THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- The fountain of youth can't be found in a "facial stimulator," a new study concludes.
These over-the-counter devices, which claim to produce results similar to a face-lift, do little or nothing to improve aging skin, according to researchers reporting in the January-February issue of the journal Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.
A team from the University of Washington Medical Center's Cosmetic Surgery Center examined two of these devices, which claim to provide electrical stimulation to facial muscles that results in improved facial tone and reduced signs of aging. Study participants used the devices for four months and were then assessed by facial plastic surgeons.
"We were unable to detect any improvement in signs of facial aging from the use of these devices," said researcher Dr. Sam Most, an assistant professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. The participants themselves rated the devices as minimally effective at best and reported mild discomfort with both models.
In the United States, there are more than 50 types of facial stimulators being sold over-the-counter and on the Internet, the researchers said
In a study published last year, the same researchers found that certain lip-enhancement products also failed to produce the results promised to consumers.
More information
The American Academy of Dermatology has more about aging skin.
