What to Expect During Facial Acupuncture

Facial acupuncture is used to improve the health of your skin and loosen up facial muscles. It’s been used for centuries in China, but Western countries have only started adopting the treatment more recently. If you’ve been considering getting it for yourself but don’t know what to expect, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know!

Facial acupuncture is a fast-growing, modern alternative therapy that can help people of all ages with their skin, hair and general wellbeing. Facial acupuncture treatments can remove wrinkles, reduce acne, and improve skin texture. If you’re looking for an anti-ageing treatment with minimal side effects, facial acupuncture could be the perfect solution for you.

What is facial acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional, ancient Chinese practice that has been used for thousands of years. During acupuncture treatments, tiny needles are placed along specific points on the body in order to stimulate the body’s own healing response. This process stimulates the body’s natural healing response, which helps relieve pain and release tension. It also helps to balance our emotional state.

Acupuncture has been around for a few centuries and was first brought over to the UK in 1950 by physician Felix Mann. It quickly became popular for treating anything from muscle pain to headaches. There are many different types of acupuncture; a popular form is facial acupuncture. This treatment focuses on the face, neck, and hairline and it is because of this that it earns its name.

Facial acupuncture uses the power of very small needle pricks to increase blood flow and collagen production in the face to tighten the skin. These tiny needle pricks are created by inserting a sterile, disposable needle at specific points on the body. When these punctures are made, the body’s natural healing response is activated, leading to several benefits, including:

• A brighter complexion
• A reduced amount of acne 
• Minimised sizing in pores 
• A reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles 
• A reduced rate of “puffiness” and facial swelling
• A more defined facial muscle tone 
• Reduced jaw tension and sagging skin
• An improved texture of the skin

Who could benefit from facial acupuncture?

Side effects are minimal, and many people can use this treatment. Some patients use it as an alternative to cosmetic fillers because of the potential for facial muscle paralysis associated with BOTOX®. Also, if you want any anti-ageing benefits like those mentioned in the article, then facial acupuncture could be an excellent treatment for you.

There are certain precautions — the most important being that if the patient is currently taking blood thinners or has a blood clotting disorder, then acupuncture treatments will not be recommended. It’s also essential to let the practitioner know if you have received Botox injections, as they will want to make sure enough time has passed and that your body has fully received the Botox before beginning acupuncture treatments.

How long does facial acupuncture take?

Facial acupuncture is a treatment that lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. You should wear minimal makeup and avoid creams or lotions on the day of your treatment. There are no rigorous pretreatment procedures to follow, although avoiding taking blood thinners – such as ibuprofen – is a good idea.

What to expect from a facial acupuncture treatment

Your acupuncturist will ask you a series of questions to see whether or not acupuncture will be beneficial for you. They’ll also ask about your goals and discuss what to expect during the course of treatment.

On the day of your treatment, your acupuncturist will place tiny needles in various places on your face, neck, and hairline as needed. Your acupuncturist may also put some needles in your fingers and hands. The needles will usually stay for about 20 to 25 minutes. This is a great time to take a break from your busy day and relax, meditate, or listen to music.

After your session, the needles will be removed. Drink plenty of water and avoid consuming a lot of caffeine or alcohol to help flush out the toxins.

What Does Facial Acupuncture Feel Like?

You should feel comfortable throughout a facial acupuncture treatment and not be in pain. The procedure can be very relaxing, and many patients look forward to treatments.

Is there a recovery time needed from facial acupuncture?

After getting a facial acupuncture, you’re able to resume your activities. It’s a good idea to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, but you should be able to drive and exercise after treatment. You may experience mild bruising afterwards, though this is rare.

How many treatment sessions will I need?

The acupuncturist usually determines the number of treatments in an acupuncture session based on the patient’s condition and treatment goals. The precise number of sessions varies from person to person. It’s common for acupuncture to be followed by around ten sessions over a few weeks. After that, maintenance sessions can be scheduled less often.

If you would like to help people receive the benefits of facial acupuncture take a look at the acupuncture courses that I offer. We can provide you with the information and training you need to become a trained acupuncturist.