MICRO CURRENT FACIAL TREATMENT OR BODY TREATMENT
Micro-current therapy for the face, like Botox®, and lasers, is yet another example of a procedure which began as a medical treatment, but which has now been adapted for use in the cosmetic market place. Originally developed in the U.S. in the late 1980s, micro-current therapy was used to treat facial weakness in victims of Bell's Palsy and strokes. Patients with muscles on the side of their faces, which had been paralysed and caused their faces to look “lop-sided”, were treated with a micro-current. This treatment seemed to “lift” their faces and their faces looked closer to their former selves again.
Micro-current systems are also used to treat muscular injuries (especially in athletes) and by physiotherapists for pain relief.

This treatment has been available in the U.K. for cosmetic purposes since the early 1990s with the introduction of the CACI (Computer Aided Cosmetology Instrument) which became known as the original “non-surgical face-lift”. Treatment claims include the reduction of wrinkles, an improvement in the overall shape of the face, a better complexion and improvements in the appearance of stretch marks and scar tissue.

Micro-current therapy can also be used to treat other areas of the body. It can lift muscles and loose skin and different types of this therapy. If you are considering micro-current treatment, the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the practitioner.

Please ask a practitioner about anything you don't understand.

What happens during the treatment and how long will it take to recover?
Careful discussions regarding your reasons for wanting micro-current treatment for the face of the body are vital before any treatment begins. You should also make sure that your practitioner knows what you expect from this therapy for your face and/or body and is sure that he or she can achieve this for you. You need to talk about the type of equipment they are planning to use and evidence of good results for that particular machine are very important at this stage.

A medical history should also be taken to make sure that there are no reasons why you shouldn’t undertake treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form, which means that you have understood the potential benefits and risks associated with the procedure.

Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner for a “before and after” comparison at a later date.

Procedure
This will differ depending on the type of machine used, but the following procedure is usual:pads may be applied to the face, or other area of the body to be treated; two special probes are then stroked over the surface of the skin in a precise way to stimulate the different muscles requiring treatment; 2 – 3 treatment sessions are usually recommended for the first few weeks, going down to 1 a week as the results become evident. Treatment sessions last for approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Repeat treatments
You should usually see changes within 4 or 5 sessions, but between 10 and 15 is the average number of suggested treatments. Monthly maintenance sessions are then suggested to maintain the results after the first round of therapy.

Recovery time
None is required and you can return to work or normal activities immediately after a treatment.

Does it hurt and what are the potential complications?
There is usually no pain associated with this type of treatment, and it appears to be completely safe with no known side effects or risks. Most patients report a feeling of relaxation and an increase in energy following treatment. Since the lymph system is stimulated by the micro-current, it is important for the success of your treatment that you drink at least two litres of water every day in order to help your body flush out the toxins or poisons which are disturbed by this treatment.

Who should not undergo this procedure?
As long as you are generally healthy and don’t have any skin diseases or infections in the area treated, there are few medical reasons why patients should not undergo this treatment. However, patients may be unsuitable for treatment if they have a pacemaker, a history of heart problems, epilepsy or problems with thrombosis.
Although there is no evidence that this treatment is harmful for pregnant women, you would generally be advised to wait until after you have given birth before embarking upon a course of treatment.

What sort of practitioner can operate a micro current machine?
Most machines are found in beauty salons and spas and can be used by trained beauticians and aestheticians.

Microcurrent-explained