Facial With Microcurrent, What Happens at a Salon Appointment
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
Read bio
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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A facial with microcurrent is a salon treatment where an esthetician cleanses your skin, then uses probes or conductive gloves to send a low current through your facial muscles for a firmer, more lifted look, usually as part of a series.
This article walks you through the appointment, such as:
- what happens before, during and after the treatment
- what it feels like
- how many sessions a salon recommends
- what to ask before you book
- how a salon facial compares with a home device
and many more!
We make home devices, and we recommend a salon series for anyone who wants a trained professional to start them off.
Key Points:
A facial with microcurrent usually lasts thirty to sixty minutes and is often combined with cleansing, exfoliation and a mask.
Most people feel a light tingle or nothing at all, and there is no downtime.
Many people see a lifted, more awake look straight after the appointment, which fades within a day or so.
Lasting results need a series of sessions, which is why salons recommend a course followed by maintenance visits.
A home device makes the frequent sessions results depend on practical, and many people combine a salon series with home use.
What a facial with microcurrent is
It is a facial treatment built around a professional microcurrent machine. The esthetician uses handheld probes, rollers or conductive gloves to deliver a low current through the skin into the facial muscles.
The aim is a firmer, more lifted look across the jaw, cheeks and brows, with a brighter, more awake appearance straight after the session.
How the technology works is in our microcurrent facial guide.
What happens at the appointment
Before the treatment
The esthetician asks about your health, skincare and any recent injectables, and checks for reasons not to treat you, such as a pacemaker, pregnancy or epilepsy.
Your skin is cleansed to remove makeup and oil, and sometimes exfoliated.
During the treatment
A conductive gel is applied, and the esthetician works the probes or gloves along set paths, holding at points along the jaw, cheeks, forehead and brows.
Settings are adjusted as they go, and one side of the face is often finished first so you can see the difference.
The zones and directions they follow are in our microcurrent on face zone guide.
After the treatment
The gel is removed, and many salons finish with a mask, serum and moisturizer. You can put makeup on and go straight back to your day.
What it feels like
Most people feel a light tingle, a mild metallic taste or nothing at all. Probes held near the jaw or teeth can make the sensation more noticeable.
It should never hurt. Tell the esthetician if it stings, which usually means the gel has dried. More on the sensation is in our article on what a microcurrent facial feels like.
How many sessions you need
One session gives a short-lived lift. Lasting change comes from repetition, so most salons recommend a series of weekly or twice weekly sessions, followed by maintenance visits.
A randomized controlled trial by Kavanagh and colleagues, published in 2012, measured the effect of facial electrical stimulation after twelve weeks of regular use, which shows the time frame a lasting change needs.
What to expect over time is in our week by week results article.
What to ask before you book
What machine do you use, and how long have you trained on it?
How many sessions do you recommend, and what does the full series cost?
Can I combine it with my injectables, and how long should I wait after them?
What results do you expect for my face, and what will it not change?
Our checklist for finding the right person is in our guide to finding a good microcurrent esthetician.
Salon facial vs a home device
A salon gives you more control and a relaxing treatment. A home device gives you frequency at a lower cost per session.
The cost comparison is in our salon vs device cost article, and the side by side is in our home vs salon machine article.
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
How to get salon-level results at home is in our at home device guide.
Who should not have a facial with microcurrent
Anyone whose main concern is loose skin or lost volume, since microcurrent works on muscle tone.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
What is a facial with microcurrent
It is a salon facial that uses a professional microcurrent machine to send a low current through the facial muscles for a firmer, more lifted look.
How long does a microcurrent facial take
Usually thirty to sixty minutes, including cleansing and any mask or finishing steps.
Does a microcurrent facial hurt
No. Most people feel a light tingle or nothing at all. Stinging usually means the gel has dried.
How many microcurrent facials do I need
Most salons recommend a series of sessions followed by maintenance visits, since lasting change builds over weeks.
Is there downtime after a microcurrent facial
No. You can wear makeup and return to your day straight away.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.