Facial Acupuncture As Anti Wrinkle Treatment: How And Why It Works
For thousands of years, acupuncture has been utilised in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various medical conditions. According to the belief, issues with an imbalance in the movement of life energy, also known as qi or chi, may be the root of rapid skin ageing.
This is why restoring the energy flow in the face may revitalise the skin, fight ageing signs, and enhance general skin health. Acupuncture, a part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system, can be a treatment option if you're looking for a holistic strategy to address wrinkles.
This is relevant if you consider how general health, lifestyle, and looks are interconnected. So let’s take a look at how facial acupuncture can be a part of your skincare treatment against fine lines and wrinkles.
What Is Facial Acupuncture?
A popular type of acupuncture treatment in Malaysia that concentrates on the face, neck, and hairline is cosmetic acupuncture, also known as facial rejuvenation, or an acupuncture facelift.
Acupuncture of the face is divided into two categories:
- facial acupuncture
- cosmetic acupuncture
Facial acupuncture treats conditions that affect the muscles and tissues of the face. The symptoms of these conditions include:
- Jaw aches
- Muscle stiffness
- Stomach problems
- Headache
- Allergies
Contrary to its name, cosmetic acupuncture is a treatment that aims to balance the body's qi energy while rejuvenating the skin's appearance and texture. This theory is based on the yin and yang energies, which the ancient Chinese believed might affect the body, mind, and skin if they were out of balance.
Another difference between the two methods is that facial acupuncture often solely entails placing needles into the facial region to treat pain and discomfort symptoms. However, in cosmetic acupuncture, the therapist may even place needles in other bodily locations to cause the desired reaction in a particular area of the face.
How Does Facial Acupuncture Work?
There are two general types of face acupuncture, cosmetic acupuncture and facial acupuncture. Cosmetic acupuncture is the one that specialises in enhancing the look and feel of the skin while facial acupuncture addresses other facial conditions relating to the muscles and tissues.
However, in some other contexts, facial acupuncture may be viewed as a single, inclusive, broad category that encompasses both types of characteristics.
- Facial acupuncture: To relieve pain or discomfort, needles are slowly introduced into the different muscle sites within the face and surrounding regions. This pain could be an indication of an illness that a person has. Hence, facial acupuncture is being used as an alternative treatment in this aspect. This is typically done in conjunction with other therapies if the problem is severe.
- Cosmetic acupuncture: To activate the body's natural healing processes, needles are inserted into the face and possibly other locations as well, including the head and neck. Wrinkles and fine lines may become less noticeable after these treatments, giving the skin a healthier, brighter appearance. The objective here is to make the skin appear younger and more vibrant.
During facial acupuncture or micro-needling, tiny wounds are made in the skin by puncturing it with fine needles. This process will activate the body's natural tissue regeneration by boosting the lymphatic and blood flow, which improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the wounded area.
Additionally, microtrauma from facial acupuncture encourages the production of collagen and elastin-producing fibroblast cells and substances that reduce swelling. Collagen improves the skin's elasticity, firmness, and moisture.
As people age, their elastic components deteriorate, resulting in the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Elastin restoration improves the skin's texture, appearance, elasticity, and capacity for wound healing.
How To Prepare For The Treatment?
Get ready for your acupuncturist to discuss your health and lifestyle as a whole since acupuncture treats the body holistically. If this is your first time seeing an acupuncturist, you should prepare to do a preliminary assessment with them. You will also discuss topics other than facial lines with your physician, such as your diet, stress, hydration and more.
A clean face with no makeup or product on is required for your appointment. For at least five weeks before your facial acupuncture treatment, avoid getting Botox, fillers, or any other injectables because facial acupuncture can affect the effectiveness of your Botox.
What Are The Side Effects?
When done by a trained expert, acupuncture is typically safe. This is why individuals must consult a licensed acupuncturist. Acupuncture is thought to have minimal side effects. Some of the common side effects of facial acupuncture include:
- Soreness
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Dry skin peeling
- Swelling
Bruising and bleeding are especially common for individuals who take blood thinning medications. However, these side effects will usually subside after a few days.
Facial Acupuncture Benefits on Wrinkles
According to research, the benefits of facial acupuncture for wrinkles include improving the following conditions:
- age-related wrinkle length
- skin laxity
- muscle thickness
- pigmentary changes
- lighten melasma
Rejuvenate Your Skin Today With Facial Acupuncture!
Doux Visage is the first leading TCM health treatment in Malaysia to combine the power of Chinese Medicine with the goodness of Western beauty ingredients, Dr. Jenny Goh (PhD)'s speciality in treating skin issues is second to none! Call us at +603 7728 6113, +6012 622 4868 or contact us.
