Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture
While it may seem that cosmetic acupuncture is a more modern branch of Chinese Medicine, this style of acupuncture is actually well-documented as Mei Rong (medical cosmetology) as early as the Qin Dynasty (221-206BCE) and was generally reserved for the Empress and the imperial concubines to initiate the healing process for rejuvenation and longevity as well as health.
Descriptions of anti-aging treatments using acupuncture, facial massage, diet, Chinese herbs and Qi-Gong can be found in texts such as “Inner Cannon of The Yellow Emperor” where the relationship between the external appearance and the internal organs are explained.
If you are looking for a natural alternative to injectables, Cosmetic Acupuncture is for you!
Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture is a natural and holistic, minimal intervention treatment, that involves fine needles inserted into acupuncture points on the body, face, and scalp to help you feel and look amazing from the inside out.
People seek out treatments for many different issues, including but not limited to:
Fine lines and wrinkles
Natural anti-ageing
Uneven skin tone
Hyperpigmentation
Breakouts
Skin dryness
Dull complexion
Oiliness
Enlarged pores
Sagging skin
Dark circles under the eyes
Dropping eyes or hooded eyelids
Sun damage
Scarring
Stress and Skin Health
Stress can be such a huge factor not only in our overall well-being, it can also affect our skin health.
When our stress rises, the stress hormone cortisol rises, and when cortisol rises it can wreak havoc on your skin!
~ It can cause acne - cortisol can increase the amount of natural sebum your skin produces which can cause a build up and in turn pimples
~ It can dry your skin out - cortisol can trigger an inflammatory response which can appear as dryness, redness, and itchiness
~ It can cause wrinkles - cortisol reduces the natural proteins that are there to keep our skin bouncy and plump, causing find lines which can then turn into wrinkles.
~ It can cause accelerated ageing - cortisol speeds up the natural ageing process, causing early onset ageing like wrinkles, dull skin tone, and age spots.
Acupuncture can help reduce stress. With lowered stress you will not only feel good but your skin will thank you for it!
How Many Treatments?
I would love it if acupuncture was a one and done, but it’s not!
Just like regular acupuncture, cosmetic facial acupuncture is accumulative medicine, which means you need to do it frequently to start off to then be able to move into maintenance treatments without losing any of the work I have done. Starting off with weekly appointments is integral to get the ball rolling with your skin. After a while we can then reassess where you are at and then move you into fortnightly treatments, then monthly.
Using your natural skin cycle time according to your age is a great guide to work out how many sessions of cosmetic facial acupuncture you need weekly to start off. Your natural skin cycle is the time it takes the cells from the deepest layers of your epidermal skin layer to work their way up to the surface and then fall off. This slows down with age.
The average natural skin cycle for the age groups are:
20s and 30s - 25-45 days
40s and 50s - 45-60 days
60s and over - 60-90 days
So treatment wise you are looking at:
20s and 30s start with 4-5 weekly treatments
40s and 50s start with 6-8 weekly treatments
60s and over start with 9-12 weekly treatments
Then move into maintenance.
This of course is just a guide. I would also take into consideration the quality of your skin in your initial appointment, your current skin care products and regime, what other treatments you get, diet, dehydration and other factors that can cause skin damage such as your history of sun exposure, smoking, consumption of alcohol, medications, and stress.
Does it hurt?
The needles I use are a high quality Japanese needles called Seirin. These needles have a diameter of 0.10 of a millimetre to 0.14 of a millimetre. What does that mean? They are fine, super super fine. They are also super smooth to insert. A small amount of pinching may occur at the site of insertion when the needle is inserted, however, once they are in, they cannot be felt and you will be surprised how relaxed you become.
The jade stone gua sha facial and facial cupping doesn’t hurt at all, everyone tells me that they love it and wishes it never ends!
What’s involved in a treatment?
A Chinese Medicine diagnosis is first done via an in-depth consultation, checking your tongue and pulse, and conducting a full skin analysis. Once you get up on the table I will insert very fine needles into acupuncture points on your body. Next comes the needling into your face which is quick and as pain free as I can make it. Once they are all in, I leave you in the room to rest and let the needles do their thing. After a minimum of 15 minutes, I comes back, take the needles out and start your facial cupping, followed by your jade stone gua sha facial and a facial mist and some jade rolling to finish the treatment. You will leave feeling super relaxed and glowy!
Packages
Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture packages are available to help keep up your skin health consistency!
Each pack is an upfront payment and goes towards the next lot of Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture appointments you attend.
Pearl Package:
3 sessions for $420 ($140 instead of $150 per session)
Jade Package:
6 sessions for $720 ($120 instead of $150 per session)
Gold Package:
12 sessions for $1320 ($110 instead of $150 per session)
Each pack comes with a goodie bag which get bigger the larger the package you choose.
For T&Cs please find them here
How Can Acupuncture Help?
Acupuncture is the process of inserting fine, single use, sterile needles into acupuncture points on the body. The acupuncture points are chosen according to the Chinese Medicine diagnosis process where I take an in-depth history of your menstrual cycle and your current lifestyle, combining that with the palpation of the 12 Chinese pulses on your wrists and a look at your tongue.
Each treatment is individualised and works on the underlying reason of why YOUR skin is suffering.
I use a mixture of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Chinese Medicine dietary advice, Chinese Medicine lifestyle advice, supplements, as well as heat therapies like moxibustion and infrared heat lamps, to work on your underlying constitution.
I love watching people glow after a treatment!
So if you are looking for alternative and holistic help for your skin health, then get yourself booked in today.
I really look forward to meeting you!
x Dr Alice