Cosmetic acupuncture, also known as facial rejuvenation, is being hailed as a natural facelift.  Younger looking skin, no more crows feet, and no Botox required!  This all sounds great, but does it really work?  Of course!  It works by making you stronger on the inside, which eventually changes how you look on the outside. 

Looking young isn't very fun if you feel old.  And no one wants to look older than they feel.  Cosmetic acupuncture is effective because it resolves the underlying imbalances preventing you from feeling youthful and vibrant.

As a licensed acupuncturist who practices cosmetic acupuncture, these are some of the most common questions I receive.  If you would like to learn more, please call me to set up a free consultation to see how cosmetic acupuncture can benefit you!

• Who is a good candidate for cosmetic acupuncture?
  

People who desire a holistic approach to concerns about their face, neck, breast, or abdomen.  I recommend anyone older than 40 should start receiving cosmetic acupuncture.  It's much easier to prevent wrinkles than make them go away!

Please note, those who are in poor health may require acupuncture and herbal treatments before starting a cosmetic acupuncture series.  There needs to be a baseline of health to build on in order to yield cosmetic improvements.

Also, those with sun damage may have unpredictable results.  Some people have excellent results while others take longer.

• What is unique about cosmetic acupuncture?

Cosmetic acupuncture is unique from other types of facial rejuvenation techniques in that it not only addresses cosmetic concerns like sagging skin, fine lines, poor elasticity, uneven skin tone, and acne, but also supports health from the inside out.  It's about treating the external and internal signs of aging.

• How is cosmetic acupuncture different from acupuncture?

Cosmetic acupuncture uses a set protocol of acupuncture points for the face, neck, breast, or abdomen to yield cosmetic results.  My approach also includes individualized acupuncture points that are appropriate for balancing each person's unique system.

The needling style is also different from acupuncture.  In cosmetic acupuncture, needling is shallow and just barely goes into the skin.  Also, the needles are much shorter than acupuncture needles.  The cosmetic acupuncture needles are similar to those used for auricular or hand acupuncture.

• How many treatments does it take to start seeing results?

It truly depends on the person.  Some notice changes after one treatment and some are still unsure after three or four.  Usually, people will notice other results first, such as deeper sleep, increased energy, or improved digestion, before they notice significant cosmetic improvements.  But you can be sure if you are getting these types of results, you will eventually see cosmetic changes as well.

• How does cosmetic acupuncture work?

Cosmetic acupuncture treatments address the causes of aging by needling body acupuncture points.  Then, by placing needles in specific points on the face, neck, breast, or abdomen, it creates a microtrauma which causes an increase in circulation and collagen and elastin to flood the area and rebuild the skin.

• How much does it cost?
  

Cosmetic acupuncture is a 10 treatment protocol.  It takes at least 7 treatments for changes to permanently take hold in the matrix of collagen and elastin.  After those 10 treatments, you can expect the results to last 2-5 years.  With that in mind, I charge $90 per treatment.  A full session will cost $900.

I have a different perspective about wrinkles.  I like them.  I think lines can be attractive and show that you've lived life.  Getting them is inevitable, but you do have control over how many you have and where they are.

Wrinkles are caused by many different things, from the amount of oil in the skin, the climate, or sun damage to repeated facial expressions.  So what makes some people get so many wrinkles and others so few?

The first type is the person who doesn't feel very much and therefore doesn't express much.  These people are not emotionally present.  They may stay unwrinkled longer, but the drawback to living this way is that they are usually unprepared for emotional traumas and have trouble coping.  When these people do suffer a trauma, they seem to age overnight.  This is an advantage to suffering while you are young.  It may cause early lines, but it will keep you from getting lines later because you learn how to deal with life while you are still resilient.

The second type of person who doesn't wrinkle much is the one who is reclusive and lives away from the stresses of the world.  Monks and nuns are a good example.  Because their biological needs are taken care of, their lives are sheltered.  Stress definitely accelerates the aging process, and it is almost impossible to live in the modern world without stress.  A balanced life might include frequent retreats to destress and dewrinkle.

The third type of person is one who does not hold onto past trauma.  Many people cling to the wounds of the past and torment themselves daily.  It doesn't really matter what happens to you in life, what matters is how you feel about it and how you deal with it.  There is no such thing as a bad emotion.  The only bad emotions are stuck emotions.  This inability to release emotion can cause many health problems and lines on the face.

If you can, learn to love the features you have.  All features have special meaning and, when looked at as a whole, have a beauty and symmetry that needs to be honored and understood. 

And if past trauma is marking your face, consider cosmetic acupuncture to soften those lines and heal from the inside out.

For more thoughts: Face Reading in Chinese Medicine, Lillian Bridges