Is Facial Acupuncture the new Botox? 

Rejuvenating your skin and wellness naturally with Facial Acupuncture!

A mere mention of acupuncture often makes people scrunch their face in anticipated pain, what more when you tell them that you will poke acupuncture needles into their face! While there has been a recent resurgence of interest in Facial Acupuncture, it has a long history. Before the Warring States period in Chinese history (475- 221 BC), acupuncture treatments for cosmetic purposes were mostly a luxury, generally reserved for the Empress and the Imperial concubines for their beauty, health and longevity. ¹

 

More recent research points to the efficacy of Facial Acupuncture for aesthetic results. A 1996 report in the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture reported that in 300 cases treated in China with cosmetic Facial Acupuncture, 90% reported marked effects with just one course of treatment. The effects included improvement in skin texture and colouring, increased elasticity, reduction of wrinkles and overall rejuvenation (not merely confined to the face). ²

 

However, acupuncture is not used to treat beauty concerns singularly because it is believed in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that beauty originates from inside out, given the strong relationship between health and appearance. From the TCM perspective, many meridians either start or end on the face or some have branches that go to the face, correlating the relationship of health and appearance. ³  For example, facial skin pigmentation is often associated with poor Qi and blood flow to the facial region. Hence, acupuncture can be applied to selected acupoints away from the face which in turn helps relieve the pigmentation.

 

 

What exactly is Facial Acupuncture and how does it help your skin?

Facial Acupuncture involves inserting thin and disposable acupuncture needles into specific points on the face, head and neck. This is usually for aesthetic purposes with a focus on facial anti-ageing and facial rejuvenation. Collagen is the protein responsible for tightness and vibrancy in the skin. Its production slows down as we age, which can lead to fine lines, wrinkles and a decline in elasticity in our skin. The act of needling into the skin causes positive micro-trauma to the skin which encourages blood flow and collagen production, leading to the treatment and prevention of the signs of ageing. The improved localized blood supply helps to strengthen and tighten the facial tissues for a glowing complexion. ⁴

 

“[Facial Acupuncture] reduces the sign of aging by revitalizing the skin, brings youthful glow and cultivates Qi circulation, increase in blood flow, production of collagen & elastin, balances Qi, balancing internal zang fu organs.

 

It enhances radiance of complexion rejuvenation for body, reduce stress, promote overall health & well-being diminish fine lines & wrinkles, age spots, decrease dark circles/bags, increases moisture decrease puffiness of entire face and under eyes, increases in facial muscle tone balances hormones, clears acne and hormonal acne, tightens pores, improves elasticity of facial muscles”

 

— Lisa LaCova-Bhat, President of Lmar Integrative Holistic Medicine & Anti-Aging Therapies, Inc, USA

 

 

 

How does Facial Acupuncture help with your wellness?

In TCM, the body system is seen as a whole, and skin problems often reflect disharmony in the body. Facial Acupuncture aims to improve the body’s constitution and create balance in the internal environment of the body to bring out better complexion from within. Thus, other than stimulating acupoints on the face, related acupoints on other parts of the body, such as hands and legs, are also utilized. This will help to address the underlying root cause of the problem.

 

The specific acupoints are chosen depending on the underlying health imbalances of the individual and their specific ageing concerns. According to the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine reportedly written by a famous Chinese emperor around 2600 BC (Huang Di Nei Jing), the complexion, hair and skin are related to the state of the internal zang fu organs. [3] Specifically, the hair is governed by the kidneys and the skin is governed by the lungs. This medical classic also explores the relationship between diet, health, and appearance and has dietary recommendations for food and Chinese herbs.

 

 

Unlike Western facial treatments, Facial Acupuncture is often not a quick fix. It is a customized treatment based on the body’s overall condition and offers a holistic approach to managing skin problems. This will help to create long term changes to the skin and body health, such as a brightened skin tone, reduced dark eye rings and improved skin elasticity leading to a sharper jawline.  Similar to acupuncture, the common side effects of Facial Acupuncture is light bruising which happens in about 1 out of 5 sessions. It is almost a zero-downtime facial treatment as compared to other more invasive treatments.

 

Who is Facial Acupuncture suitable for?

Facial Acupuncture is safe for most healthy individuals. However, for people with skin infections, open wounds, tumours, bleeding disorders, serious health conditions and acute diseases, it is best to seek a consultation with our Physicians before embarking on Facial Acupuncture. In cases of severe acne, the session will be focused more on acupoints on the body rather than the face.

 

What does a complete Facial Acupuncture treatment plan look like?

A suggested treatment plan will be 10 sessions, 1-2 times a week, to see optimum results. After that, depending on the body’s condition, one can get a session every 2-4 weeks to maintain the results.

 

 

 

Your beauty and wellness is the most important

In Oriental Remedies Group, we have more than 10 certified bi-lingual TCM Physicians. Each of them has been trained in Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and China for a minimum of 5-8 years, in both Biomedical Science and TCM before being certified to practice in Singapore. Specifically, we have Physician Poh who specializes in female beauty and infertility.

 

After knowing all the benefits of Facial Acupuncture, are you ready to book a session with us and get the glow back to your skin? Please contact us at +65 8142 2163 for a personalized consultation.

 

 

This article is written by Senior Physician Julie Low. Oriental Remedies Group, with contribution from Wellness Blogger Beatrice Liu.