Thousands of Australians are turning to acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, to fight the signs of ageing.
While the treatment modality has been around for more than 2500 years to help with all kinds of ailments, facial acupuncture for anti-ageing has become an increasingly popular non-surgical beauty trend since celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow embraced it in lieu of Botox.
While quality evidence supporting the effectiveness of this kind of procedure as an anti-ageing treatment appears to be scarce in the Western world, acupuncture facials have nevertheless been hailed on social media as a “natural facelift” that can refresh your appearance quickly with minimal adverse effects or downtime.
Costing between $250 and $360 per session, the treatment involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the face, which it is claimed can enhance blood flow, stimulate lymphatic drainage and boost collagen production.
“An acupuncture facelift or cosmetic acupuncture is a specialised treatment within traditional Chinese medicine that aims to rejuvenate the skin and enhance facial appearance without a surgical intervention,” said Chinese medicine practitioner Dr Marina Christov.
She said when the correct technique was used, cosmetic acupuncture could reduce fine lines and wrinkles, balance facial symmetry, eliminate puffiness and produce a natural glow.
“The most important aspect to this treatment is that it promotes oxygenation to keep the energetic meridians that traverse through the face healthy and vital,” Dr Christov said.
She explained there are six main meridians that run through the face in traditional Chinese medicine.
The gallbladder meridian runs through the temple and around the eyes, while the stomach meridian travels from below the eye, down through the cheeks and along the jawline.
Dr Christov said stimulating points found on the face affected the energy pathway that connected to the stomach system.
Everything was connected through the energetic grids of the body, she said, and nothing in the pathway to the face and body should be frozen or blocked. “The sooner we realise that beauty comes from the inside, the sooner we are going to embrace choices that are holistic in nature,” Dr Christov said.
“I try to educate younger patients who really have no real need for invasive treatments to try facial rejuvenation as part of their healthy skin maintenance routines.”
Dr Kathy Wang, director of Tao Acupuncture Clinic in Shenton Park, said more West Australians appeared to be turning away from Botox because they said they worried about the risks.
She said facial acupuncture was risk-free, apart from the minimal chance of light bruising. “Facial acupuncture is popular at our clinic among middle-aged people from about age 35-70 who want to look natural but rejuvenated and well-maintained,” she said.
“In Chinese medicine, we always believe beauty comes from internally so we are treating the body as well by helping to relax you and balance your body energy which makes the face look brighter, and fresher, and produces a more even skin tone while reducing fine wrinkles.
“If you have pigmentation it can also help with that.”
Dr Christov said people opting for the treatment could expect to feel “rejuvenated, lifted and refreshed straight after” their first 90-minute tailored session, but she recommended between six and nine weekly treatments for anyone chasing more dramatic results.
She said she began by conducting a comprehensive assessment to look at dietary, hormonal and stress-related influences on the body and skin before releasing any tension in the neck and shoulders.
She then starts the facial and scalp acupuncture and finishes with lymphatic drainage, gua sha massage and a microcurrent toning stimulation.
Dr Christov said she also issued her clients with a herbal prescription afterwards to support their desired outcomes.
“Thankfully, they (acupuncture facelifts) are becoming increasingly more popular and there has been a noticeable shift among some people away from Botox and fillers towards more natural and holistic alternatives such as acupuncture,” she said.
“We still have a long way to go. We need more education and empowerment on what really encompasses beauty, and the real building blocks of self-esteem, especially in the younger generations.”
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Dr Marina Christov reveals three ways to lift your face without using Botox or fillers
Facial acupuncture
Benefits: Brings the whole body into harmony, calms the nervous system while stimulating collagen production through the micro-trauma on the face, improving blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, leading to a natural lift in the skin.
Process: Ultra-fine needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points on the face and body to increase qi and oxygenate the tissues, balance the energy, and enhance overall skin health. This is a painless and deeply relaxing treatment if performed by a specialised traditional Chinese medicine doctor.
Short-term: Immediate relaxation with a subtle glow because of the increased blood flow. Moderate improvements in skin texture. A holistic plan of how to achieve long-term skin health and vitality.
Long-term: Gradual reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, improved skin tone and elasticity, and a more lifted appearance over several months with regular treatments.
Cost: $250-360
Facial massage and gua sha
Benefits: Enhances lymphatic drainage, reduces puffiness, and increases blood flow to the skin, promoting a lifted and toned appearance.
Process: Facial massage techniques and tools like gua sha stones are used to gently scrape the skin, releasing tension, and stimulating circulation.
Short-term: Immediate reduction in puffiness, improved skin radiance. Enhanced facial contouring may be visible after each session.
Long-term: Consistent use can lead to a firmer skin, reduced tension in the facial muscles, and a more sculpted and youthful appearance over time. The beauty of this is these techniques can be learnt, and the patient can perform gua sha in the comfort of their own home on a regular basis to enhance the effects of the acupuncture face lift.
Cost: Included in the facial acupuncture
Microcurrent therapy
Benefits: Stimulates the facial muscles, improves skin tone and firmness, and boosts collagen and elastin production.
Process: Low-level electrical currents are applied to the face using a handheld device, targeting facial muscles to lift and contour the face.
Short-term: Immediate subtle tightening and lifting of the skin, with enhanced facial contours after each session.
Long-term: Noticeable improvement in skin firmness and elasticity, reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and a more defined facial structure with regular use over several weeks to months.