Cosmetic Acupuncture
What is Cosmetic Acupuncture and how does it work?
Cosmetic Acupuncture is a method of skin rejuvenation and anti-aging that is non-surgical. The insertion of tiny needles into the dermis and muscles of the face stimulates increased muscle tone, blood flow, and collagen synthesis. This naturally removes wrinkles and tones the face, whereas methods like Botox paralyze the muscles for them to relax.
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Has Cosmetic Acupuncture been proven?
The effectiveness of Cosmetic Acupuncture has been documented and shows that it works. One study involving 300 participants showed 90% of them had positive effects after just one treatment. These positive effects included a decrease in wrinkles, an increase in skin elasticity, and color and skin texture improvements. (1) Other evidence has shown benefits for treating facial melasma (skin spots/patches). (2)
Is Cosmetic Acupuncture safe?
Cosmetic Acupuncture is not only effective, but also safe for the majority of people. The most common negative side effect is small bruising around needle insertion spots. While it is safe for most people, there are some conditions that Cosmetic Acupuncture is not suitable for which include diabetes, pregnancy, hemophilia/those on blood thinners, and high blood pressure.
How many treatments are needed and how long will it last?
The number of treatments needed varies greatly depending on an individual’s goals and lifestyle. A standard course of treatment is 10-14 sessions done 2-3 times per week for 4-6 weeks. While many may start to see improvements immediately, completing the entire course of treatment is always recommended since facial acupuncture has a cumulative effect which will allow results to last longer.
Zhang, Q. and Zhu, L. (1996). Meridional Cosmetology: Report of 300 Cases with Discussion of Underlying Mechanism. The International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture, pp 401-405.
Rerksuppaphol L, Charoenpong T, Rerksuppaphol S. Randomized clinical trial of facial acupuncture with or without body acupuncture for treatment of melasma. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Feb;22:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.10.004. Epub 2015 Oct 30. PMID: 26850796.