Facial toning
Encyclopedia
Facial toning is a type of cosmetic
procedure which promises to alter facial contour and reduce wrinkle
s, sagging and expression marks in the face by means of increasing muscle tone
, increasing facial volume by promoting muscular hypertrophy, and preventing muscle loss due to aging. It is therefore part of the techniques for achieving facial rejuvenation
. Facial toning can also help aid one's appearance due to weight gain of the face that results in facial distortion.
Facial toning achieves this by performing facial muscle exercising
. There are two types of facial toning exercises:
Although theoretically possible, effectiveness of facial toning techniques are difficult to evaluate and prove scientifically. As these muscles are not prime movers, like any internal muscle additional resistance cannot be added, so the muscles will not grow or gain much strength. It is solely an endurance and active flexibility exercise. They may be dangerous, even, in the case of particularly strong electrical stimulation near the eye
s. Chronic pain
, delayed onset muscle soreness
, neuritis and facial distortions and asymmetry may ensue. Another alternative to facial toning by electrostimulation is Ultherapy, using ultrasound waves to stimulate the body's own regenerative process, produce collagen and tighten the skin.
Beauty
Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology, and culture...
procedure which promises to alter facial contour and reduce wrinkle
Wrinkle
A wrinkle is a fold, ridge or crease in the skin. Skin wrinkles typically appear as a result of aging processes such as glycation or, temporarily, as the result of prolonged immersion in water. Wrinkling in the skin is caused by habitual facial expressions, aging, sun damage, smoking, poor...
s, sagging and expression marks in the face by means of increasing muscle tone
Muscle tone
In physiology, medicine, and anatomy, muscle tone is the continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles, or the muscle’s resistance to passive stretch during resting state. It helps maintain posture, and it declines during REM sleep.-Purpose:Unconscious nerve impulses maintain the...
, increasing facial volume by promoting muscular hypertrophy, and preventing muscle loss due to aging. It is therefore part of the techniques for achieving facial rejuvenation
Facial rejuvenation
Facial rejuvenation is any cosmetic or medical procedure used to increase or restore the appearance of a younger age to human face. The specific term, however, refers to a set of surgical procedures which try to restore facial geometry and skin appearance which are typical of youth, by using a...
. Facial toning can also help aid one's appearance due to weight gain of the face that results in facial distortion.
Facial toning achieves this by performing facial muscle exercising
Physical exercise
Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...
. There are two types of facial toning exercises:
- Active exercising. In this, the user performs a repetition of voluntary contractions of certain facial muscle groups, using a mirror.
- Passive exercising by direct skeletal muscle electrostimulation. In this, flat metal electrodeElectrodeAn electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit...
s smeared with a conductive gel are affixed to certain points in the face and an elecrostimulation divide is used to generate waveforms which promote facial muscle contractions.
Although theoretically possible, effectiveness of facial toning techniques are difficult to evaluate and prove scientifically. As these muscles are not prime movers, like any internal muscle additional resistance cannot be added, so the muscles will not grow or gain much strength. It is solely an endurance and active flexibility exercise. They may be dangerous, even, in the case of particularly strong electrical stimulation near the eye
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
s. Chronic pain
Chronic pain
Chronic pain has several different meanings in medicine. Traditionally, the distinction between acute and chronic pain has relied upon an arbitrary interval of time from onset; the two most commonly used markers being 3 months and 6 months since the initiation of pain, though some theorists and...
, delayed onset muscle soreness
Delayed onset muscle soreness
Delayed onset muscle soreness , also called muscle fever, is the pain and stiffness felt in muscles several hours to days after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise. The soreness is felt most strongly 24 to 72 hours after the exercise. It is caused by eccentric exercise...
, neuritis and facial distortions and asymmetry may ensue. Another alternative to facial toning by electrostimulation is Ultherapy, using ultrasound waves to stimulate the body's own regenerative process, produce collagen and tighten the skin.