Lana Mar is the owner and founder of the first Face Fitness Bar in Miami, the most unique concept of natural facelift that replaces fillers. Lana Mar is a skincare guru, educator, and certified celebrity esthetician. After a severe allergic reaction to Botox, which is not very common, she was inspired to create an effective alternative. As a former pro-athlete, Lana Mar believed in muscle memory and developed a Signature Hybrid massage with techniques from across the world in combination with cutting-edge technology and organic skin care to replace fillers and Botox. Since then, Face Fitness has become a movement with its shocking instant results, breaking the stereotype of plastics. Face Fitness was featured on Time Out Magazine, and featured on NBC6 for her celebrity-approved treatments, World Red Eye, and Voyage Miami. 

proved Photo Credit: Kate Demko

Did you know that cheekbones are literally an accessory nowadays? But how do you achieve that instant results without fillers, threads, or plastic surgery and keep it on a budget? You would be surprised to find out that the old good microcurrent can easily replace all mentioned above. Here the Founder of Face Fit Bar, Lana Mar reviews how this once banned device in salons and spas due to confusion in the 1990s went from making a big come back in 2010 to hit its peak in aesthetics in 2020.

Wondering how it works?

This painless, non-invasive treatment uses electricity to promote cell growth in the skin and contracts muscles just like a workout does. The repeated stimulation re-educates facial muscles and reduces skin sagging.

Microcurrent uses low-voltage electricity to stimulate muscle, ATP cell growth, and collagen development in the dermis on the face. ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate, which our cells create, by metabolizing the food we eat and the oxygen we breathe. After it’s stored in the liquid cytoplasm until we need it. This chemical is one of the building blocks for DNA. It rejuvenates aging skin cells and with less ATP we have a dull, tired, thin, and older-looking appearance.

Microcurrent can be very effective here, but we use up ATP very quickly. That’s why we would need a session of microcurrent facials to build our supply. I recommend a course of 10 to 15 sessions, weekly or bi-weekly, and then monthly sessions to maintain the results and ATP levels that are stored in our cells to be available for skin repair.

When should I start doing Microcurrent?

Out of the list of services, microcurrent can be a preventative and corrective skin treatment. At the age of 25, your collagen and elastin levels start dropping. So, when you notice that your muscles might be going south, it might be time to start investing in microcurrent. Do keep in mind that prevention is always better than cure.

What can you expect after 10 sessions?

• Increased production of ATP,
• Production of collagen, elastin, and amino acids,
• Improved circulation,
• Healthy cells balance,
• Brighter skin tone and texture,
• Decreased puffiness and inflammation,
• Reduced lines and wrinkles,
• Firmer skin,
• Define and lifted jawline, cheekbone, and eyelids,
• Improvement in your acne,
• And…should we keep on going?

 

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How Microcurrent Facial is performed?

Like any other treatment, it begins with cleaning the skin and gentle exfoliation to create a clean canvass to work on. I find face massages and Gua Sha Lymphatic Drainage to be extremely effective before microcurrent. Before using the device, a conductive serum or gell is applied as a base. After the microcurrent facial, you’ll be finished with hydrating or lifting masks, custom serums, moisturizers, and an SPF.

In my signature Ultimate Power Lift Facial I love to add Cryo Therapy for muscle recovery, just like we do post-workout in a gym.

I do suggest drinking 2 to 4 glasses of water before and after the session. This helps your cells create ATP and flush away the toxins removed during the treatment.

How long will the results last?

After seeing the dramatic difference between a before and after, the first question I get is how long does it last? Realistically most of the lift will be visible during the first week. In the second week, it will slowly start going down (Unless you maintain with at-home Microcurrent, Gua Sha, or Face Massages).

The best results from microcurrent facials are when you do them consistently. The power in its effect is cumulative, meaning the benefits add up and stick around with frequent treatments. Multiple sessions will deliver more visible results like a slimmer face with a more defined and sculpted bone structure, lifted eyebrows, and noticeably lifted cheekbones. It’s like a non-surgical face-lift.

What are the contradictions to microcurrent?

• Taking anticoagulant drugs like Warfarin and Heparin or any drugs in high dosages,
• Pregnancy,
• Wounds or sites of scar tissue,
• Pacemakers, 
• Implanted heart pumps such as defibrillators or stimulators or hearing aids,
• Metallic inserts in the face,
• Insulin-dependent diabetes,
• History of seizures or epilepsy,
• Active cancer,
• Severe acne with inflammation,
• Any acute infection with fever,
• Stroke or heart surgery in the last six months,
• Allergies to products,
• Immune deficiency disease,
• Thyroid or circulation problems,
• Hepatitis,
• and Chronic fatigue or other hypersensitivity disorders.

 

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Are fillers and Botox a contradiction?

If you have fillers or Botox, you should wait at least two weeks before having the therapy as it can affect the results. Recent researches say that microcurrent therapy can help to prolong the effects of Botox and filler, making them last longer, but you must wait out the initial two weeks. Botox and Microcurrent in combination might also have another benefit, as with Botox our muscles don’t move and sort of go to freeze mode, microcurrent helps generate more activity for the already controlled muscle.

Is it painful?

It doesn’t feel painful it feels funny. Your face begins to dance, everything starts to move and you can’t control it. Your lip twitches and your eyes blink on their own. Personally, I love how it feels, the movements on my face prove that something is working and the device is effective!

What if I have my at-home microcurrent, how is that different from professional use?

You can expect more dramatic results when you book an appointment for a professional facial because of the more intense power our devices provide. When I begin treatment, I tend to get instant feedback like “OMG! My Microcurrent doesn’t make my face move this way,” and it won’t, because it’s at least 14 times stronger! You can use an at-home microcurrent device in between professional appointments to maintain the best results.

What is the history of microcurrent?

In the early 1900s, microcurrent was used to treat wounds and bones fracture. In the 1960s the first commercial microcurrent machine was launched in Germany. In 1975, microcurrent is used for facial paralysis, stroke, and pain management. In the 1980s, microcurrent is introduced to the aesthetic industry. In the 1990s, microcurrent is banned to use in salons and spas due to confusion. In 2010, microcurrent went back to salons and spas. Fast forward to 2020, is the rise of microcurrent technology in aesthetics.