While facial plastic surgery offers several benefits to create a youthful appearance for the long-term, going under the knife can be costly – and too painful for some.   

Instead of resorting to facial plastic surgery, some people are enjoying dramatic results with cosmetic acupuncture instead. Facial acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in Chinese Medicine to reduce the effects of aging and rejuvenate the skin, muscles and joints. Acupuncturists can target key areas on the face to stimulate collagen production and encourage healthy cell growth. The treatment is an alternative to laser procedures and facial tissue manipulation, and can not only restore and enhance skin tissues, but also balances energy in the face and neck areas.  

Key Benefits of Facial Acupuncture  

Facial acupuncture techniques target specific acupoints on the face to stimulate the cells in the deepest layers of skin tissue. This is typically difficult to do with a facial or topical treatment alone, and is the reason why surgery or lasers are often chosen for facial rejuvenation procedures. 

Facial acupuncture can help to:  

• Improve skin tone Increase circulation in the face and neck area to ‘revive’ the face
• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Reduce bags under the eyes
• Minimize pores
• Restore facial tissue
• Firm up the neck area
• Create a ‘healthy glow’  

In addition to the outward benefits of the procedure, facial acupuncture can also bring many internal systems into balance. The different areas that acupuncture targets can affect the nervous and musculoskeletal system so that you can enjoy increased energy, healthier skin and just feel better overall.   

Laila Wah, a Doctor of Acupuncture at the Healing Wisdom clinic in Pennsylvania highlights the following effects of facial acupuncture on the entire body:  

• Clears up sinus congestion
• Boosts the metabolism
• Improves the immune system
• Reduces symptoms of insomnia
• Aids with digestion and constipation
• Reduces the risk of depression and other negative mental illnesses
• Reduces pain  

 (Source:  LailaWah.com)

What to Expect with Facial Acupuncture Treatments  

Most acupuncturists use a combination of acupuncture and acupressure techniques to achieve the desired results. The acupuncture process may involve both needles and electro stimulation on the key zones of the face, and the treatment can take up to one hour. The needles are very fine and most people will experience only a slight tingling sensation upon insertion and during the treatment.  

Acupressure is a gentle pressure point massage that also helps manipulate facial tissues to encourage healthy collagen growth. This part of the treatment is used in conjunction with the needles to gently massage and tone the skin. Maintaining results may require herbal supplements, eating a well-balanced diet and gentle facial massage on a weekly basis; still, most people can begin to see results after just a few weeks of treatment.  

Facelifts and other invasive surgery procedures can leave scars that take months and years to heal, and some treatments may require an extensive follow up care plan to maintain results. If you’re looking for a non-invasive facial rejuvenation procedure that can give you natural looking results, cosmetic acupuncture offers several benefits.  

Learn more about facial acupuncture in our information guide, or consult with a facial acupuncturist in your area to learn more about the treatment. Facial acupuncture techniques can be combined with alternative medicine to restore facial tissue and bring your entire body into balance.