SonyaWhen it comes to beauty and skincare, our team ensures that whatever we explore must make sense for us and our demographic. Our belief has always been “you do you” but we always encourage everyone to do the research. We’ve teamed up with the most trusted resources and industry leaders in the city. The latest to enter into the Canadian face treatment arena is the highly anticipated EMFACE.
EMFACE
Dr. Trevor Born is a well-known and one of the most highly reputable cosmetic surgeons in North America with practices in Toronto (Yorkville) and New York (Upper East Side Manhattan). As one of the leading practitioners in the industry, he is known for being thorough and meticulous. I personally have friends who have turned to his practice for many reasons. On a cosmetic treatment level, my friends look incredible – fresh faced, healthy and beautiful. Nothing is ever over done or shocking and they’ve had no regrets. That’s what I like to hear.
When I learned that Dr. Born was bringing EMFACE by BTL Aesthetics (same innovators behind the successful EMSCULPT) treatment to his practice, it caught my attention. He is the first in Canada to bring this non-invasive facial technology here and lucky me, it’s here in Toronto!
Introduced in the U.S. last year, EMFACE has already garnered much attention from everyday people as well as celebrities including Alicia Silverstone, Jessica Simpson, Brooke Burke, Rebel Wilson, and Julianne Hough. (Yes, I’ve been checking the EMFACE Instagram page to see).
Photo take at the second session of EMFACE at TMB Cosmetic Surgery in Yorkville, Toronto
This needle-free treatment targets the skin, muscle and connective tissue on the face.
Its very impressive claims include a tighter, sculpted and more lifted face, a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles, and works to increase the production of collagen and elastin. It also claims helps to restore, tone and improve the muscle structure. When I learned that this could help with concerning sagging jowls (a common occurrence for both women and women as we age) I was definitely curious as I’ve been noticing this in my mirror.
What’s the technology behind this?
EMFACE utilizes two unique technologies: RF (synchronized radio frequency) heats the tissues to stimulate collagen and elastin fibres and HIFES (high intensity focused electromagnetic energy) emits thousands of pulses per session to contract the delicate facial muscles.
In U.S. clinical studies, reports have revealed…
- 37% less wrinkles
- 23% more life
- 200 % increase in Elastin
- 26% increase in collagen
What to expect?
Brittany, a Registered Nurse on the TMB team, sat down with me for a consultation and went through a series of questions to ensure that could proceed with the treatment. A standard and thorough list of questions that is common when meeting with new clients to help them understand any past procedures, current medication, and any health concerns. It’s always good to be transparent. She also checked my skin to ensure there were no open wounds (like acne) where the EMFACE pads would be placed on my cheeks and forehead. “There needs to be direct contact with the skin,” she mentioned. Important for this treatment.
When a client comes in with acne, they would be advised to take care of that before proceeding with this particular treatment. She also advised that no active ingredients like Retinol, or any other active ingredient, found often in serums be used on the face a few days before and after a session. Makes sense, as Retinol is known to make the skin very sensitive. I had a bit of filler injection in my cheeks last fall and asked if that was okay. Brittany confirmed that it was not a concern.
I was assessed and recommended to have four sessions that required me to visit their office 4 times — one week apart in between visits. They also mentioned there would a follow-up appointment one month after the final session.
The Treatment
EMFACE pads were gently adhered to the designated treatment areas and a grounding pad was placed on the back. Lying down comfortably for the duration of the treatment was the break I needed. Each session lasts for 20 minutes. A timer turned the equipment off automatically once the session was completed.
It’s a little strange at first
On my first visit, Brittany eased me in through the sensations. She walked me through and explained what was happening was appreciated. It began with a warm feeling at the treatment areas. Then it felt like like a tingling facial massage as the machine did all the work. Gradually she increased the intensity of the contractions to levels that I was comfortable with. I had nothing to gauge this on as it’s such a new technology and had never experienced anything like this before. I can tell you that I’ve tried treatments like glycolic peels, Pico-Sure, and micro-needling. And they were not fun. EMFACE is like a walk in the park in comparison. It is far the most comfortable of all professional treatments I’ve tried.
It felt like a mini workout on the face with a thousand little scrunches/massage happening all at once. The 20 minutes flew by. When it came to my second visit, it didn’t feel so strange and I was able to go from 0 to 100 pretty quickly. Brittany explained that our muscles remember the sensation pretty quickly so it wasn’t a surprise but she was there to ensure that I was comfortable.
After each session, my skin felt tighter immediately. “Am I dreaming? Is this for real?” I asked her. It’s a similar to the feeling of having Botox when it’s settled (yes, I’ve done that in the past). I am certain that jowls are already improving after my second visit but I know Dr. Born’s office is keeping notes and taking photos to see how I progress. Could it be possible? Physically I cannot tell but Hubby has noticed and so did a friend I had dinner with whom I haven’t seen for a while. She said “I’ve known you for a long time and I’ve never see your skin this good.” I wasn’t wearing any make up either besides my usual eyeliner and lipstick.
Although some people may look and feel that their skin improving quickly, optimal results from this treatment are usually visible around 6 to 12 weeks after the final session. The visible results also last for about a year and sometimes even more depending on the person.
No filter, no alterations, no apps, just me all bare faced.
Dr. Born and his staff assured that this treatment can be used in conjunction with other treatments for targeted concerns.
Consultation is needed to determine what are the best personalized options. That’s what I like about this office and they’re known for enhancing the best in each individual with the latest technology backed by scientific research and clinical studies. If something isn’t right for you they’ll let you know and offer better solutions for your concerns and needs.
EMFACE is a wonderful treatment for those who are not ready or willing to get a more invasive procedure. I also trust this office whole-heartedly to recommend what is right for my needs. While this treatment doesn’t take away from other results driven procedures like a face lift, it can safely be done in conjunction with other services to achieve what each client wants.
Dr. Born also mentioned that his practice is more than just aesthetics. He often deals with people who, for example, are recovering from injuries. He, himself, is an avid kite surfer and knows how certain machines can help in the body’s repairing process.
Someone raised a question on social media when I posted my first visit. I was asked about how skin with conditions, like Melasma, would respond to this treatment since it involves heat. They mentioned that the technology doesn’t recognize colour so it’s fine to use for those who have pigmentation issues or concerns. Again, it’s always best to discuss with their staff when doing any sort of treatment.
Curious?
If you’re curious about the EMFACE technology and would like a consult, visit TMBCosmeticSurgery.com
Stay tuned as I will take a deeper dive into the technology in an interview with Dr. Trevor Born in my next article. I’ll also follow up with a results post.
I’m also posting updates each week when I’m in the sessions. If you have any questions feel free to ask me @theculturepearl on Instagram or below this post.