CRI听力: Electric Facelift Popular in LA

An 'electric' facelift is the latest way to try to stay young and beautiful in LA. It's said to be like a gym workout for the face, giving you a tighter, more youthful look for around two weeks.

Our reporter Li Dong has the details.

The Electric Facial uses galvanic micro-currents to help a water-soluble, vitamin-infused solution penetrate into the layers of the skin through a process called "iontophoresis."

The currents in the 70-minute treatment stimulate and strengthen muscle fibers to firm up sagging skin. Users say it especially helps tighten cheeks or jowls while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. After just one treatment users say they immediately feel a tightening and firming of sagging skin.

At Carina's Skin Care in the San Fernando Valley in Encino, California, clients have to book weeks in advance due to the demand.

How does it work? Owner Carina Tanijian says the current is the key.

"It's not an alternating current, it's a direct current. It goes from using positive to negative electrodes, and while it's doing that it will push and penetrate all the products that are water soluble, sitting on your face, into the dermis level. It not only does that, it also stimulates your skin tissues and stimulates the facial muscles, just like going to the gym, but for your face."

A cocktail of vitamins and minerals go into the treatment. Vitamin C fights free radicals, the main cause of aging, evens out skin tone and helps stimulate collagen production.

The facial also stimulates new cell growth, helps with dull skin, dryness, and helps improve a dull complexion.

Michelle Kojen is a client here. She says it's a really intense treatment that has transformed her appearance after suffering with cystic acne, a result of changing hormones.

"It's a very unique procedure and I think it's probably given me about ten years off my age. I always get carded everywhere I go now. People always compliment me on my skin. It's very interesting. She doesn't steam your pores open. She uses a dry heat so your face doesn't get dehydrated. Then the treatment involves yucca root, deep extractions and micro-dermabrasion. Then it follows off with a micro-current which brings all of the minerals that she packs onto your skin into the dermis."

Dermatologist Dr. Christine Ibrahim is an advocate of The Electric Facial.

"Micro-current works. It is a safe, simple and non-evasive technique that is used to lift and firm the muscles of the face. It utilizes electrodes, both positive and negative, to revive, wake up and stimulate the muscles. When you do that to your muscles you actually get a much more youthful appearance. Less wrinkles and a more plump looking face that looks very, very nice and natural afterwards."

It costs around 100 US dollars for The Electric Facial, a fraction of the cost of cosmetic surgery. Unlike surgery, Ibrahim says this treatment is not permanent.

"It helps with stimulating collagen, tightening the muscles, skin elasticity and increases lymphatic drainage. There are a lot of benefits to micro-current. The more you do it the better your outcome is going to be. It actually depends on the age of the patient too. You want to think about this. If a patient is older, they are going to require a few more treatments than a younger patient."

The tools of the trade may not look out of place in a 'Silence of the Lambs' movie, but that doesn't seem to bother the woman out for a high energy facial.

Initially eight to 12 sessions are recommended to help diminish lines, then once a month for maintenance.

For CRI, I am Li Dong.