Contact Us

Emface in Covington, KYLift and Tone Your Face Without Needles

Treatment Time:
20 minutes per session
Downtime:
None at all
Results Last:
Up to 12 months
FDA Status:
FDA cleared, needle free
Woman receiving a hands free Emface facial toning session at Applegate Dentistry and MedSpa in Covington, KY

Non Surgical Lifting

Emface Treatment in Covington, KY

Emface is the flagship facial treatment at our Covington, KY practice, and it is the one patients ask for by name. Twenty minutes in the chair, no needles and no recovery, and the muscles that hold your face up get stronger while the skin above them firms. It anchors our skin treatments in Northern Kentucky.

Your plan is built by a nurse practitioner led team. Dr. Barry Applegate, DMD has treated the face and jaw of patients across Covington and Cincinnati since 1993, and Elizabeth Taylor, APRN brings a background in acute care medicine and advanced aesthetic training to every Emface session she runs.

Close up of a firmer jawline and lifted midface after a course of Emface at Applegate MedSpa

The Problem

What Emface Solves When Creams Stop Working

Structure, not surface

Most people notice it in photographs first. The cheekbones look flatter, the jawline is no longer a clean line, and the lower face has started to drift. Serums cannot reach that, because the problem is not only skin. Facial muscles thin and lengthen with age, and the soft tissue they hold up slides down with them. That is what makes jowls and sagging skin and deepening wrinkles and fine lines so stubborn.
Emface works on both layers at once. The BTL Emface system sends HIFES muscle stimulation and radiofrequency through the same hands-free applicators, so muscle becomes denser while collagen and elastin rebuild in the skin above it. Patients who come in about a softening jawline and double chin see the lower face respond first. Nothing is injected, nothing is cut, and you drive yourself home.

Understanding the Science

What Is Emface and How It Works

HIFES muscle toning plus RF

Emface is a non-invasive facial treatment from BTL, FDA cleared to lift and tone the face with no needles and no incisions. Hands-free applicators rest on the forehead and both cheeks and treat muscle and skin together in a single 20 minute visit.

Synchronized radiofrequency warms the dermis to the point where collagen and elastin production restarts, while HIFES, high intensity facial electrical stimulation, contracts the elevator muscles thousands of times per session. The muscle grows denser and shorter, the skin above it firms, and the lift keeps building for weeks after each visit.

Treatment Timeline:

Treatment Time:
20 minutes per session
First Signs:
After 2 to 3 sessions
Full Effect:
About 90 days after the last session
Recovery:
None, resume your day right away

Your Visit

What an Emface Session Looks Like

Four simple steps

  1. Consultation

    Elizabeth maps your facial muscle pattern and photographs your baseline before session one.

  2. Placement

    Four hands-free applicators are secured across the forehead and both cheeks with gel pads.

  3. The Session

    Twenty minutes of radiofrequency warmth and HIFES contractions while you sit and relax.

  4. Afterward

    You leave straight away with no marks and no aftercare, and book your next visit.

Treatment Areas

What Emface Treats on the Face

Where the applicators go to work

Soft magenta and plum gradient background used behind the Emface treatment areas at Applegate MedSpa

  • Forehead and Brow

    Lifts a heavy brow and softens horizontal forehead lines

  • Midface and Cheeks

    Rebuilds cheek definition and restores midface support

  • Jawline

    Sharpens a blurred jaw contour and firms the lower face

  • Under the Chin

    Tightens loose skin beneath the chin and along the neckline

  • Nasolabial Folds

    Softens the creases running from the nose to the mouth

  • Overall Skin Laxity

    Firms crepey texture across the whole treated area

Benefits of Emface

Lift without the recovery

No NeedlesNothing is injected and nothing is cut at any pointZero DowntimeHead back to work, the gym or errands the same hourMuscle and SkinTreats facial muscle and collagen in the same sessionHands Free ComfortYou rest in the chair while the applicators do the workNatural Looking LiftResults build gradually, so the change reads as rested

Emface vs Other Lifting Options

How Emface compares to the other options patients in Covington weigh when they want a firmer, lifted lower face.

TreatmentMechanismSession TimeResults AppearResults LastDowntimeBest For
EmfaceHIFES muscle toning plus synchronized RF20 minutesAfter 2 to 3 sessionsUp to 12 monthsNoneLifting and toning with no needles
Surgical FaceliftSurgical repositioning of skin and SMAS2 to 5 hoursOnce swelling settles10 years or more2 to 4 weeksAdvanced laxity a device cannot reach
BotoxRelaxes targeted muscles to soften lines10 to 15 minutes3 to 7 days3 to 4 monthsNoneDynamic expression lines
RF Microneedling with ExionFractional RF delivered through microneedles45 to 60 minutes4 to 6 weeksAbout 12 months1 to 3 daysTexture, pores and acne scarring
Dermal FillersInjected gel that replaces lost volume20 to 30 minutesImmediately6 to 18 months1 to 3 daysReplacing volume in one specific area

Candidacy

Who Is a Good Candidate for Emface?

Honest screening first

Emface suits people who want the lower face lifted and firmed but are not ready for surgery.

Ideal Candidates for Emface

  • Adults from their thirties through their seventies with mild to moderate facial laxity
  • Patients who want a firmer jawline and a lifted brow without needles
  • Anyone who cannot take downtime for work or family reasons
  • People already using injectables who want structural support alongside them
  • Patients with jaw tension, who are often better served by our dedicated protocol for the jaw muscles and should read up on Emface for jaw tension and TMJ

Who Should Wait or Avoid Emface

  • Anyone with a pacemaker, defibrillator or other implanted electronic device
  • Patients with metal implants or permanent facial threads in the treatment area
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Active infection, open wounds or untreated skin cancer in the treatment area
  • Severe laxity that a surgical lift would address far better

Electrical stimulation and radiofrequency are both ruled out near implanted electronic devices, and the published clinical safety data on synchronized RF and HIFES is drawn from patients screened the same way. Elizabeth reviews your full medical history before your first session.

Emface Side Effects and Safety

What can happen

Real Emface Results

Real Results

Most patients start to notice a firmer jawline and a lighter looking brow after the third session. The full change shows roughly 90 days after the last visit, once new collagen has matured. Results vary with age, skin quality and how much muscle tone you started with, so we photograph every patient and track the change honestly.

View All Photos
Emface
BeforeAfter
Treatment Name:
Emface

Nurse Practitioner Led Care

Why Choose Applegate MedSpa for Emface in Covington, KY

Anatomy first, always

Dr. Barry Applegate has studied how the jaw, the bite and the facial muscles work together since 1993, and that anatomy background shapes how we map every Emface session. Elizabeth Taylor, APRN then places the applicators for your face rather than to a template.

Book a Consultation

  • Dentist-Founded Expertise

    Facial and jaw anatomy behind every applicator placement

  • Full BTL Suite

    Emface, Exion and Emsculpt Neo under one Covington roof

  • Personalized Mapping

    Placement matched to your own facial muscle pattern

  • Honest Expectations

    We say plainly what Emface can and cannot do for you

  • Twenty Minute Visits

    Hands-free applicators treat the forehead and both cheeks in a single 20 minute session

  • No Consumable Fees

    $500 per session with nothing injected and no disposable tip to buy, so the price is the price

Pricing

Emface Cost in Covington, KY

Clear pricing, no surprises

Emface is $500 per session, and most patients complete a series of 3 to 8 sessions depending on their starting muscle tone and goals. There are no hidden consumable fees, because nothing is injected and there is no disposable tip to buy.

What the Price Covers

  • Consultation and facial muscle mapping
  • Baseline and progress photography
  • Your 20 minute Emface sessions, with the count set at consultation
  • A maintenance plan once the course is finished

Most patients spread the series over one to two months.

Flexible Payment Options

We want the plan to fit your budget, not the other way around.

  • Cherry Financing - monthly payment plans with a quick approval process and options for a range of credit profiles.
  • Major credit cards - accepted for a single session or a full series.
  • HSA and FSA - health spending account funds are accepted where your plan administrator allows the treatment, so check your plan first.

Patients often pair Emface with skin tightening with Exion when skin quality is also a goal, or with Emsculpt Neo body contouring when the plan extends below the neck. We price a combined plan at your consultation rather than guessing at it here.

Promotional pricing available at consultation. Call to schedule a free consult.

Patient receiving Emface for TMJ jaw muscle therapy at Applegate Dentistry and MedSpa in Covington, KY

Related Treatment

Emface for TMJ

Needle-free jaw muscle therapy that eases clenching, grinding and TMJ tension.

  1. No Injections
  2. No Downtime
  3. Bite Stays Untouched
Learn More

Related Treatment

Skin Tightening with Exion

Needle free radiofrequency and ultrasound that firms and rehydrates skin.

  1. No Needles
  2. Zero Downtime
  3. Natural Hydration
Learn More

Related Treatment

RF Microneedling with Exion

Fractional radiofrequency delivered through fine needles to firm skin, refine pores and smooth texture.

  1. Your Own Collagen
  2. Multiple Concerns
  3. Short Recovery
Learn More

Related Treatment

Emsculpt Neo

Radiofrequency and muscle stimulation in one 30 minute session, with no surgery and no downtime.

  1. Fat and Muscle at Once
  2. No Surgery or Needles
  3. Zero Downtime
Learn More

Emface FAQ

Emface Questions We Hear

How much does Emface cost in Covington, KY?
Emface is $500 per session, and most patients complete a series of 3 to 8 sessions. The price covers your consultation, facial muscle mapping, progress photography and every visit in your series. Nothing is injected, so no consumable fees are added on top. Cherry Financing is available if you prefer to pay monthly, and approval happens before your first session. We also accept major credit cards and HSA and FSA funds.
How long does an Emface session take?
Each Emface session takes about 20 minutes. The applicators are secured to your forehead and cheeks, the device runs on its own, and you simply sit still. Most patients book it over a lunch break. Add a few minutes at your first visit for photography and facial muscle mapping, which we repeat partway through the course.
Does Emface hurt?
No. Most patients describe warmth across the skin and a tapping or pulling sensation as the muscles contract. It reads closer to a facial massage than a procedure. There are no needles and no numbing cream. Intensity is raised gradually, and we dial it back at any point if the contractions feel too strong for you.
When will I see results from Emface?
Most patients notice a firmer jawline and a lighter brow after two or three sessions. The skin change builds more slowly, because new collagen takes time to form. Full results typically show about 90 days after your final session. Results vary with age, skin quality and starting muscle tone, so we photograph each visit to track your own progress.
How often do I need Emface sessions?
Most patients complete 3 to 8 sessions, usually spaced about a week apart, so the series takes roughly one to two months. After that, most patients return for a single maintenance session every four to six months to hold the lift. Elizabeth sets your spacing based on how your face responds over the first few visits.
Emface or Botox: which one should I choose?
They do different jobs. Botox relaxes specific muscles to soften expression lines, and results last three to four months. Emface strengthens the muscles that lift the face and rebuilds collagen, so it works on structure rather than movement. Many patients use both. At your consultation we will say whether one, the other or a combination fits your goals.
Am I too old or too young for Emface?
Emface treats patients from their thirties through their seventies. Younger patients tend to use it to hold the tone they already have, while patients over fifty typically see the most visible change along the jawline. Age matters less than how much laxity is present. If laxity is severe, we will say honestly that a surgical lift would serve you better.
Does Emface help a double chin?
Emface can firm the muscle and skin along the jawline and under the chin, which usually makes the profile look cleaner. It is not a fat reduction treatment, so if submental fat is the main issue we will tell you and discuss other options. Most patients get the best result when the lower face is treated as a whole.
Is Emface safe if I already have Botox or fillers?
In most cases yes, and published research has looked specifically at patients treated with this technology after botulinum toxin. We ask you to wait about two weeks after an injectable appointment before an Emface session. Permanent facial threads or implants in the treatment area do rule Emface out, so bring your full treatment history.
Is there any downtime after Emface?
There is no downtime. You can apply makeup, drive yourself home, return to work or head to the gym within the hour. Skin may look slightly pink for 20 to 30 minutes in some patients, and a few feel mild muscle fatigue in the cheeks for a few hours. Nothing about the treatment breaks the skin.
How long do Emface results last?
Most patients hold their results for up to 12 months after completing their series. Muscle tone and collagen both decline again over time, which is why a maintenance session every four to six months is recommended. Sun protection, sleep and not smoking all help the result last longer. Results vary by individual.
Location322 Greenup StCovington, KY, 41011Phone(859) 365-3300Emailinfo@applegatemedspa.com

Schedule Today Your Emface Consultation

References

  1. Halaas Y et al., Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. (2025). The Simultaneous Application of Synchronized Radiofrequency and HIFES Technology Improves the Tone of Facial Muscles, as Assessed by Ultrasound Echo Intensity. PMID: 40503101.
  2. Cohen JL et al., Dermatologic Surgery. (2025). Noninvasive Facial Volume Harmonization Using HIFES and Synchronized RF Technology: A Retrospective Study. PMID: 40112025.
  3. Frank K et al., Aesthetic Surgery Journal. (2025). Impact of Synchronized Radiofrequency and High-intensity Facial Electrical Stimulation on Facial Muscles and the Superficial Fascial System in the Midface. PMID: 39749931.
  4. Manuskiatti W et al., Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. (2025). The Efficacy and Safety of Synchronized Radiofrequency and High Intensity Facial Electrical Stimulation in Improving Facial Skin Laxity and Quality in Asians. PMID: 39800907.
  5. Goldberg DJ et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. (2024). Treatment with synchronized radiofrequency and facial muscle stimulation: Histologic analysis of human skin for changes in collagen and elastin fibers. PMID: 38468421.
  6. Chilukuri S et al., Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. (2024). Safety and Effectiveness of Synchronized Monopolar Radiofrequency and HIFES in Patients Injected With Botulinum Toxin. PMID: 39496124.
  7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). 510(k) Premarket Notification database, the public record of clearances for radiofrequency and electrical muscle stimulation devices.
Book Consultation