Effect of a Facial Muscle Exercise Device on Facial Rejuvenation

Facial Contouring Through Jaw Exercises: A Report of Two Cases Examining Efficacy and Consumer Expectations

This study examines the efficacy of jaw exercising products for facial contouring. The two individuals used a commercially available jaw exerciser for approximately three months, following the provided instructions. Neither case reported noticeable changes in jaw appearance based on subjective measurements. In this study, a review of scientific literature found limited evidence supporting these devices' ability to reduce double chins, enhance jawlines, or tighten facial skin. The mastication muscles targeted by these exercises do not directly affect submental fat or skin elasticity. While some studies show potential benefits for facial rejuvenation with specific devices, the overall evidence for jaw exercisers remains inconclusive. The results from the cases highlight concerns about potentially misleading marketing claims and emphasize the need for larger, more objective studies to definitively assess these products' effectiveness. Limitations include the small sample size and the potential for bias. The findings suggest that jaw exercising products may have limited efficacy in achieving advertised results for facial contouring.

Myofunctional Speech Therapy for Facial Rejuvenation and Orofacial Function Improvement: A Systematic Review

This review aims to reveal the effectiveness of myofunctional speech therapy on facial rejuvenation and/or improvement of orofacial function. A systematic review of four medical electronic databases (Medline, Google Scholar, SciELO, and LILACS) was conducted between January and March 2023. The research question was defined using the PICO model: Population (P): adult subjects with signs of physiological aging of facial skin. Intervention (I): aesthetic speech therapy (facial exercises and/or myofunctional therapy). Control (C): absence of treatment. Outcome (O): facial rejuvenation. Through the search process, a total of 472 potentially relevant articles were identified. A total of 21 studies were included in the review. Most of the studies required the participants to perform exercises learned during the weekly session on a daily basis. The subjects underwent an integrated treatment with facial exercises and worked on the stomatognathic functions for different durations. Many differences were found in the evaluation tools used to investigate the starting situation and the effects obtained following the treatment. At the diagnostic level, there was no concordance in the choice of the most appropriate scales and assessment tools, but great heterogeneity was observed. Indeed, forty-eight percent of the studies collected objective data through the use of various instruments (oral devices, electromyographs, cutometers, muscle ultrasound scans, and laser scans of the face). The observed improvements included not only a reduction in wrinkles and frown lines but also decreased muscle tension and slackness, enhanced facial symmetry and lip competence, improved skin elasticity, and restored stomatognathic function. These changes led to myofunctional restoration and facial rejuvenation, resulting in increased satisfaction with self-image and proprioception.

Predicting obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome using three-dimensional optical devices: A systematic review

Purpose

As a global health concern, the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), characterized by partial reductions and complete pauses in ventilation, has garnered significant scientific and public attention. With the advancement of digital technology, the utilization of three-dimensional (3D) optical devices demonstrates unparalleled potential in diagnosing OSAHS. This study aimed to review the current literature to assess the accuracy of 3D optical devices in identifying the prevalence and severity of OSAHS.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases for English studies published up to April 2024. Peer-reviewed researches assessing the diagnostic utility of 3D optical devices for OSAHS were included. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) guideline was employed to appraise the risk of bias.

Results

The search yielded 3216 results, with 10 articles meeting the inclusion criteria for this study. Selected studies utilized structured light scanners, stereophotogrammetry, and red, green, blue-depth (RGB-D) cameras. Stereophotogrammetry-based 3D optical devices exhibited promising potential in OSAHS prediction.

Conclusions

The utilization of 3D optical devices holds considerable promise for OSAHS diagnosis, offering potential improvements in accuracy, cost reduction, and time efficiency. However, further clinical data are essential to assist clinicians in the early detection of OSAHS using 3D optical devices.

Molecular Features of Hypertrophic Scars After Thermal Injury: Is There a Biologic Basis for Laser Therapy?

Significance: Hypertrophic scars (HTS) and keloids are common after thermal injuries and other trauma to deep regions of dermis of the skin. These abnormal scars can cause contractures and the thick masses of scar tissue that result in functional and cosmetic impairment. Management of these dermal fibrotic conditions includes a wide range of medical and surgical treatments, which can be time consuming, only partially effective, and often uncomfortable for patients. Recent Advances: The molecular pathophysiology of HTS has become more understood over the past two decades, where thermal injury to the reticular dermis results in an inflammatory response, fibrogenic growth factor release, and the formation of a dermal scar with increased collagen and proteoglycan composition in an abnormal morphology. Lasers are becoming a widely used form of treatment for these types of scars; however, the evidence for the beneficial effects of laser treatments and the understanding of their mechanism of action are still evolving. Critical Issues: Paradoxically, laser delivery of thermal energy to the skin is suggested to improve scar remodeling and wound healing, yet HTS is a well-recognized complication of excessive thermal energy delivered by laser treatments. This review aims to examine the current evidence for the use of lasers for HTS, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms where re-injury of a burn scar from laser treatment could result in overall improvements in scar quality. Future Directions: Improved design of clinical trials for the treatment of scarring in the future will evolve from new methodology and models of HTS in animals and humans.

Speech pathology in facial aesthetics: effects of two strategies for the suprahyoid muscles

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify the effects of tongue pressure exercises against the incisive papilla, used both alone and in combination with functional swallowing training, on the electrical activity of the suprahyoid muscles and the self-perception of aesthetic changes in the submandibular region. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, and Wilcoxon tests were used. The significance level was set at 5%. Methods: an experimental, analytical, prospective study on 27 women, aged 30 to 78 years, divided into two treatment groups (G1 and G2), and a control group (CG). Individuals were submitted to 8 weeks of training, in which G1 performed only tongue pressure exercises against the incisive papilla, and G2 performed the same exercises in combination with swallowing training, while CG was not submitted to any intervention. The suprahyoid muscle electrical activity was obtained with surface electromyography at the beginning and end of the study when subjects also answered a self-perception questionnaire on possible aesthetic results. Pearson’s chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, and Wilcoxon tests were used. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: statistically significant differences were found between the initial and final electrical activity in both G1 and G2, which was not found in CG. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding their self-perception of visual or muscle improvements. Conclusion: both strategies analyzed were equally effective to increase suprahyoid muscle recruitment, though with no impact on the self-perception of aesthetic changes in the submandibular region.

Fonoaudiologia em estética da face: efeito de duas estratégias para musculatura supra-hioidea

RESUMO Objetivo: verificar os efeitos do exercício de pressão de língua contra a papila incisiva, realizado de forma isolada e associada ao treino funcional da deglutição, na atividade elétrica da musculatura supra-hioidea e na autopercepção da mudança estética na região submandibular. Métodos: estudo experimental, analítico e prospectivo, realizado com 27 mulheres entre 30 e 78 anos, divididas em dois grupos de tratamento (G1 e G2) e um grupo controle (GC). Os indivíduos foram submetidos a oito semanas de treinamento, sendo que o G1 realizou somente o exercício pressão de língua contra a papila incisiva, o G2 realizou o mesmo exercício associado ao treino da deglutição e o GC não foi submetido a qualquer intervenção. A atividade elétrica da musculatura supra-hioidea foi obtida por meio da eletromiografia de superfície no início e ao final do estudo, quando também foi aplicado um questionário de autopercepção dos possíveis resultados estéticos obtidos. Foram utilizados os testes Qui-quadrado de Pearson, Exato de Fisher, Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis e Wilcoxon, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas na atividade elétrica entre os valores inicial e final tanto no G1 quanto no G2, fato não observado no GC. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos em relação à autopercepção da melhora visual e da melhora muscular. Conclusão: as duas estratégias analisadas mostraram-se igualmente eficazes para promover o maior recrutamento da musculatura supra-hioidea, porém, sem impacto na autopercepção da mudança estética na região submandibular.

Having Difficulties Reading the Facial Expression of Older Individuals? Blame It on the Facial Muscles, Not the Wrinkles

Previous studies have found it is more difficult identifying an emotional expression displayed by an older than a younger face. It is unknown whether this is caused by age-related changes such as wrinkles and folds interfering with perception, or by the aging of facial muscles, potentially reducing the ability of older individuals to display an interpretable expression. To discriminate between these two possibilities, participants attempted to identify facial expressions under different conditions. To control for the variables (wrinkles/folds vs facial muscles), we used Generative Adversarial Networks to make faces look older or younger. Based upon behavior data collected from 28 individuals, our model predicts that the odds of correctly identifying the expressed emotion of a face reduced 16.2% when younger faces (condition 1) are artificially aged (condition 3). Replacing the younger faces with natural old-looking faces (Condition 2), however, results in an even stronger effect (odds of correct identification decreased by 50.9%). Counterintuitively, making old faces (Condition 2) look young (Condition 4) results in the largest negative effect (odds of correct identification decreased by 74.8% compared with natural young faces). Taken together, these results suggest that both age-related decline in the facial muscles' ability to express facial emotions and age-related physical changes in the face, explain why it is difficult to recognize facial expressions from older faces; the effect of the former, however, is much stronger than that of the latter. Facial muscle exercises, therefore, might improve the capacity to convey facial emotional expressions in the elderly.

Non-Traditional and Non-Invasive Approaches in Facial Rejuvenation: A Brief Review

While injectables, lasers, and surgical interventions have traditionally been used to reverse the changes associated with facial aging, other alternative therapies such as facial acupuncture and facial exercises are now being studied for facial rejuvenation. In this paper, we both summarize the concepts of facial acupuncture and facial exercises, and review seven studies that evaluate the efficacy of these modalities. Data from these studies suggest that both facial acupuncture and facial exercises have the potential to improve the skin laxity, wrinkle length, muscle thickness, and pigmentary changes associated with aging. Patients frequently reported improvement and experienced very few side effects. However, further research is necessary before these modalities are widely accepted as effective by the medical community, though the results of these studies may ultimately make providers less hesitant when patients seek out these services.

A Practical Method for Assessing Lip Compression Strengthening in Healthy Adults

There is no practical and accessible assessment method to evaluate lip muscle compression strength. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the standard method (i.e., Iowa Oral Performance Instrument) and a practical method in healthy adults. In order to achieve our research purpose, ninety-eight healthy adults (18–40 years) completed lip compression strength measurements (standard method) and lip grasping performance tests using a standard recyclable plastic water bottle (practical method). In the overall sample, the mean and standard deviation for standard method and practical method was 26.7 (7.0) kPa and 255 (119) g, respectively. For the overall sample (n = 98), there was a positive relationship between the two strength tasks [r = 0.56 (0.41, 0.68)]. When separated by sex, positive correlations were observed for men and women with no differences between the observed correlations [difference of 0.06 (−0.2646, 0.3917)]. This result indicates that those individuals who are strong in the standard task will often be strong in the practical task. Future research is needed to determine how well changes in each test track with each other in response to a lip strength training program.

Assessments of Facial Muscle Thickness by Ultrasound in Younger Adults: Absolute and Relative Reliability

The absolute reliability (i.e., standard error of measurement and minimal difference) of a measurement is important to consider when assessing training effects. However, the absolute reliability for ultrasound measured facial muscle thickness had not been investigated. In order to examine the absolute and relative reliability of measuring facial muscles, 98 healthy, young, and middle-aged adults (18–40 years) had ultrasound measurements taken twice, separated by an average of three days. Six facial muscles were selected to determine the reliability of facial muscle thickness. The relative reliability (ICC3,1) ranged from 0.425 for the orbicularis oris (inferior) to 0.943 for the frontalis muscle. The absolute reliability (minimal difference) ranged from 0.25 mm for the orbicularis oculi to 1.82 mm for the masseter. The percentage minimal difference was 22%, 25%, 26%, 29%, 21%, and 10% for the frontalis, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris (superior), orbicularis oris (inferior), depressor anguli oris, and masseter, respectively. Our results indicated that the relative reliability was similar to that observed previously. The absolute reliability indicated that the measurement error associated with measuring muscle thickness of the face may be greater than that of the trunk/limb muscles. This may be related to the difficulty of accurately determining the borders of each muscle.

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

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.