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How did I come across cosmetic acupuncture?
I’m at that age where wrinkles start showing up and not only are they sticking around, they’re getting deeper. Ahem. I was occasionally getting facials but wondered if that was doing enough for the long-term health of my skin.
I have many friends doing Botox, no judgment here, but that is just not something I’m willing to inject in my face.
I was looking for a more natural way to reduce wrinkles and lines and tighten skin, you know, get back that youthful glow.
So I googled natural alternatives to Botox. I came up with micro needling, lasers, and cosmetic acupuncture.
Here are some comparisons:
Microneedling may go anywhere from .25mm to 2.5 mm into the epidermis, barely getting into the dermal layer where all the collagen and elastin are. Acupuncture goes deeper, 4-5 mm, treating all the way down to the base layer of the dermis.
Since your skin regenerates from the base layer outward, when your treatment goes deeper you get a more wrinkle-reducing effect and the results last longer. Microneedling may also dry out your skin and increase sensitivity to the sun, whereas cosmetic acupuncture helps your skin look dewier and doesn’t create photosensitivity (you should still always wear sunscreen though because that’s your first line of defense against aging!).
Laser skin resurfacing uses lasers to remove the outer layers of skin to promote the growth of newer, healthier skin, but it may take months to see results, there can be up to 3 weeks healing time, and there’s a risk of blistering or changes in skin pigmentation.
Here’s what I found out about cosmetic acupuncture that made me go that route.
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Cosmetic acupuncture has no downtime, meaning you can walk out of your appointment without anyone knowing you had it done. Microneedling can require several days of downtime and laser skin resurfacing can keep you hiding out for a couple weeks.
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It works with your body and is completely natural.
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Two of the best benefits of cosmetic acupuncture are that it addresses the underlying imbalances causing aging (deficiency, stress, damage from the sun or smoking) and it’s an incredibly relaxing procedure. Going to the dermatologist can be painful, whereas after the needles are in you get a relaxing nap during cosmetic acupuncture and walk out feeling blissful and refreshed.
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According to Senia from Healing Insights: “Cosmetic acupuncture won’t give you the dramatic effects of Botox because we’re not freezing your muscles. But it’s less risky than injecting botulism into your face (I had one patient who refused to do botox anymore because it froze one of her eyebrows higher than the other and for six months she looked perpetually perplexed). Cosmetic acupuncture is perfect if you want to improve the skin you’re in, not erase your life from your face.”
How does cosmetic acupuncture work?
According to Healing Insight’s website:
“At each cosmetic acupuncture session, we insert very small needles into the skin on your face and/or neck. These needles create gentle micro-trauma to the skin and the body responds by sending blood to the area and rebuilding the deeper layers of your skin. As your skin regenerates it creates new collagen and elastin that’s firmer and smoother. Collagen and elastin take 5 weeks to rebuild and set.”
What it can be used for:
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Dry or lustreless skin
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Fine lines
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Deep wrinkles
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Bags under eyes
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Dark circles under eyes
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Drooping eyelids
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Blemishes
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Rosacea
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Melasma
Here are some of the benefits of cosmetic acupuncture:
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Brighter and more lustrous complexion
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Reduction in fine lines
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Smoothing of deep wrinkles
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Less bags under eyes
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Reduction in dark circles
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Tighter, less sagging skin
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More open eyes
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Smoother skin tone
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Less acne, rosacea, and melasma
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Clearing or lightening of age spots
AND, Bonus Benefits because not only does cosmetic acupuncture work on your face, it also treats underlying imbalances in your body.
Here are a few Bonus benefits people have reported:
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Better sleep
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More energy
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Fewer hot flashes
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Better mood
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Better digestion
Q& A with Senia Mae
Who is a good candidate for this?
Women and men in the mid-30s can reduce their first signs of aging and maintain their youthful skin for longer than if they did nothing. It is easier to prevent wrinkles then reverse them. In your 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s patients report looking up to 10 years younger.
How long can I expect results to last?
Most patients report benefits for up to 5 years, then choose to do the protocol again for a “refresher”. We do recommend a monthly maintenance appointment.
What is the cost?
The cost varies by practitioner and starts at $1200 for the entire package (or $120 per treatment).
How many treatments will I need?
The protocol calls for 2 treatments per week for 5 weeks – a total of only 10 treatments! Then people often choose to come for maintenance treatments once a month as needed.
Does it hurt?
Most patients report little to no pain at all.
Is there anyone this isn’t good for?
Cosmetic Acupuncture is contraindicated for some pituitary disorders, heart disorders, uncontrolled high blood pressure, individuals with pacemakers, bleeding or bruising disorders, and for those who currently suffer from migraine headaches. Cosmetic Acupuncture should not be performed during pregnancy, during an allergic reaction or during an acute herpes outbreak. We’ll evaluate all of this during your initial consultation.
Are there any side effects?
Side effects are minimal. Occasionally there may be light bleeding or bruising after a needle is removed.
How long has this been around?
Cosmetic Acupuncture has been performed for thousands of years in China. As early as the Sung Dynasty (960AD-1270AD) Cosmetic Acupuncture was performed on the Empress and Emperor’s concubines. For centuries, the Chinese have known that beauty radiates from the inside out. If the internal body is nourished and the energy and blood are flowing smoothly, the external body will reveal this radiance.
Does it help with acne?
Cosmetic acupuncture can help with acne, but acne is a sign of an internal imbalance that we need to heal. For the best results, we typically start with dietary changes and herbal remedies for a few months to get at the source of the acne before we do cosmetic treatments.
Does it help with dark circles?
Cosmetic Acu can slightly reduce dark circles and bags under the eyes. Bags under the eyes usually indicate a digestive imbalance so we need to heal that first and fix your diet for the long term to get the best results.
Redness?
Cosmetic Acu is great for redness in your skin! All of our patients report a decrease in rosacea and spider veins and have more even skin tone, even those who have naturally reddish skin. For significant cases, we’ll often use herbs and dietary changes as well for the best results.
Crepey skin?
Absolutely! Crepiness and fine lines are the two best issues that cosmetic acupuncture smoothes out!!
What other issues, besides cosmetic, have you seen people improve with cosmetic acupuncture?
Several of my patients have come in saying they look tired and feel old, often after a stressful time in their life or a recent surgery. It’s fun to watch their energy improve with the cosmetic acupuncture; by the end, they look more vibrant and full of life again.
In one of my more severe cases I had a patient who suffered from colitis and despite being on medications she still had terrible urgent bowel movements multiple times a day and felt tired all the time. Digestion is one of my specialties (and the health of your gut can show up in your skin too as pale or red skin, bags under the eyes, or acne) so I worked on her gut during her cosmetic treatments. By the time we were done she was having normal bowel movements again and started a bridge club and hosted weekend parties because she felt back to her younger self again!
You consider yourself a holistic health practitioner. Can you explain that and how it comes into play with cosmetic acupuncture?
Holistic health practitioners look at the whole body and mind and treat the whole person, not just one organ. Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture are the original holistic medicine, so whether someone’s coming in for stress, anxiety, digestive issues, or anti-aging, I diagnose and treat the entire body. So even if you’re coming in for cosmetic acupuncture, we’re treating the underlying imbalances that affect your skin, whether it’s stress, inflammation, poor diet, or any number of other imbalances. That sets this technique apart from a med spa or dermatologist who’s only treating your skin.
Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow where I share my journey, Before and After pictures, and a video!!
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