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Facial Enhancement Acupuncture

Look and feel more radiant with Facial Enhancement Acupuncture

Facial Enhancement Acupuncture, also known as Facial Rejuvenation or Cosmetic Acupuncture will concentrate on points and muscles of the face to help improve the elasticity of your skin and general overall appearance.

It’s a natural and holistic alternative to other skin treatments such as fillers, dermabrasion or surgery.  


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Putting your natural sparkle back

As we get older it’s only natural to look in the mirror and think ‘Wow, I’m looking tired/haggard/wrinkly…’
If we’re experiencing trauma, grief, strong emotions, feeling out of balance or in pain, it shows on our face. Environmental conditions and sun damage can also accelerate the natural ageing process. FEA aims to balance what’s going on internally so you look and feel more revitalised on the outside.

“It’s like having that post-holiday, radiant glow in your everyday life”

It’s all about creating an inner balance that promotes a healthy mind, body and spirit. In turn, this eases tension, often promotes better sleep and a sense of relaxation. It’s not a quick fix solution but it does have a cumulative effect. Being helped to release stress and tension in your face and body, leads to a more youthful appearance. Who wouldn’t like that?

What does an appointment actually entail?

“The results of having rejuvenating facial acupuncture is incredible. Instantly I looked younger and fresher not to mention how relaxing the actual treatment is. Sally makes you feel so comfortable in the environment she works in. A thorough consultation is carried out. My sleep is always great following facial acupuncture. Sally is calm, professional and has a great aura.”

– Sophie

How does it work?

On a topical level, acupuncture creates ‘micro-traumas’ in the skin’s surface. By needling directly into the fine lines and wrinkles on the face, we create miniscule wounds that the body then rushes to repair. As it does so, the body produces natural collagen and increases circulation to the area which helps plump out the line. With continued treatment, the line or wrinkle should gradually reduce and fade.

Acupuncture is widely believed to regulate the nervous system, improve sleep and energy, reduce stress, manage pain and boost the immune system, meaning you’ll look better because you’ll feel better.

“In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules.  The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic* mechanisms, promoting physical and emotional well-being.”

– From the British Association of Acupuncture ‘The Scope of Acupuncture 2020’.

*a state of balance among all the body systems needed for the body to survive and function correctly

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What can FEA help with?

In studies, FEA has been shown to help to increase skin elasticity, therefore improving the look of jowls and fine lines. The British Acupuncture Council also has a library of evidence-based fact sheets available on how Acupuncture may help with acne, facial pain, insomnia, neck pain, Bell’s Palsy and headaches.

Studies published in the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture in 1996 showed that: “…of 300 people who received Facial Acupuncture, 90% demonstrated marked results after only their first treatment.”

Other Benefits

NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) includes acupuncture in its pathway for the management of headaches and neck pain. General acupuncture is also used in the management of lower back pain, neck pain, temporomandibular pain and knee pain.

Research

In 2011 a pilot study carried out by the Kyung Hee University Hospital in Guangdong, Korea was published in the National Library of Medicine on the effects of FEA on facial elasticity. It noted significant improvements in the Moire Topography criteria used to measure facial contours and skin elasticity for the 27 participants in the study*

You can read more about the research here: Effect of Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture on Facial Elasticity – Effect of Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture on Facial Elasticity: An Open-Label, Single-Arm Pilot Study – PMC (nih.gov)

*It’s worth noting that everyone responds differently, especially if you have long term or chronic conditions.

History

Facial Enhancement Acupuncture is not a modern, fad treatment. Ancient manuscripts show that the practice of skin rejuvenation stretches back well before the arrival of the Sui (AD589-618) and Tang (AD618-907) Dynasties. At the start of the 20th century, a variety of prescriptions left by medicine men were unearthed from the Mogoa Grottoes at Dunhuang situated on the Silk Road in China. These were found to include literature on dermatology and a number of recipes for facial creams, hair tonics and shampoos. 

So it has been around for millennia and can be thought of as an extension of what an acupuncturist already does.

What to expect during our sessions

Our initial appointment will be an in-depth consultation covering your personal wellbeing and medical history so I can create a bespoke treatment plan. This is followed by a general balancing acupuncture treatment based on the information you’ve given me. All subsequent sessions will be focused primarily on the face.

Acupuncture needles may also be used on your hands or legs during our sessions, depending on what your consultation reveals.

You also get to deeply relax with either a hand or foot massage followed by a facial massage once the needles have been removed.

Treatment Length & Price

  • Initial consultation: 1.5hrs - £ 90
  • Follow up: 1.5hrs - £ 83
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Official Membership

The Association of Acupuncture Clinicians (AAC)

FAQ

In general after acupuncture you’ll likely feel really relaxed and grounded. Clients often say they sleep better, feel less stressed and are more balanced after treatment.

Occasionally the symptoms addressed through acupuncture can be aggravated before they improve. Minor bruising, though relatively rare, can happen as there are tiny, invisible capillaries under the skin, and should go within a day or two.

It’s best to wear loose, comfortable clothes that can easily be rolled up to expose arms or lower legs. You’ll need to remove your top so I can also work on your neck during the facial massage. I have blankets for warmth and modesty and will leave the room while you change. Ideally, facial jewellery should be removed and rings removed if you require a hand massage.

I also suggest you come without wearing make-up but I do provide make-up remover if you require it.

The needles are very fine, about the thickness or less of a human hair. They are medical grade, stainless steel, individually wrapped and single use only.
Most people don’t even feel acupuncture needles as they are administered.

I will place acupuncture needles on certain pressure points on the body, which help to produce a natural anaesthetic effect and I also use a topical, mild analgesic cream on the more sensitive areas of the face.

If you’ve had recent dermabrasion, laser skin surgery, a surgical facelift or injectable fillers, it is best to wait 3 months before booking in for FEA.

FEA is not suitable if you suffer with:

  • Chronic migraines
  • Cancer
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Diabetes

And also if:

  • Have a current cold, virus or flu
  • During an allergic reaction
  • Have a problem with excessive bleeding or bruising
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant
  • Have a pacemaker fitted

What does a treatment actually entail?

“Well that was amazing and WAY more than I was expecting!!”
 
So said another of my FEA (Facial Enhancement Acupuncture) clients today.
Turns out she thought she was going to be sitting in a chair and simply having needles to the face but not so! In case you thought the same, allow me to elaborate on what the treatment actually entails!
 
For an initial consultation, we firstly have an in-depth chat (up to 45 minutes) about all aspects of your health and wellbeing. I’ll be asking questions spanning head to toe, home to work, about family, lifestyle, nutrition, emotions and hormones.
 
My treatment room is a completely safe and confidential space and the more open you can be, the better I’m able to create a highly bespoke treatment plan, just for you. No cookie cutter needle protocols here!
 
Next, you’ll lie on the treatment couch, snug under some blankets, and I put some EMLA cream on the facial areas I’ll be working on. This is a topical analgesic cream and I don’t use it because the treatment is painful but because the face is sensitive and occasionally the needles can sting for a nanosecond on insertion.
 
Then I put needles elsewhere on the body – mostly in the arms, hands, legs and feet. Although it’s a facially focused treatment, we still get to treat the whole body. (Whoop!)
 
This is important because when body systems are out of balance, it all shows on the face. For instance, kidney issues* can lead to dark circles under the eyes. Spleen issues* manifest as sagging skin and jowls. Something known as blood deficiency can make your skin dry and pale. Everything is connected which is why we go into so much detail on your health before we start.
 
So then it’s back to the face to take off the EMLA cream and apply the facial needles. Some of these are the same as the body needles which are very fine, like the thickness of a human hair. The intra-dermal ones that we put along the wrinkles are really tiny and have to be put in with tweezers.
 
The lights go down.
The arm needles come out. The hand and arm massage begins.
You descend into deep relaxation.
The lower body needles come out. The leg and feet massage begins.
You are completely zen.
The facial needles come out and I massage the head, neck, shoulders and face.
I might have to wake you up!
You open your eyes and tell me you wish it didn’t have to end.
You’re looking fresh and radiant, feeling really calm and grounded.
You ask me my availability for your next treatment and skip out of the door!
 
* NB when I refer to Kidney or Spleen issues, I’m not diagnosing a physical problem with those actual organs but speaking from a Chinese Medicine perspective which looks at the whole body and systems from an energetic perspective. Chinese Medicine names all the meridians after organs/body parts which is how and why we collate symptoms to determine which meridians may be out of balance and treat accordingly.
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