 8-week prospective, split-face, controlled trial in Asians.

3 Small study in people

What this means for you: first signals, nothing more.

Type of study: controlled trial
Studied in: people
Participants: not stated in the abstract
Published: 2024 in Journal of cosmetic dermatology
Cited: 6 times by other research
Who paid: Not declared. PubMed carries no conflict-of-interest statement for most articles; that is not the same as independent.
Source: PubMed 38992992 · doi 10.1111/jocd.16403

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding the effects of high frequency facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation (fNMES) on facial aging, using a device equipped with CERTEC (Cell Energy Regeneration Technology) operating between 40 and 190 kHz. METHODS: This prospective split-face study was conducted at Tokyo University Hospital between March and May 2023 with 24 healthy adult women aged 30-59. The intervention group used the fNMES device along with basic skin care on one side of the face, and basic skin care alone on the other side for 8 weeks. Evaluations included changes in skin wrinkles, sagging, and blood flow. RESULTS: This study found significant improvements in skin elasticity and degree of wrinkles in the areas intervened with fNMES (p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, the intervention resulted in significant improvements in jawline angle (p < 0.01), submental volume (p < 0.05), cheek volume (p < 0.05), maximum nasolabial fold depth (p = 0.03), and total volume of the nasolabial folds (p = 0.03). The fNMES intervention also showed improvement in blood flow (p < 0.05). These improvements were also subjectively assessed by the participants in subject questionnaires at 8 weeks after the intervention (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that high frequency fNMES effectively improves facial skin elasticity, reduces wrinkles and sagging, promotes blood flow, and contributes to overall facial appearance rejuvenation. Although further studies are needed, high frequency fNMES appeared promising as a noninvasive anti-aging therapy.