Aesthetic Speech Therapy: A New Protocol of Exercises Against Facial Aging, Focusing on Facial Muscles

The increasing emphasis on appearance and well-being has underscored the significance of self-care. From an aesthetic perspective, this entails addressing the early onset of wrinkles and the initial signs of aging. In response, new techniques have been developed, supplementing existing methods, to mitigate the signs of aging. Aesthetic speech therapy has emerged in recent years as a non-invasive procedure to combat facial aging. The objective of this study is to evaluate its effects on the signs of facial aging in participants subjected to an experimental exercise protocol over a three-month period, focusing on orbicularis and zygomatic muscles, using both a digital evaluation analysis and a self-assessment questionnaire. A cohort of 21 female subjects, aged between 50 and 65, was instructed to perform a series of 4 targeted exercises for 15 min daily over a span of three months. The participants underwent monthly evaluations, each involving the collection of standardized photographic documentation and a three-dimensional facial scan. These scans were subsequently overlaid and analyzed by a colorimetric assay at the conclusion of the study period. Statistical tests were carried out by two-way ANOVA. Additionally, during the final evaluation (T3), the participants completed a questionnaire assessing their satisfaction with their self-image and the non-invasive aesthetic treatment they received. The statistical analysis of the overlays of the collected three-dimensional scans revealed a significant volumetric change around the orbicularis oris muscle. The difference between green and blue pixels was statistically significant (p < 0.05), as was the difference between blue and yellow pixels (p < 0.05). This change did not achieve statistical significance around the zygomatic muscles. The analysis of the participants' questionnaire responses indicated an increasing level of satisfaction with their self-image at the end of the study compared to T0. Personal confidence increased by 20%, and participants reported a 53% improvement in satisfaction with their appearance in photographs. The observed volumetric changes may be attributed to modifications in the facial muscles targeted by the exercise protocol undertaken by the participants. However, further studies are warranted to delve deeper into this issue, considering the intricate process of facial aging and the complex three-dimensional structure of the face with its various components.