Cosmetic Acupuncture

The centuries old art of acupuncture originated in China and eventually spread throughout the world. It has been used for the treatment of stress, anxiety and pain by inserting thin needles into specific parts of the skin. Part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this form of alternative medicine is still practiced today.

A subset of acupuncture called cosmetic acupuncture is used to reduce wrinkles, lighten deep wrinkles, increase collagen and make you look younger using the ideas of traditional acupuncture. Subsequently it is growing in popularity with celebrities and those trying to remain their youthful look. Other common names are facial acupuncture, facial rejuvenation and acupuncture facelift, though an acupuncture facelift is not really a facelift.

The treatment, whether it works or not, is fairly safe. This is because unlike Botox or a facelift, the needles inserted into the face do not introduce any chemicals or other toxic substances inside of the body. Furthermore the needles only pierce the superficial layer of skin and do not penetrate the body. In the hands of a licensed practitioner, the worst one will feel is pain from the needle prick or minor bruising. The biggest obstacle is that the treatment takes a chunk of time and is not a quick lunch break procedure.Yet after the procedure there is no recovery time to stop you from completing whatever you need to do.

Cosmetic acupuncture works through triggering the production of collagen, which clears up wrinkles by tightening the skin and increasing blood flow. Many patients claim to see some form of result after the first session - a decrease in baggy eyes, reduction of crow's feet, more energy and a flushed face. However not everyone sees immediate results and the system of cosmetic acupuncture is a process. It usually takes about 10 sessions and then monthly or yearly follow up visits for maintenance work with a cost of a couple hundred dollars per visit, price varying on amount of facial acupuncture performed and the practioner.

There are few recognized studies on cosmetic acupuncture at this point due to the challenges of having accurate double blind studies. Some studies have shown that the facial acupuncture does work, though there are usually faults in the study that make it an invalid as a reference. Many skeptics and scientists say that facial acupuncture is nothing more than the placebo effect, which could be true as the mind is a powerful instrument. Other lines of thought are that the muscles are relaxed by the acupuncture and this helps in relieving the stress of the patient, subsequently their faces clear up. This is weighed against the personal testimonies of those who have undergone the procedure and claimed to notice immediate results.

Whether the ancient Chinese method of acupuncture is in fact a way to fight the appearance of aging, I leave to you. It is a far safer procedure unlike complications that can result from Botox or facelift surgery so if you have time and some extra money it may worth your effort to see for yourself if it works. If you do try a facial acupuncture treatment or other form of acupuncture, make sure to see a licensed professional who will offer a consultation before actually beginning any procedures.