Cosmetic Acupuncture — How Tiny Needles Bring Big Beauty Benefits
Lately on social media “preventative botox” has been all the craze. Due to societal standards, we are always on the hunt for things that make it look like we magically never age. No hate on botox but how great would it be if there was something you could do to prevent ever needing even the preventative botox?
Well, you’re in the right place!
Cosmetic acupuncture is the most natural form of “botox” there is. There’s no getting around aging skin, but how nice would it be to be able to age gracefully. In this article I’m going to go over the common misconceptions, examples of what is treatable, potential side effects, and how long it takes to notice results.
I’ll start out by explaining what cosmetic acupuncture even is — During the process of cosmetic acupuncture we are inserting very small, single use, sterile needles all over the face, both on actual acupuncture points and locally to treat the individual’s skin. Through this process we are causing microtraumas and therefore, the body is sending blood, collagen, and promoting healing in the face. This promotes blood circulation to the skin and can treat a variety of skin issues including but not limited to: fine lines, wrinkles, redness, dryness, and acne.
It gets even better.
When receiving a cosmetic acupuncture treatment, you will also have a full body traditional acupuncture treatment. In doing this, we are able to target skin issues from the inside out (think hormones or digestive issues resulting in acne). Not only that, but we can also treat anything else you may have going on at the time health-wise. Each treatment is completely personalized to you as an individual, making the benefits extend much farther than just skin-deep.
A commonly asked question about is whether or not cosmetic acupuncture hurts. I’m not going to lie to you and say it’ll be completely painless, and you’ll be blissfully unaware of the needles in your face. BUT, generally all you will feel is the occasional prick of the needle going into the skin due to the face being more sensitive than many other areas of your body. If you’ve had botox this will feel like nothing. Many of us also tend to hold tension in our face, so there may be spots that just feel a bit more tense and you may experience a heavy, dull, or achy feeling. On this note, cosmetic acupuncture is great for more than just skin issues; It can also be very beneficial for headaches, TMJ pain, and sinus issues as well.
A comparison of acupuncture needles alongside common household items. From top to bottom: cosmetic acupuncture needle, body acupuncture needle, sewing needle, bobby pin, and a match.
Now for the most important question… How many treatments does it take to see results?
This question varies completely from person to person. As a rule of thumb, I recommend coming consistently (every 1-2 weeks) for your first 4 treatments. From there we can see how your skin is responding and alter the treatment plan based off of that. This way you will also see changes quicker. Unfortunately, I also can’t tell you what kind of changes you will see in your skin. Again, it all depends on how an individual responds to a treatment, how well they follow their treatment plan, and what it is that we are working on. In my experience I’ve had some patients notice significant changes to their skin after as little as 1-2 sessions, whereas I’ve had some take upwards of 5+ treatments. When patients first start coming to see me, I recommend they take progress pictures, so they have a reference point. It is difficult since we look at our faces every day in a mirror to see the subtle changing that are taking place. Although, I have had endless feedback from patients saying their friends and family have pointed out the changes in their face. 👀
Something I always make sure everyone is aware of — There is always a risk of bruising. Even when going to a licensed professional, your skin on your face is so vascularized and sometimes bruising is inevitable. The good news is the bruising is often minor and only lasts about a week or so. A small price to pay for beauty. Other minor side effect includes redness, but this often recedes within the next hour.
Important to note: If you have acupuncture benefits this can be billed under acupuncture! Since we are helping with internal imbalances in your body and not just targeting the skin, this is a medical treatment first and foremost. If you are on any medications for skin, medical grade retinols, are pregnant, or have a bleeding disorder please disclose it with your practitioner.