The Influence of Facial Muscle Training on the Facial Soft Tissue Profile: A Brief Review

Takashi Abe,Jeremy P Loenneke

doi:10.3390/cosmetics6030050

Abstract

In this review, we summarize recent literature investigating facial-exercise-induced changes in facial soft tissue. A literature search was performed in PubMed for the terms facial exercise, rejuvenation, muscle, skin, and aging. Four studies were identified from the search and were subject to further assessment. Four studies were included in our analysis. Two of the four studies included compared the experimental (training) group to a control group. The other two studies had no control group. The participants were mainly middle-aged women. Training conditions varied; neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) was used in two studies, the other two studies used an oscillatory movement device and voluntary facial isometric exercise. Two studies measured facial muscle size using ultrasonography before and after 12 weeks of NMES or 8 weeks of oscillatory movement of the face. One study assessed the changes in facial skin elasticity in a single group following 8 weeks of facial isometric exercise, while one study measured strength of labial and lingual muscles before and following 4 weeks of NMES. We found two studies that reported facial-exercise-induced increases in facial muscle size in middle-aged women. It was also reported that facial skin function may improve following facial isometric exercise. Future research is needed to clarify how these changes link with facial rejuvenation. Compared to extremity muscles, the facial muscles are small in size, their shapes are complex, and the boundaries with other tissues may be unclear. Future study is also necessary to examine the reliability of measurements of the facial muscles.

Highlights

The cross-sectional literature suggests that by the age of 80, approximately 20% of an individual’s total muscle mass has been lost [1]. This is characterized by a degenerative loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical function known as sarcopenia
Our findings suggest that a relatively short-term (8–12 weeks) intervention which consists of performing facial muscle contractions by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) [15] or an oscillatory movement device [18] may produce increases in facial muscle size in middle-aged women (Table 2)
It is unknown whether the exercise-induced increase in facial muscle size relates to muscle hypertrophy or if it reflects a change in the resting length

Summary

Introduction

The cross-sectional literature suggests that by the age of 80, approximately 20% of an individual’s total muscle mass has been lost [1]. The loss of muscle may be site specific, with the cross-sectional literature noting greater differences in the anterior thigh and abdominal regions than in the posterior sites (i.e., posterior thigh and back) in older men and women compared to a young counterpart [2,3]. This phenomenon is presumed to occur in the muscles of the face as well (i.e., some decreasing more than others). There appears to be a shift in the proportion of type III collagen relative to type I collagen in older adults.

Results

Discussion

Conclusion