EmFace: A Non-Surgical Facelift Beyond Skin | Luminisce

EmFace: A Non-Surgical Facelift Beyond Skin

May 21, 2023

The newest face tightening procedure that treats both the skin and the muscle layers of the face.

Facelifts have come a long way in recent years. While a surgical facelift is still recommended for some cases (read: full facial sagging), non-surgical options have advanced so much, showing incredible results, little to no downtime, and a high level of safety, that most patients and dermatologists would prefer going the non-surgical route.

Some of the most popular and advanced facial lifting technologies include: Ultherapy, Thermage, and Sofwave.

Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound to create micro wounds in the SMAS layer, the skin’s deepest layer. This triggers the body’s healing response, alerting the body to begin the process of forming new collagen. This process tightens and lifts the skin, showing increasingly better results over the course of 4-6 months.

Thermage uses monopolar radiofrequency and heat, targeting the mid-layer of the skin. It causes dermal contraction that results in skin that better contours around the face, while the intentional and targeted heat damage kick-starts the body’s natural collagen production, effectively remodeling the face.

Sofwave Seiche uses SUPERB™ technology, relying on 7 barrel thermal zones to produce waves of Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beams. It is a highly targeted treatment, allowing the dermatologist to stimulate collagen at specific locations to remodel and lift the face. 

These three face lifting technologies are considered to be the best in class, but they also only target the skin. In previous episodes, Dr. Kaycee has mentioned how the muscles play an important part in lifting the face, highly influencing facial structure. As we get older, the facial muscles become weaker, and we develop muscular laxity, creating a facial structure that contributes to sagging. Facial structure is just as important as the layer of skin over it, which is why these treatments are usually done in conjunction with injectables like Botox and filler, which are primarily used to influence facial structure. 

When it comes to lifting, Botox usually immobilizes the “depressor” muscles, or the muscles that pull the facial structure down, giving more power to the lifting muscles of the face. Fillers usually add volume to areas that are starting to appear hollowed out, or need extra volume.

Enter: EmFace

EmFace is the newest technology in the facial lifting category. It utilizes RF or Radio Frequency technology to remodel & smooth skin by heating the dermis and increasing the levels of collagen and elastin fibers, similar to Ultherapy, Thermage, and Sofwave. But what really makes EmFace special is that it combines this treatment with HIFES, or High Intensity Focused Electrical Stimulation, to simultaneously restore muscle tone by selectively contracting muscles. This restores how the muscles support the facial structure—similar to how Botox lifts by weakening depressor muscles, HIFES lifts by strengthening the muscles that pull the face upwards. It also selectively increases density and muscular structure, adding volume in hollowed out areas just like fillers can.

This procedure produces a lift that was once only achievable with injectables—all without a single needle in sight. It also takes care of both the facial structure and the skin quality simultaneously, achieving that lift in a treatment that lasts for only 20 minutes. 

EmFace at Luminisce

Just like any other treatment, the skill of the dermatologist always affects the results. It is about the precision by which the procedure is done, but more importantly, it is about being able to determine how to best use EmFace, and what specific points should be targeted. At Luminisce, we take a bespoke approach to treatments, and we always consider our patient’s goals when we create our customized treatment plans. Knowing what our patient wants and carefully studying our patient’s conditions helps us know what the best course of treatment should be.

EmFace is what we would recommend to our patients who are suffering from facial muscle atrophy, hollows on the face caused by a loss of muscular volume—particularly under the eyes and on the temples, and reduced definition of facial contours such as on the cheeks and jawline. 

For a full face lift, we would also typically use EmFace to target the areas of the frontalis and the zygomaticus major and minor muscles. Increasing the bulk of the frontalis muscles located above the brow lifts the entire face from the corners of the brow, while bulking the zygomaticus major and minor muscles on the cheeks elevate the corners of the mouth. 

About 2-4 sessions spaced out a week after another may be recommended depending on how much bulk or lifting is needed, and results become increasingly visible over a period of 6-12 weeks. 

Get your own bespoke customized  treatment plan for your needs. 

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