You lean towards the camera on a morning video call and notice the brow sitting a little lower, the cheek a little softer than last year. EmFace is the only facial treatment we offer at Wimpole Street that works on muscle. Everything else on the menu treats skin, or volume, or a line. This treats the structures that hold the face up.
That makes it genuinely different, and it is also the gentlest of the lifting devices patients compare it with, which is exactly why so many people love it.
What it is
A device applying two energies through adhesive pads placed on the forehead and cheeks.
Synchronised radiofrequency heats the dermis to stimulate collagen and elastin, which is the same principle as other radiofrequency tightening.
High-intensity facial electromagnetic stimulation contracts the muscles that lift and support: the frontalis at the brow and the zygomatic muscles in the cheeks. Those contractions are stronger than voluntary expression produces.
Twenty minutes, no needles, no numbing, and you can go straight back to a meeting.
What it achieves
A subtle lift and a cleaner jaw edge, built over three months.
Published trials report improvements in wrinkles and lift. HIFU and Morpheus8 go further for patients happy with needles or a little downtime, and EmFace is the refined, needle-free choice.
EmFace shines for people who have decided against injectables entirely, who need zero downtime, or whose laxity is early enough that a gentle treatment is just right.
Think of it as a fitness plan for the face: a fresher, more lifted version of you, built gradually.
What to expect
Hollowed cheeks or a flattened mid face call for volume, which is a job for a different treatment, and the two pair beautifully.
Established jowls with real weight to them respond best to the deeper devices, such as HIFU or Morpheus8.
EmFace contracts muscle to lift, so frown lines from movement are softened by a different treatment entirely.
The change builds from within, through collagen and muscle density, so the first fortnight is the quiet before the result.
Who it suits
Late thirties to fifties, with reasonable facial structure still in place and early to moderate laxity.
Patients who prefer to avoid needles, which is a larger group than many people realise.
Patients with a busy diary, a big event or a working week that leaves no room for downtime.
It also combines well. EmFace alongside anti-wrinkle injections works because they do different things, and we leave two weeks between them.
The practical detail
Four sessions across two to four weeks. Keeping to that spacing gives the strongest effect, and the team will help you fit it around your diary.
You feel warmth and a rhythmic tugging as the muscles contract, which is a novelty for the first minute and surprisingly relaxing after that.
Improvement appears from week four and peaks at around three months. Maintenance is one or two sessions at six to twelve months.
From £400 per session, at our Marylebone clinic, a short walk from Bond Street and Oxford Circus stations.
Your clinician runs through your medical history at the consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EmFace?
A needle-free device combining radiofrequency to stimulate collagen with electromagnetic stimulation that contracts the facial lifting muscles.
Does it hurt?
No. Warmth and a rhythmic tugging as the muscles contract. No numbing needed.
How many sessions?
Four across two to four weeks, then one or two maintenance sessions at six to twelve months.
When will I see results?
From week four, peaking at around three months as the collagen and muscle build.
How does it compare to HIFU?
HIFU reaches the deeper layer and produces a more substantial lift in a single session, also with no downtime. EmFace is milder and needle-free and treats muscle as well as skin.
Can I combine it with anti-wrinkle injections?
They work beautifully together. EmFace lifts and tightens, while anti-wrinkle injections relax the muscles that cause expression lines, so the two are often combined.
Is it worth the money?
For early laxity in someone who prefers to avoid needles, absolutely. For established jowls or significant volume loss, your clinician will point you to the treatment that gives you the most for your money.
How much does it cost?
From £400 per session, with the course of four quoted at consultation.