The Microcurrent Facelift: Does it Work?

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Everyone would like to look as youthful and vibrant as possible as they age, yet most people do not relish the thought of a surgical facelift. These simple facts have given rise to an entire industry that seeks to assist us in looking our best while avoiding plastic surgery.

Many non-invasive products and treatments do have a legitimate role to play in rejuvenation. Botox smoothes dynamic wrinkles. Fillers support them from underneath. Prescription strength creams and lotions can even out pigmentation and promote more rapid cell turnover. Lasers, fractional technology, chemical peels, microdermabrasion — when used in the right circumstances, all these can bring about a fresher looking face.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all choices on the market today. One option that’s out there in many different guises is the so-called microcurrent facelift. In whichever format you encounter it — as a device for purchase or a procedure in a doctor’s office — it’s likely to be more effective at diminishing your bank account than in decreasing signs of aging.

The theory is that application of a gentle electrical current is beneficial in many ways. You may be told that you’ll experience improved blood circulation, cell growth, collagen production, skin tightening, blemish healing and more. Most important, a microcurrent facelift is said to elevate droopy tissues by stimulating the facial muscles to improve muscle tone.

Even though you may see convincing statements including phrases like “proven technology” and “clinical studies show,” there’s no independent research demonstrating that an electrical current is helpful in lifting facial tissues.

Think about it for a moment. When your face starts to droop with age, it’s because the entire system of facial tissues heads south due to gravity, loss of collagen and elastin, decreasing skin tone—all those factors combined. Electrical stimulation may give some benefit to surface tissues, and perhaps even tone muscles to some extent, but as far as creating a lifting effect? Not so much. Do all the facial exercises you want and work those muscles; treat your skin with a variety of procedures and products to improve tone and texture. The droop will persist.

That’s why the vast majority of plastic surgeons across the country do not offer microcurrent facelifts. For most, it's not because they want to push you into surgery if you're not enthusiastic. Though that might be their wish for many patients, most do offer non-invasive facial treatments these days. Plastic surgeons don’t do microcurrent facelifts because they don’t have much impact.

This is not to say that electrical stimulation has no merit at all in medical applications. Some doctors use microcurrent technology to promote wound healing. And electrical stimulation has long been used in physical therapy to jumpstart atrophied muscles. But applied to facial skin, an electrical current may have a modest effect on surface tissues—that’s about it.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.