Dermatologists measured improvements in the appearance of the faces of a small group of middle-age women after they did half an hour of daily face-toning exercises for eight weeks, followed by alternate-day exercises for another 12 weeks. DVDs cost 24.Alam agrees that his study raises additional research questions, such as whether the exercises would work for men and how much time people need to commit to doing the exercises for them to be optimally effective.

But not all dermatologists are rushing to promote the videos or the exercises.Dermatologists looking at unmarked before-and-after photos saw improvements in upper cheek and lower cheek fullness, and they estimated the average age of women who stuck with the program as significantly younger at the end than at the start. Attempts to do so have been made in the scientific literature with variable levels of scientific rigor. ssuming the findings are confirmed in a larger study, individuals now have a low-cost, non-toxic way for looking younger or to augment other cosmetic or anti-aging treatments they may be seeking. "In fact, the results were stronger than I expected,he said in a phone interview.The exercises enlarge and strengthen facial muscles to firm and tone the face, giving it a younger appearance, he said. It began with two 90-minute muscle resistant facial exercise-training sessions led by co-author Gary Sikorski of Happy Face Yoga in Providence, Rhode Island.ow there is some evidence that facial exercises may improve facial appearance and reduce some visible signs of aging,Alam said.To his toolbox of Botox, fillers and plastic surgery, cosmetic dermatologist Dr.

The results surprised lead author Alam, vice chair and professor of dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.Participants included 27 women between ages 40 and 65, though only 16 completed the full course. Louis, Missouri, said the study raises more questions than it answers. He would like to see a larger study.Happy Face sells instructional worksheets promising smoother skin, firmed cheeks and raised eyelids for 19. John Chi, a plastic surgeon and professor at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. The average estimated age dropped almost three years, from nearly 51 years to 48 years.95. Then they practiced at home.

Murad Alam has added a new, low-cost, noninvasive anti-aging treatment: facial yoga.Chi said facial yoga had not been rigorously examined in peer-reviewed scientific studies. he jury is still out on whether or not facial yoga is effective in reversing the signs of aging,he said in an email. Asked if procedures such as facelifts, Botox and fillers had been rigorously examined in peer-reviewed studies, he replied: reat question. really a win-win for patients.Participants also rated themselves as more satisfied with the appearance of their faces at the study end, Alam and colleagues reported in JAMA Dermatology.Dr.Chi, who was not involved with the study, said he would recommend facial yoga to patients who found it relaxing and enjoyable but not water jet loom for the purpose of facial rejuvenation.Participants learned to perform cheek pushups and eye-bag removers, among other exercises. hile the premise of facial exercises to improve the facial appearance or reverse signs of aging is an appealing one, there is little evidence to suggest that there is any benefit in this regard,hhe said