Facial Acupuncture
One of the most popular purposes of acupuncture nowadays not only in the United States but all over the world is cosmetic. This trend is not new, and for facial rejuvenation acupuncture was used the moment it appeared 2,000 years ago. But back then in China only the wealthiest used cosmetic acupuncture. In our time, however, acupuncture for facial rejuvenation has become available to anyone who wants or needs it, in the east and west. The only difference is, in the past the needles were made of bones, stone, or bronze, were quite thick, often dull, and caused a significant degree of discomfort—to say the least! But today, due to modern technological advances, the needles that acupuncturists use for face are made of stainless steel, are sharp, are much thinner than they used to be (they are only a little thicker than a human hair), and do not cause pain.
Can Acupuncture Tighten Facial Skin & Remove Wrinkles?
Acupuncture, rooted deeply in the traditions of Chinese medicine, has found its place in the modern world as an alternative method to combat signs of facial aging. This practice believes that a body in balance will naturally reflect health and vitality externally, which includes a radiant, youthful face. The intricate technique involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the face, believed to stimulate blood flow and, potentially, promote collagen production. Collagen is a crucial protein for maintaining skin elasticity, and its enhanced production can lead to tighter skin and reduced appearance of wrinkles. Furthermore, the process of needle insertion creates micro-traumas, which triggers the body’s natural healing process, potentially leading to rejuvenated skin.
At institutions like the Advanced Holistic Center, this age-old practice is employed with a modern touch. Their experts harness acupuncture’s principles to address facial concerns, offering a non-invasive alternative to more contemporary treatments like Botox or facelift surgeries. Patients seeking a natural approach to combat wrinkles and achieve firmer facial skin often turn to such centers, where the fusion of ancient wisdom and modern understanding promises a holistic route to skin revitalization.
The Science Behind Facial Acupuncture: Does Acupuncture Stimulate Collagen Production?
Facial acupuncture, often heralded as a natural alternative to botox or surgery, has piqued interest in the realm of aesthetic and holistic treatments. The foundational science behind this ancient technique is the stimulation of the body’s healing mechanisms. When acupuncture needles are inserted into specific facial points, micro-traumas are created in the skin. In response, the body increases blood flow to these areas and initiates a wound healing process. This response is believed to stimulate the production of collagen, the protein responsible for skin elasticity and suppleness. While research on facial acupuncture is still emerging, many proponents assert its efficacy in reducing wrinkles, fine lines, and improving overall skin texture. Institutions like the Advanced Holistic Center have integrated facial acupuncture into their repertoire, offering clients a blend of traditional wisdom and modern skincare approaches.
Facial Acupuncture Benefits
Acupuncture is natural medicine, and its effects are cumulative and continue to progress throughout the course of treatment. Moreover, because of the traditional Chinese medicine’s holistic angle, patients can expect overall rejuvenation, not only of their faces (Doran, 2007). Traditionally, acupuncture relies on complex methods of Five Elements and Zang Fu organs for establishing a differential diagnosis for each individual patient. These methods have been refined and blended with the relevant scientific discoveries in China as well as other countries, and at the Advanced Holistic Center, we try to do our best to use the most effective and reliable methods available—ancient as well as recent but often combining the two—for our patients (Adkins, 2013). The treatment benefits may include elimination of some wrinkles and decrease in length and depth of others, decrease of facial puffiness and acne, improvement of facial muscle tone and skin texture with tighter pores, and decrease of sagging around the eyes, cheeks, chin, and neck (Barrett, 2005).
Undergoing facial rejuvenation in NYC or Miami can be challenging, considering the long hours that many New Yorkers and Miami residents work and the 10 to 60 acupuncture sessions recommended for optimal results (Emami Razavi et al., 2019; Doran, 2007), and in order to help our patients overcome these and other challenges, the Advanced Holistic Center is conveniently located near the subway in New York City and works longer hours than many other acupuncture clinics that offer cosmetic acupuncture in NYC.
The TCM Approach
Finally, let’s look at the most important issue that anybody who is considering having a face-lift using acupuncture: what will the face look like if compared with the western methods? Botox and collagen injection tends to make the face look like a mask. Of course, if only small areas of the face were injected, the results are not as mask-like as they are produced by larger areas, but the effects that traditional Chinese medicine produces are much different. The face will look more real, and the facelift occurs more gradually. While the wrinkles are rarely gone, they do become less visible, and the face usually looks healthier. At the same time, the results vary among individual patients. While some respond really well to the treatment, and their appearance becomes much younger, other patients have only modest improvement. These differences have also a lot to do with various innate qualities, which are difficult or even impossible to modify non-surgically. People who know the TCM facelift well typically begin their treatment by coming in for therapy 3–5 times a week for 3–4 weeks, but then, once they achieve the look that they want, they come in about once a week to maintain their appearance. In any case, we strongly recommend the classical approach, in which the entire body is treated holistically, and the face is additionally—rather than exclusively—addressed.
