Acupuncture is known for its health benefits, such as pain relief and increased energy. Something that people in the western world are still learning about is acupuncture can be used on your face for cosmetic benefits as well. Facial acupuncture takes focus off of the body and onto the face to reduce wrinkles and other lines.
However, before you jump into facial acupuncture, you should be aware of its risks as well. Below, we will explain how acupuncture works, what its benefits are, and potential side effects.
How Does Facial Acupuncture Work?
Facial acupuncture often begins with body needles to relax the body before relaxing the face with fine dermal needles. The needles that are inserted in your face are different than those used for the body. Some acupuncturists follow a procedure, such as the Mei Zen method, then add extra needles for wrinkles and fine lines.
Why are body needles inserted when you’re receiving facial acupuncture for wrinkles? A person’s state of health is linked to their skin health. De-stressing the body plays a roll in diminishing wrinkles. You’ll see better results if you take a well-rounded approach to eliminating wrinkles.
Facial acupuncture for wrinkles works by:
- improving blood circulation;
- increasing collagen production;
- nourishing the skin.
The average facial acupuncture for wrinkles session is 45 minutes long. And it usually takes five sessions for a client to notice results. Facial acupuncturists recommend 5-10 sessions in which you receive facial acupuncture weekly or biweekly. After that, you only need treatment every 4-6 weeks for maintaining results.
Is Facial Acupuncture Effective for Removing Wrinkles?
Many people have found facial acupuncture effective for removing wrinkles. Studies have found that the act of inserting a needle inside the skin causes an inflammatory response that increases circulation. Over time, the inflammatory response from needling triggers collagen production.
Collagen is a protein found in multifarious parts of the body, including bone, muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and skin. When it comes to the skin, collagen gives it elasticity and strength. Collagen also replaces dead skin cells. One of the reasons facial acupuncture for wrinkles is effective is its boosting of collagen. If you understand what causes wrinkles, then you know why cosmetic acupuncture works.
Ultraviolet light is one of the top causes of wrinkles. UV rays break down collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. Collagen production naturally slows down as a person ages as well, so even if you wear sunscreen to protect your skin against UV light, facial acupuncture can be beneficial for preventing and removing wrinkles.
According to certified acupuncturist Nancy Winlove-Smith, no matter how small an injury is, the body’s response to it is to send collagen to the area for repair. Considering 50-60 needles are inserted in the skin for facial acupuncture, a good amount of collagen is sent to that area for repair. The collagen “plumps” that area, resulting in a more youthful appearance.
Another reason facial acupuncture for wrinkles is effective is the muscles contract when a needle is inserted. This muscle contraction helps tone the muscles. Toned muscles look more youthful and healthful than sagging skin.
Advantages and Disadvantages According to Customer Reviews
Facial acupuncture has been cited as having a wide range of benefits, such as diminishing dark circles under the eyes, brightening the skin, eliminating crows feet, and diminishing lines around the lips. One customer said she noticed all of these benefits after cosmetic acupuncture. The biggest change she experienced, however, was the lines from her nose to the corner of her lips completely fading. She said that she feels much better about her looks now, which is yet another advantage of facial acupuncture. It helps restore your confidence, so you don’t feel insecure about your appearance.
Some acupuncturists include exfoliation and steaming as part of their procedure, which many clients find relaxing. A 65-year old who gifted herself facial acupuncturist sessions to restore her confidence said she enjoyed the exfoliation and steaming at the beginning of her session. Facial acupuncture can also minimize frown lines, heal scarred skin, and diminish deep forehead lines.
Although facial acupuncture has many benefits, you must keep in mind that each person is different. No one can guarantee that you’ll have the same results as another. As some customers of facial acupuncturists have said in their reviews, some lines didn’t go away entirely. Lines may diminish in severity but still exist. Other lines and wrinkles can disappear completely.
Facial Acupuncture Side Effects
Before booking a cosmetic acupuncture appointment, you should also be aware of its possible side effects. Potential side effects of facial acupuncture include:
- bruising;
- discoloration;
- soreness;
- muscle twitching;
- lightheadedness.
These side effects, however, are only temporary. Bruising isn’t a serious concern; it’s mostly just an aesthetic issue. You may not want bruises on your face.
People who have high blood pressure, migraines, or seizure disorders are at greater risk of negative side effects from facial acupuncture.
How Much Does Facial Acupuncture for Wrinkles Cost?
Facial acupuncture for wrinkles costs around $75-$175 per treatment. This might seem like a lot at first, but when you compare the overall costs to other cosmetic procedures, you’ll realize that facial acupuncture is cheaper. Moreover, once you go into the maintenance phase, you only have to pay that $75-$175 every 4-6 weeks. The key is to follow through with all of your initial appointments to make it to maintenance.
You only need 5-10 sessions each week for the initial treatment, which is $375-$1,750 total. Many cosmetic procedures are more expensive than that and require downtime from work for recovery.
Summing Up
Cosmetic acupuncture is a viable method of reducing wrinkles, rejuvenating skin, and obtaining a younger appearance. It can solve many problems that plague people as they age, such as crows feet, frown lines, deep forehead lines, and laugh lines.
If there are any lines or wrinkles on your face that you feel insecure about, you can let a facial acupuncturist know so they can target those lines. Let us know how this unconventional cosmetic procedure worked out for you!
