Facial toning, or facial exercise, is a type of cosmetic procedure or physical therapy tool which alters facial contours by means of increasing muscle tone and facial volume by promoting muscular

hypertrophy Hypertrophy is the increase in the volume of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its component cells. It is distinguished from hyperplasia, in which the cells remain approximately the same size but increase in number.Updated by Linda J. ...

, and preventing muscle loss due to aging or facial paralysis. Facial toning and exercise is therefore in part a technique to achieve facial rejuvenation by reducing

wrinkle A wrinkle, also known as a rhytid, is a fold, ridge or crease in an otherwise smooth surface, such as on skin or fabric. Skin wrinkles typically appear as a result of ageing processes such as glycation, habitual sleeping positions, loss of ...

s, sagging, and expression marks on the

face The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may aff ...

and

skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different de ...

. As a physical therapy, facial toning is used for victims of stroke and forms of facial paralysis such as Bell’s palsy. Facial toning achieves this by performing facial muscle

exercising Exercise is a body activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone athleti ...

. There are two types of facial toning exercises: active and passive face exercises.

Exercises

Face exercises involves repeated voluntary contractions of certain facial muscle groups. The effectiveness of these facial toning techniques in improving appearance has been scientifically proven, with recent studies showing benefits for middle-aged women to reduce the appearance of aging. Due to the rising rate of sedentary lifestyles and stressors related to inflammation and aging in many parts of the world, facial toning exercises focus on stimulating the muscles, skin, and lymphatic systems, with the belief that strengthening specific muscle groups can help tighten and plump the outer layer of skin. Most facial toning exercises encompass long-term lifestyle strategies that promote ongoing skincare and exercise.

Passive exercises

Passive exercising by direct skeletal muscle

electrostimulation Electro-stimulation is stimulation using electricity. It can be used in the context of: * Animal husbandry as part of the artificial insemination process * Bioelectromagnetics ** Cranial electrotherapy stimulation ** Transcranial magnetic stimul ...

. In this, flat metal

electrode An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e.g. a semiconductor, an electrolyte, a vacuum or air). Electrodes are essential parts of batteries that can consist of a variety of materials d ...

s with a conductive gel are affixed to certain points in the face and electrostimulation causes facial muscle contractions.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Facial Toning Cosmetics Physical exercise Toning