The Benefits of Cosmetic Acupuncture

Beauty standards and expectations aren’t anything new.

For centuries, people have been fighting the good fight against aging. As we grow in knowledge and technology, the options for skin care, self improvement, and achieving the youthful glow have grown, transformed, and in some ways been revolutionary. But what about the techniques used centuries before? Is cosmetic acupuncture effective or even worth the time? Of course my answer as a Chinese medicine doctor is a resounding YES!!! But, let me tell you why. 

Chinese Medicine has been around for thousands of years. Techniques like gua sha, facial rolling, etc that are now filling your Instagram and Tik Tok feeds aren’t anything new. And while there’s no doubt that holistic, anti-aging treatments are on the upswing, people have been using these beauty methods since at least the Ming Dynasty (about 700 years ago) to improve facial toning, elasticity and to prevent and reduce the appearance of drooping and wrinkles.

Cosmetic acupuncture, however, is the gold standard of natural anti-aging. With very fine needles, a practitioner will gently and methodically thread fine lines in the face, release trigger points in the face, head and neck that cause more rapid aging. The needles increase blood flow to the area, and stimulate collagen and elastin production due to the micro-trauma cause to the site. 

Other benefits of cosmetic acupuncture we’ve seen include:

• Reduced Acne

• Minimized Pores

• Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

• Brighter and more even complexion

• Melasma reduction

• Reduced puffiness and facial swelling

• Improved facial muscle tone

• Reduced skin sagging

• Reduced jaw tension

• Improved skin texture

While Botox may work faster, the results are not long lasting. Cosmetic acupuncture has best results after about 10-12 treatments and a patient will see gradual results over the treatment period. It is best to see a practitioner who can do a whole body evaluation, and prescribe herbs to augment results. If you’ve ever had acupuncture before, a cosmetic acupuncture session is not much different. Your practitioner will evaluate the entire body, take pulse and possibly look at the tongue to understand your body and the patterns that it holds. As we all know, a healthy inside reflects on the outside. If we were to only address what we see on the outside, internal patterns causing certain problems with our skin will only return over time.

A licensed acupuncturist and herbalist is trained to ask the correct questions, and will create a wellness plan to go along with your cosmetic acupuncture sessions. Best results are achieved when the patient sticks with the plan and is consistent with care. 

So now that you know the basics, let’s talk about Botox and how the two treatments compare to one another. To state the obvious, Botox includes injecting a “botulinum toxin,” a bacteria which temporarily paralyzes the treated muscle, which tightens the skin that lies over that muscle. Best used for “dynamic wrinkles,” or wrinkles caused by facial movements, it is often used on the forehead and around the mouth, areas that incur frequent movement or expression. 

Although it involves the use of toxins, the form used is a more pure and ultra-diluted form of the botulism we all know to be extremely toxic to the human system. It is considered safe when administered by a trained professional. Common side effects include pain, swelling, bruising, droopy eyelids as well as a few other uncommon issues. 

With this info in mind, lets compare the two procedures: 

Both procedures do different things to get results. Botox has an immediate result, and when swelling or bruising is present, it often goes away quickly. However, Botox is not a permanent solution and typically needs to be administered 2-5 times a year. It also does not improve the quality of your skin. While it relaxes lines and wrinkles, the elasticity of the skin and skin tone do not change. Some experience allergies to Botox, or other side effects. Most are mild, but others can be more severe, including nausea, headaches, drooping, loss of speech. Botox also runs the risk of losing certain facial expressions while active.

Cosmetic acupuncture may not give an immediate result, though you will likely feel relaxed and rejuvenated after your first session. Using Chinese Medicine can help improve the overall quality of your skin while evening skin tone, reducing dark circles under the eyes, and will have longer lasting results. Cosmetic acupuncture will actually fill in fine lines in a more permanent fashion. After your initial sessions which will be spaced close together (usually once or twice a week for 5-8 weeks), a monthly tune up session is suggested to maintain results. Repeating the protocol once a year will maintain longevity of results and even slow the aging process in the face. Incorporating a regular gua sha routine will give phenomenal results overall.

Botox and acupuncture actually work in opposite ways. While Botox immobilizes muscles around the injection site, it limits blood and lymph flow to that area, while acupuncture works by restoring flow to the tissues. 

In addition to addressing your needs with skin, we treat many things through the face — allergies, fertility, joint pain, stress, tension, and so much more. Acupuncture is an all encompassing practice, and skin health is not separate from our overall health. 

But what if I don’t want to use acupuncture instead of Botox?

That’s totally fine! Many people love getting Botox and love the instant results. If you just got Botox, its actually best to avoid facial acupuncture (a regular acupuncture session is just fine, though!), so tell your practitioner before you hop on the table of any recent injections as facial acupuncture can actually interfere with the effectiveness of the injection. Remember that whole bit on how they work in opposite ways? Acupuncture wants to restore the flow, while Botox is meant to inhibit it. I always recommend that my patients who have had Botox come in for a couple of cosmetic treatments just before their next Botox session to keep things moving in the face and prevent too much stagnation from occurring. 

Does cosmetic acupuncture hurt? 

This is more of an “it depends” answer. Typically, no, but everyone has a different level of sensitivity. If any of the needles feel uncomfortable, it’s typically just for a moment or two. Once everything is placed, everything should feel comfortable enough that you could even nap through your session as the needles sit and do the work. The needles used for cosmetic acupuncture are so small that they can fit inside the hollow part of a Botox needle, so if you’ve experienced pinching with Botox, you should not expect to experience the same with acupuncture.

After a cosmetic acupuncture session, you will walk out in a haze of euphoria and relaxation. You’ll feel and see the increased blood flow and qi to your face making your skin look brighter and a bit more taut. You may feel more energized, less stressed, less body tension, as your practitioner should be addressing your body and pattern as a whole. If your acupuncturist is only placing needles in your face but ignoring the rest of your body, this is a bit of a red flag and you may want to seek out another practitioner.