Concerned about smile lines, wrinkles, and saggy skin? Or perhaps you have issues with acne, redness, and inflammation. Or you’re just looking for a non-invasive and natural alternative to botox or other skin care procedures. Look no further,
facial acupuncture is here to help!

What is Facial Acupuncture

First, what is facial acupuncture? Well, long story short, your acupuncturist puts needles in your face. Usually around 20-50 needles in one session. All those little needles are targeting the muscles in your face creating a tight and toned effect. Ever missed a couple of work outs and you feel your muscles get soft? And then you work out and your muscles start feeling rejuvenated and hard again? That’s essentially what the treatment does: it”s a workout for your face! When you put the needles into the muscles, blood flows to the wound and heals your skin. This process refreshes, tightens, de-puffs, and brightens your skin. Which brings us to the most important part:

What are the Benefits

The top 5  benefits are: de-puffing, clear up acne, calming rosacea, brighten dull skin, and finally tightening and toning. In general, it is anti-aging because it boosts collagen production in your face to reduce wrinkles. It also boosts elastin in your face to tone it and make you appear younger. Rather than trying to add to your skin or cover it, acupuncture will help your body heal and improve itself. This is another great benefit of acupuncture over many harmful chemical treatments and cheap skin products with harmful ingredients.

 How it works 

Just like micro-needling, acupuncture causes micro trauma to your face which encourages blood flow and collagen production. Additionally it will help your skin “shed” faster. What I mean by “shedding” is that your skin is in a constant cycle of getting rid of old skin cells and generating new ones. This typically happens
in 4-6 week cycles. Acupuncture helps speed up and nurture this process. Perhaps clogged up pores and too many layers of dead skin on your face is causing your acne. Treatments will help your skin heal itself during these cycles.

Pain? How long will it last?

 – FAQ- 

So is facial acupuncture painful?

The answer, not really. Needles are going into your face and certainly some areas of your face are more sensitive than others but the pain is very brief and then goes away. If you’ve ever gotten your eyebrows threaded or waxed, that’s way more painful! Even though the needles typically stay in your face for around 20 minutes at a time you quickly become used to the sensation and it becomes relaxing. My patients usually fall asleep during their treatments if that gives you any indication!

How quickly can I see results and how long do they typically last?

Amazingly, you’ll see a difference right away. You”ll appear more glowing and your skin looks brighter, skin becomes tighter, and if your acupuncturist is focused around your jawline, you probably look like you lost some weight. Of course depending on the person, the longevity of treatment will vary but usually results last 2-5 days. Now that may not seem long, but getting around 10 treatments in 1 week increments and  the results will last for a year!  Side note: when you’re younger you tend to heal faster, so younger people tend to get the result faster than other patients. You’ll still see the results but they might take a little longer!

After Treatment?

Nothing is necessary, but why not treat yourself and help improve results! Why not treat yourself to full face treatment and put on a nice face mask or your favorite toner to round out your treatment! Your face is a sponge after, so why not use this as an opportunity to add more vitamin C or healing ingredients at this time. This little boost will help speed up the healing process and improve your skin.

Should I get acupuncture right before a big day like a wedding?

Don’t do it right before! Sometimes bleeding and temporary bruises may occur. No need to panic it doesn’t happen often and they are very temporary because of how fast your face will heal. But that means that you should be mindful of how that will affect big days where you will be taking lots of pictures. I recommend that you either book an appointment for a week before the date OR starting 3 months before going in once a week. You’ll look glowing and youthful for sure on your big day.

Will my acupuncturist just put needles in my face?

Probably not. But that’s a good thing! Your acupuncturist will probably put needles in your legs and maybe in the top of your head as well. They will target certain points that promote relaxation in your whole body. Another reason is to keep balance in your body. If you just put needles in the face, blood will rush to that area, causing you to be lightheaded and dizzy after. Drawing blood to other areas such as your legs helps create that balance to make sure you feel good.

Conclusion

So overall, facial acupuncture is a healthy, powerful tool to improve your skin and complexion. Good for quick and noticeable results, I recommend facial acupuncture to those who are interested in trying out a new skin care treatment or routine.
If you’re interested in trying it out in Tokyo, go to my services page and book an appointment with me. Or if you have a question, comment below.