Non-surgical Solutions for Drooping Eyes: The Principles of Combined Emface and Eye Thermage Treatment

Hello.

I am Choi Won-woo, a dermatologist with 23 years of experience.

Today, I’d like to talk about upper facial sagging, an issue many people worry about but have not been able to find a proper solution for.

As we age, the eyebrows begin to droop, the forehead loses strength, opening the eyes feels heavy, and the eyelids start to sag.

If you look in the mirror and keep thinking, “Why do I look so tired?”, this is a classic sign of upper facial aging.

In fact, for sagging in the lower face—such as the jawline or cheeks—proven treatments like Thermage or Ulthera have already produced many good results.

But the upper face is a little different.

For this complex issue, where the forehead sinks downward, the eyebrows droop, and the eyelids become covered, there has been no clear non-surgical solution in reality.

However, with the recent introduction of a new device called Emface into the aesthetic market, it has become possible to comprehensively improve upper facial sagging in combination with the existing Eye Thermage.

Today, I’ll explain this combined treatment in detail.

Table of Contents

1. Why is upper facial sagging so difficult to treat?

2. Emface strengthens the forehead muscles

3. Eye Thermage restores skin elasticity in sagging eyelids

4. The combination of the two devices: a new answer for upper face lifting

Source: medifine

Why is upper facial sagging so difficult to treat?

Sagging in the upper face is not simply a matter of one layer of skin becoming loose.

As the frontalis muscle in the forehead weakens, the strength that lifts the eyebrows upward decreases, and the eyebrows gradually droop downward.

When the eyebrows droop, the skin of the upper eyelids naturally slides down over the eyes, making them feel heavy and look smaller.

Many people unconsciously use their forehead muscles to try to open their eyes, and when this is repeated, it creates a vicious cycle in which forehead wrinkles become deeper.

Conventional radiofrequency- or ultrasound-based lifting devices mainly target the dermis or fat layer.

They are effective at improving the skin’s own elasticity, but they cannot fundamentally restore weakened muscle strength.

That is why, for upper facial sagging, there has been no clear alternative other than surgical methods such as a forehead lift.

Emface strengthens the forehead muscles

Emface is a device that uses high-intensity electrical stimulation to directly contract and strengthen facial muscles.

Whereas existing lifting devices target only the skin layer, Emface is fundamentally different in that it works down to the muscle layer beneath it.

When high-intensity electrical stimulation is repeatedly applied to the frontalis muscle in the forehead, the muscle contracts and relaxes repeatedly, just like strength training at the gym, and gradually becomes stronger.

The strengthened frontalis muscle regains its ability to lift the eyebrows upward, and as a result, drooping eyebrows rise and the heavy feeling in the forehead improves.

However, muscles that have already weakened over a long period of time cannot be made firm with just one treatment.

Emface requires repeated treatments at intervals of about 2 weeks, at least 4 to 5 sessions.

After that, it is said that the lifted eyebrows and the refreshed feeling of being able to open the eyes widely can be maintained for about 7 to 8 months, and in some cases up to a year.

Eye Thermage restores skin elasticity in sagging eyelids

Eye Thermage is a procedure that delivers radiofrequency energy to the skin of the upper eyelids using a tip designed for the eye area.

When radiofrequency thermal energy reaches the dermis, aged collagen contracts and creates an immediate tightening effect, and then over the following months, new collagen is produced, gradually improving skin elasticity.

In fact, among non-surgical treatments that can be applied to upper eyelid sagging, it is not an exaggeration to say that Eye Thermage is almost the only method available worldwide.

Because the skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive, it is difficult to approach with ordinary lifting devices,

but Eye Thermage uses a tip designed specifically for the eye area, allowing for safe and precise treatment.

The effect can last for 7 to 8 months after a single treatment, and in some cases up to a year. Another major advantage is that the procedure is short and there is almost no downtime.

The combination of the two devices: a new answer for upper face lifting

Emface and Eye Thermage each play clearly different roles.

Emface improves eyebrow drooping and the heavy feeling in the forehead by strengthening the forehead muscles that lift the eyebrows through electrical stimulation.

Eye Thermage restores the elasticity of the stretched and sagging upper eyelid skin using radiofrequency.

In other words, Emface rebuilds the muscle structure underneath, while Eye Thermage firms up the loose skin above it.

Combining these two treatments makes it possible to comprehensively improve upper facial sagging, which has been difficult to solve non-surgically, by addressing both the muscle and skin layers.

When planning treatment, please note that Eye Thermage maintains its effect for a relatively long period after a single session, whereas

Emface requires repeated treatments because weakened muscles need to be gradually strengthened.

That is because there is still no way to instantly make already weakened muscles firm again as they age.

However, if you receive Emface consistently, the strengthened muscles can continue to naturally support the eyebrows, helping you maintain a state in which your eyes feel open and comfortable.

At Wells Dermatology, we are offering this combined Emface and Eye Thermage treatment as a non-surgical lifting option for the upper face.

Without surgery, you may experience the change of being able to open your eyes more comfortably and feel a lighter forehead.

If you are concerned about upper facial sagging, we recommend consulting a specialist to create a treatment plan that is right for you.

Thank you for reading this long post.

This has been Choi Won-woo from Wells Dermatology.

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02 - 542 - 2372

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This post was written directly by Wells Dermatology Clinic, and complies with all laws regarding medical advertising other than Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act.

Please note that all surgeries and procedures may cause side effects depending on the individual, so please make sure to receive sufficient medical guidance from the medical staff and carefully decide whether to undergo the procedure.