Does microcurrent therapy really work?

If you’re like most of us (including all of the staff here at Dr. Pen Australia!) then you’ll jump at any chance to have fresher, younger looking skin.

That’s why today, we’re so excited to talk about microcurrent therapy - one of the hottest trends in anti-ageing and preventative ageing that boasts zero downtime, zero side effects, zero pain, and some seriously dramatic results.

Sounds good, right?

Microcurrent therapy might sound scary but don’t let the name fool you because through a low-voltage electrical current, the muscles of your face can be toned, sculpted and contoured into giving you a youthful, refreshed and awake appearance.

And best of all, it can be performed safely every day in the comfort of your own home with our new Microcurrent Therapy Devices.

What is microcurrent therapy?

Microcurrent therapy, a.k.a. ‘The 5 minute face lift’ is one of the most increasingly popular anti ageing treatments, and for very good reason! 

Firming, contouring and toning the muscles of the face, microcurrent therapy results in an overall lifted, more sculpted appearance of the face, helping to create a revitalised, youthful glow.

Yes please!

And as an added bonus to the anti-ageing effects, microcurrent therapy stimulates the muscles below the deep dermis, so the treatment has a soothing, almost massage-like sensation. 

Microcurrent therapy works to tighten, firm and brighten the skin to reverse the visible signs of ageing by stimulating the facial muscles with a small electrical current. The current is low enough that it won’t ‘shock’ you, yet still powerful enough to stimulate the muscles of your face.

When the muscles are stimulated, the production of collagen and elastin is stimulated, which gives the skin an overall more youthful appearance. The extra production of collagen and elastin also heals fine lines, wrinkles, scars and pigmentation.

After microcurrent therapy, you can also expect the skin to feel more plump and healthy, as the electrical current stimulates an increased blood flow to the skin. 

The stimulation from the electrical current also promotes cell growth. This means an increase in the speed of skin cell turnover, so you can experience fresh, new skin more frequently and appear more rejuvenated overall.

In short, microcurrent therapy is basically a gym for your face. Sounds good to us!

What are the benefits of Microcurrent?

If you’re after a treatment that’s painless, has no downtime, dramatic results, is non-invasive and shows immediate results, then look no further!

When the facial muscles are targeted with low voltage electrical current, muscle toning and cell growth (specifically adenosine triphosphate ATP) are promoted. This helps keep the muscles of the face looking sculpted and contoured and promotes fresher, younger looking skin that glows from within.

Microcurrent therapy is very safe - it has been around since the 1970s, when it first became widely used by physiotherapists for pain relief and healing of facial paralysis (such as that experienced by those with Bell’s Palsy). Now, decades later, the anti-ageing world has cottoned onto the amazing results of microcurrent therapy and it’s one of the hottest trends in skin rejuvenation.

Microcurrent therapy is available in clinic and now, you can also safely perform microcurrent therapy from the comfort of home with our Microcurrent Therapy devices.

After a microcurrent therapy treatment, here are just some of the benefits that you can expect to experience:

• Improved Muscle Tone
• Reduced Appearance of Fine Lines & Wrinkles
• Improved Circulation
• Skin Pigmentation Improvement
• Increase in Product Penetration
• Improved Elasticity
• Rosacea Treatment
• Acne Treatment
• Reducing signs of Scarring and Sun Damage
• Increase in natural Elastin and Collagen Production

Pain-free and no downtime

Perhaps one of the biggest drawcards of microcurrent therapy is that it is completely pain-free and discomfort free! No numbing cream required and zero downtime - a bonus for anyone who wants to perform a cheeky treatment on their lunch break, before work or before an event.

The sensation of microcurrent therapy can be described as almost soothing, massage-like and occasionally tingly, when the microcurrent passes over a nerve attached to a muscle. The sensation is often described as enjoyable as it lets you know that the treatment is working, without you feeling any discomfort.

Low cost at-home microcurrent therapy devices

Previously, microcurrent therapy was available exclusively in-salon but as technology has evolved and more of us seek easy, at-home solutions, microcurrent therapy has become more accessible.

There are now a range of devices on the market that offer microcurrent therapy in the comfort and convenience of your own home, without the ongoing costs associated with frequent clinic visits.

Does microcurrent really work?

Yes! Absolutely. It’s also important to keep in mind that the more consistently you use microcurrent therapy, the more you’ll see the benefits.

The results of microcurrent therapy can be seen immediately, however the real power is in their cumulative effects - the more consistently you use microcurrent therapy, the more you’ll see results build on themselves and new, faster cycles of cell renewal occurring naturally. 

Not only can you have the joy of instant gratification with immediate results, you’ll also be delighted to see consistent and continual improvement in your skin, long term. 

After a microcurrent therapy, you might be surprised when you look in the mirror - many people describe the effects as though their face has just had a cup of espresso, looking more rested and alive. You’ll likely also notice some lifting of the high points of your face, such as the cheekbones and above the brow bone, resulting in a ‘face lift’ effect. 

Is microcurrent a replacement for Botox and fillers?

The effect of microcurrent therapy isn’t exactly the same as cosmetic injectables in that it doesn’t ‘erase’ fine lines, however it does tone the muscle and trains the muscle to stay higher, resulting in a less ‘slack’ face and thus, a face that appears less wrinkled and does not crease as easily.

For this reason, many people turn to microcurrent therapy to ‘wean’ themselves off frequent cosmetic injectable treatments, which can be painful and expensive. 

How often should you do microcurrent?

Microcurrent therapy can be performed at home as little as once a week on younger clients or up to 2-3 times per week on older clients, and is safe to be used daily if you desire. 

The more often you treat yourself to microcurrent therapy, the more the microcurrent will help you build collagen and elastin for a refreshed, youthful glow. Since there’s no downtime, no unpleasant side effects and no pain, it’s one of the few anti-ageing treatments that you can use as often as you like without adverse effects. 

Is it safe to do microcurrent therapy in between microneedling treatments?

Yes, absolutely! In fact, microneedling is very effective when performed in conjunction with microcurrent facial therapy to help with removing fine lines and wrinkles.

Microneedling can safely be performed every 4-6 weeks and microcurrent therapy can be performed between microneedling sessions.

We recommend waiting 1 week either side of a microneedling treatment before using microcurrent therapy to minimise the chance of irritation to the skin.

What are the contraindications for microcurrent?

Microcurrent therapy is generally minimally invasive and safe for all skin types, however some individuals should take precautions. Microcurrent therapy may not be suitable for those with metal implants (incl. dental implants), pace makers, or individuals with open sores (incl. active acne).

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may also want to avoid using microcurrent therapy, and should check with their healthcare provider before commencing any new treatment.

Individuals who’ve recently had cosmetic fillers or wrinkle relaxers may also not be suitable candidates for microcurrent therapy.

For instance, if you’ve recently had Botox to the upper face, the muscles of the face would not be impacted by the microcurrent therapy as they are ‘frozen’ by the neurotoxin and thus, the microcurrent’s effects would not be noticed. 

Have any questions on microcurrent therapy?

If you'd like a helpful hand in the right direction of how to get the most out of your beauty and skincare routine, our friendly team of customer support experts and our in-house Beauty Advisor are always here to help - just give us a call.