EMFACE
EMFACE lifts and firms the face without needles, surgery, or downtime. Adhesive applicators on the forehead and cheeks deliver synchronized radiofrequency to thicken the skin while HIFES energy tones the facial muscles underneath, the layer a facelift targets. Four 20-minute sessions, and you walk out ready for the rest of your day.
What isEMFACE?
EMFACE is a non-invasive facial treatment from BTL, the makers of Emsculpt. Small adhesive applicators are placed on the forehead and cheeks, with a grounding pad on the back. They deliver two energies at once: synchronized radiofrequency that warms the skin to trigger new collagen and elastin, and HIFES, high intensity facial electrical stimulation, that contracts the lifting muscles of the face about 75,000 times in a single session.
That muscle layer is what makes EMFACE different. As we age we lose muscle and fascial support along with skin elasticity, which is why cheeks flatten and jowls form. Fillers add volume on top and toxins relax movement, but neither strengthens the structure underneath. Skin tightening devices like Ultherapy or RF microneedling firm the skin but leave the muscles untouched. EMFACE works on both layers at once.
A session takes about 20 minutes and needs no numbing. Most patients describe a warming sensation with rhythmic contractions, then get up and go straight back to their day. The standard series is four sessions, spaced about a week apart.
Who is EMFACE for?
EMFACE is for people who want a lifted, firmer face without needles, anesthesia, or a recovery period.
Implanted electronic devices or metal plates in the treatment area may require medical clearance first. Your provider reviews your history and goals at your consultation and tells you honestly whether EMFACE, an injectable, or a combination will get you the result you are after.
You want lifting without surgery
EMFACE tones the same muscle layer a facelift targets, with no incisions, anesthesia, or recovery.
You are in your twenties or beyond
Younger patients use it to delay the signs of aging; older patients use it to avoid or postpone surgery.
Jowls or sagging bother you
Strengthening the lifting muscles and thickening the skin softens jowling and restores support to the cheeks and brow.
You have had a facelift before
Patients whose skin has loosened again after surgery use EMFACE for further improvement without another operation.
You want to keep your other treatments
EMFACE is safe alongside Botox, fillers, lasers, and skin tightening, and often complements them.
Where EMFACEworks
The applicators treat the full face, strengthening the muscles that lift the brow and cheeks while the radiofrequency thickens and smooths the skin above them.
Select an area on the figure to see what EMFACE does there.
More from the EMFACE platform
EMFACE Eyes
A dedicated applicator for the delicate zone around the eyes: under-eye bags, crow's feet, dark circles, and hooded lids, with no needles and no downtime.
EMFACE for Double Chin
The Submentum applicator brings EMFACE below the jaw, directly reducing double-chin fat while defining the jawline and neck.
EMFACE, full face, front view1 / 4
What EMFACEcan do.
These results are from the practice's EMFACE gallery. Individual results vary; your plan is designed at your consultation. Drag the handle to compare.
See all EMFACE resultsIndividual results vary. These photographs are from the practice's EMFACE results gallery and are not a guarantee of your own outcome.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationEMFACE is priced by your treatment plan, and package pricing typically lowers the per-session fee. You receive a personalized quote at your consultation, and financing options are available.
Four sessions, each about 20 minutes, spaced about a week apart. No numbing is needed and the treatment is painless.
There is no recovery period. Makeup and work can resume immediately, and we ask you to skip saunas and intense workouts for the first 24 hours.
Some improvement can show after the first session; the full effect develops 6 to 12 weeks after the final one as collagen and muscle rebuild. Clinical studies report about 30% better muscle tone and 37% fewer wrinkles, and results are typically maintained with occasional touch-up sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Is EMFACE painful?
No. Sessions feel like warmth with rhythmic muscle contractions, and no numbing cream or pain management is needed.
How long does a treatment take?
About 20 minutes, with zero recovery time afterward. Many patients come in over a lunch break.
How many treatments will I need?
The standard series is four sessions, spaced about a week apart. Many patients notice improvement after the first session, with the full effect arriving after all four.
When will I see results?
The full effect shows 6 to 12 weeks after your final session, as new collagen forms and the facial muscles continue to strengthen.
What areas does EMFACE treat?
The full face: the forehead and brows, the cheekbones, and the jowls and jawline. A separate Submentum applicator treats the double chin, and EMFACE Eyes treats the area around the eyes.
How is EMFACE different from Ultherapy or RF microneedling?
Those treatments tighten skin only. EMFACE tightens the skin and tones the facial muscles beneath it, the structural layer that a facelift addresses, with no anesthesia or recovery.
How is it different from fillers and Botox?
Fillers add volume and toxins relax movement; neither strengthens the muscles that lift the face. EMFACE works on that support structure directly, and it can be safely combined with injectables when volume or line softening is also wanted.
Can EMFACE be combined with other treatments?
Yes. It is safe alongside Botox, fillers, lasers, and other skin tightening treatments, and depending on your goals we may recommend pairing it with fillers, Botox, laser resurfacing, or microneedling.
How long do results last?
Improvements typically sustain for 6 to 12 months, and maintenance sessions, often a couple per year depending on your age and goals, keep them going.
Am I a candidate?
Most adults from their twenties up who want to delay or avoid facial surgery are candidates, as are post-facelift patients whose skin has loosened again. Implanted electronic devices or metal plates may require clearance first.
Where to next
Related treatment
Ultherapy
Ultrasound lift for face, neck, and brow.
Explore the treatmentRelated concern
Sagging & Laxity
Jowls, loose cheeks, and a softening jawline
Start from the concernWorth reading
EMFACE Eyes or Fillers for Under-Eye Hollowing?
Wondering whether EMFACE Eyes or under-eye filler is right for hollowing? Discover the pros and cons of each and what's for you.
Read the answerAsk about your skin.
Tell us what you would like to change and we will come back with the treatments that fit, honest expectations, and a time to talk it through.
Your details go straight to our Montgomery Road front desk and are never shared. A team member replies during office hours, usually the same day.
Ready when you are.
Book a consultation at our Montgomery Road office, or call and we will help you decide where to start.
Medically reviewed by Shalini Gupta, MD, Harvard-trained dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.