The Microcurrent Facial | How It Works & Why Some People Recommend It With Botox

But Microcurrent Has It's Critics - And There's Conflicting Information.

"It's been used for facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy) for about 70 years, and it's a common use for other areas of the body. If you pull your back or have a sore back or go to the physical therapist, they will hook you up to an electric (stimulation) machine sometimes. Same concept," says Dr. Daniel Knott, associate professor and director of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. "I'm not aware of electro-stim doing anything to the skin, the dermis, the fat. I would only think it would help the muscles," he said. "I would be skeptical of it doing anything except improving muscle tone." So, for cosmetic purposes, "theoretically, yes, I see a rationale for it if you want to increase your muscle tone in your face. You could do that. I just think you'd have to do it a lot." says Dr. Knott. "It might feel very nice to do it, as well. It gives this prickly electric feel to the skin." However, he adds, "there is no data demonstrating its effectiveness" as a cosmetic procedure.

Recent studies have shown that microcurrent may not be effective for Bell's Palsy either. A 2015 review paper published in the Journal of Novel Physiotherapies found, "there is insufficient evidence" to support the procedure as an effective method to treat Bell's palsy.

And Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology at George Washington University Medical Center, isn't convinced either.

“There is no scientific evidence yet that these treatments are helpful. It remains to be seen. We need to see the actual clinical studies rather than one or two facialists saying, ‘It works.’ That’s not very scientific or reliable.”

There's a 2003 study by Dr. Emil Y. Chi, Ph.D. that's widely cited as evidence of microcurrent's effectiveness. BUT after LOTS of looking, I wasn't able to find this study - I only found the results. Below are the results of the study as cited on Dermascope.com by Dr. Erin Madigan-Fleck, a nationally certified natural health professional. She holds a doctorate in naturopathic medicine:

"studies by Dr. Emil Y. Chi, Ph.D. at the University of Washington’s department of pathology revealed that skin tissue treated with microcurrent showed a 45 percent increase in the number of elastin fibers in the dermis and, on average, the length of the fibers doubled. Collagen thickness in the connective tissues increased 10 percent, protein synthesis by 70 percent, and there was an increase in cellular transport by 40 percent. Dr. Chi’s 2003 study further noted a 35 percent increase in peripheral blood circulation and lymphatic drainage."

After Even More Looking, I Only Found 1 Clinical Study of Microcurrent:

The study was a randomized clinical trial of microcurrent's effect on facial wrinkles. It was published in Life Science Journal in 2012. The study followed 30 women who were less than 45 years old with wrinkles but no other skin problems. Each woman's face was treated with microcurrent for 30 consecutive sessions. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Pictures were taken before treatment, after all 30 treatments, and then 1 month after all 30 treatments. Then 3 independent blinded reviewers - and the women in the study - rated the wrinkles in the pictures.

• The wrinkle improvement remained stable (stayed the same) in the time between the last treatment and 1 month later.
• Forehead wrinkles had improved 21.8% in the pictures after 30 treatments and 1 month later.
• The nose and mouth areas got the least improvement - 5.85% improvement after 30 treatments and 1 month later.
• Treatment satisfaction among the women who participated in the study was over 70%.