Sixteen women, ages 40 to 65 (mean age 53.7), with photodamage and mild to moderate facial atrophy attended two live training sessions on muscle-resistant facial exercises. For the next 20 weeks they performed the exercises at home: 30 minutes daily for 8 weeks; and every other day for 30 minutes in weeks 9 through 20. Blinded physician evaluators viewed standard photographs and rated the end results using the Merz-Carruthers Facial Aging Photoscales (MCFAP). Subjects also rated their satisfaction with the exercises at the end of the study period.
The evaluators noted improvement in both upper and lower cheek fullness (based on the MCFAP scales), and estimated age decreased significantly (from 50.8 years at baseline to 49.6 years at 8 weeks and 48.1 years at 20 weeks). Subjects were more satisfied with their appearance at 20 weeks vs. baseline.
Results of the study were published in JAMA Dermatology (online January 3, 2018)
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