Muscle banding in the practice of a cosmetologist

Danne Montague-King, Doctor of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, founder of DMK (USA)

As is known, in anti-age therapy there is no single ingredient, method or device that can manage age. They all work together. One of the methods for correcting age-related changes, including correction of facial contours, is muscle banding - a procedure that combines electrical stimulation with the influence of cosmetics with special enzymes. What is the essence of this impact?

What is an enzyme?
Enzymes are natural biological catalysts. For many years, it was believed that enzymes were not suitable for treating skin because they were huge protein molecules - too large to penetrate the skin. But the fact is that enzymes are not proteins, just like a light bulb is not electricity. Cosmetic enzymes, using proteins formed in plants and other organic cells, act as natural catalysts and initiate or accelerate specific chemical reactions.

The result of enzyme therapy does not depend on how many enzymes are used in the formula - what is important is the stimulation of the enzymes found in the patient’s skin

How does the enzyme work?
Enzymes temporarily bind to the reacting molecule. The mutual contact of the molecules surrounding the enzyme is no longer a matter of chance, it is reliable, hence the acceleration of the reaction.

For example, when a carbohydrate is broken down in the body, the energy used to retain the carbohydrate is released and immediately used or stored in the body. This process is called "metabolism". Metabolism is divided into two functions: anabolism (for the synthesis of cellular material) and catabolism (for the breakdown of cellular material). These reactions would be very slow without the help of proteins controlled by enzymes. Without enzymes, the entire concept of how metabolism works would be lost.

Enzymes actually work by attaching a substrate (a reacting molecule) to form an enzyme-substrate complex, which in turn initiates a reaction that results in a reaction product. The enzyme itself is never changed or used in this reaction, but instead is released and reused several times. To remember this figuratively, imagine that the enzyme is a space station. There could be many different types of spaceships around this station, flying randomly, not interacting with each other, and not performing any missions. Each station has a port for a specific type of spacecraft. If a ship docks at its own port and another ship lands at its correct location on the space station, they will be held in "stasis" and will be able to interact with each other and then a reaction will occur. This is how the enzyme works.

Enzymes and skin revision procedures

There are many enzyme and coenzyme (vitamin) actions in the skin that regulate its normal functions. For example, the enzyme collagenase regulates the synthesis of collagen fibers. If collagenase is destroyed by aggressive treatment such as the drug Accutane, collagen fibers quickly rush to any site of injury on the skin during laser resurfacing or acid peels. As a result, a keloid or hypertrophic scar may form. This is one of the reasons why after traditional phenol or trichloroacetic peels, the patient's skin appears "plastic" or "waxy": the natural proliferation of collagen fibers has been accelerated, and they rush to the surface too quickly in an attempt to participate in the repair and remodeling of the skin.

Because enzymes do not change pH the way acids do, there are many enzymes that can be applied topically to the skin. They will remove excess layers of dead skin cells, often misdiagnosed as “dry skin.” This will not only reduce wrinkles but will also be able to release gaseous toxins and other impurities from the skin. This type of treatment will actually result in fundamentally younger, firmer skin. And the result does not depend on how many enzymes are used in the formula - what is important is the stimulation of the enzymes found in the patient’s skin. So, if a properly created formula is applied to the skin, hydrolysis of dead cells and toxins found in living cells begins in about 20 minutes.

Enzymes for topical application

In general, enzymes are divided into several groups. Some dissolve dead proteins, others digest starch and excess glucose. At the same time, some destroy hardened oils in the ducts of the sebaceous glands or skin pores. A special enzyme, transferase, can transmit messages across cell membranes. This process is called "transcription".

In this process, a chain of transfer RNA is synthesized in accordance with the basic DNA code. The enzyme RNA polymerase then combines with one of the DNA molecules in a double helix. This special RNA moves along the DNA strand, reading the nucleotides one by one, like patterns on a computer. The enzyme selects suitable bases from the available nucleotides and places them into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule according to the principle of base pair complementarity. The mRNA molecule then carries the genetic message into the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. This is vital information for all skin cells in an attempt to keep them healthy and living longer while removing excess stratum corneum.

The capillaries appear like a road map, thereby proving that the enzyme treatment penetrates deep enough. This is real oxygen therapy, as opposed to applying “oxygen creams” or spraying compressed oxygen onto the skin

Type of formulas used

More than 40 years ago, scientists discovered that the best base for storing inert but still living enzymes is an albumin base. Albumin is obtained from the inner membrane of eggshells. It provides an ideal repository for living enzymes that are activated upon contact with water, air and body heat. This process usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. Lysozyme and amylase can be added to such formulas. In particular, amylase initiates the hydrolysis of glucose bonds, which are part of the so-called cellular glue that helps bind dead cells to the underlying layer of living cells.

The starch-digesting enzyme agrozyme is also part of the effective formula, along with grazim, rapidase and superclastase. The irony is that these enzymes are also used in removing toxins and human waste. They are especially necessary when treating acne skin.

Lipase is another “message-carrying” enzyme that works with lipids and fats in the skin.

In addition to the above enzymes, the following components may be added:

• aspartic acid – roborant, strengthens tissues;
• lysine is an amino acid that improves the quality of protein in tissues. Also one of three amino acids required for collagen production;
• Proline and glycine are two more amino acids used in the production of collagen (if energy from vitamin C is provided). Glycine is also an antipuritic, that is, an antipruritic substance, which is very important for eczema-like skin conditions;
• lecithin, rich in linoleic acid;
• copper chlorophyll, accelerating healing and phytosynthesis of any active plant extract used in the formula.

Other enzymes cause a “plasmic action” in the skin, dilating all peripheral capillaries. This leads to improved oxygen uptake from within the body, depositing the required amount of oxygen into the mitochondria, which are necessary to produce enough ATP to achieve anti-ageing results. We can literally see this effect on the skin of the neck, face and décolleté after enzyme treatments. Very little, if any, erythema is present, but the capillaries appear like a road map, thereby proving that the enzyme treatment penetrates deep enough to cause total dilatation of the peripheral capillaries. This is real oxygen therapy, as opposed to the harm or lack of positive results from applying “oxygen creams” (just peroxide) or spraying compressed oxygen onto the skin.

Facial muscles and enzymes

The delicate underlying facial muscles can be pumped up to stronger levels, just like any other muscle in the body, through regular exercise. However, facial exercises are tedious and require daily, committed practice to achieve and maintain any results. Most people simply don't have that much time every day.

Electrical stimulation using so-called facelift devices gives only a 20% result in stimulating muscles. Studies of this technique have shown that daily treatments using a specific microcurrent will lead to a 20% increase in muscle volume, but the result must be maintained every day. However, I have recently discovered that certain microcurrent wavelengths in pico format can give facial muscles a jolt, a "wake up" type stimulation that primes muscle tissue for greater volume gains from specific enzyme treatments. This is how the “muscle banding” procedure arose.

Voluntary contraction of the facial muscles using special enzymatic procedures gives a much more natural and lasting effect, since the muscles move on their own against resistance. This phenomenon is also known as isometric exercise. With a voluntary muscle reaction, asynchronous activation of motor neurons occurs in a soft contraction. The more neurons involved, the greater the increase in muscle strength. By applying thick continuous strips-layers of enzymes to the skin from the projection of one motor control point to another, muscle building is achieved.

Most of the muscles of the face, neck and décolleté are lateral, horizontal or vertical. You can work with them with predictable results. On m. orbicularis oris, m. orbicularis oculi, however, cannot be affected in this way, since they are circular and unpredictable in terms of the possible direction of contraction.
By applying special enzyme mixtures to the upper portion of the trapezius muscle, just below the back of the shoulder girdle and in a thick layer to the platysma, realistic and sustained skin tightening can be achieved from the underlying muscles.

In case of a double chin or a violation of the oval of the face, a double enzymatic treatment with the involvement of a pseudo-heat factor (chemical heat) is recommended to enhance the action of the enzymes. Thermogenesis works well in the neck and front surface. Thermionic day cream is currently being developed, rich in skin-tightening elements that have become available only recently. The cream will be an excellent home remedy that supports the effect of these procedures.

Photo 1-2. Before and after a course of muscle banding procedures

Muscle banding is a rather uncomfortable procedure. The patient is in pulsatile contractions for 45 minutes. It is recommended to slightly elevate the back of the neck using a round pillow to achieve maximum coverage of the neck and platysma without involving the skin in the projection of the thyroid gland if the patient has signs of hypo- or hyperthyroidism. To minimize discomfort, you can turn on relaxing music, perform reflexology, cellulite treatment, or any calming procedures at the same time as banding. However, usually, when the client sees the result and “tightened” tissues after the procedure, he forgets all the discomfort he experienced.

First published: KOSMETIK international journal No. 3 (57) / 2014