What is cosmetic acupuncture?

beauty inside out…

Facial acupuncture has been used as early as 1270 AD (Sung Dynasty). We use fine needles inserted into the skin to rejuvenate the skin, stimulate collagen and elastin production, increase blood circulation to revitalise the skin, reduce puffiness, and tighten and lift muscles. Facial acupuncture may help with dry skin, sagging, lines and wrinkles, tension and acne.

Alternative to botox?

Cosmetic acupuncture is a holistic treatment method that involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the face and body. This practice aims to promote blood circulation, enhance the overall complexion, and stimulate collagen production, thereby helping to reduce the signs of aging. Many individuals seek cosmetic acupuncture as a natural alternative to more invasive cosmetic procedures, as it can offer a range of benefits without the need for surgery.

This treatment not only works on the face, but as a Chinese Medicine treatment, we also include acupuncture points on the body to balance and harmonise, which may aid in improving digestion, increase energy, balance hormones etc.

sagging skin

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lines

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dry skin

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whole body health

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sagging skin ✿ lines ✿ dry skin ✿ whole body health ✿

What may Cosmetic Acupuncture help with?

Facial acupuncture may help with dry skin, sagging, lines and wrinkles, tension and acne.Cosmetic acupuncture not only treats the face and skin, but promotes overall wellness by aiming to balance the body, regulate hormones, improve digestion and calm the mind.

Beauty from the inside out

Prevention

Facial needling helps prevent aging by stimulating collagen and elastin production, which are essential for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity. This process strengthens the skin’s structure, making it more resilient to fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Over time, regular treatments can improve overall skin texture, slow down visible aging, and promote a youthful, radiant complexion.

Acne

Cosmetic acupuncture, combined with Chinese medicine, can help treat acne and pimples by addressing underlying imbalances in the body, such as hormonal fluctuations and poor digestion, that contribute to skin breakouts. Acupuncture improves blood circulation and reduces inflammation, helping to clear blemishes and promote faster healing of the skin.

Wrinkles

facial needling promotes the production of both collagen and elastin. The tiny micro-injuries created during the needling process stimulate the skin's natural healing response, which leads to the regeneration of collagen and elastin fibers. Elastin is essential for skin's elasticity and resilience, so increasing its production helps improve the skin’s firmness, softening wrinkles and enhancing texture.

Sagging

Sagging and loss of tone occurs as we age due to a natural decline in collagen and elastin production. Cosmetic acupuncture helps counteract these effects by stimulating collagen and elastin production, improving blood flow, and toning facial muscles, which lifts and firms the skin. After 5 treatments the skin can begin to feel firmer and tighter.

Dry skin

Cosmetic acupuncture improves skin hydration and softness by increasing blood circulation and stimulating the body's natural healing processes, which promote better nutrient and oxygen delivery to the skin. This enhanced circulation helps boost collagen production and improve moisture retention, leaving the skin more supple and radiant. The skin is more hydrated after only 1-2 sessions!

Tension

Facial needling helps relieve tension in the face and jaw by targeting trigger points and releasing tight muscles, making it effective for conditions like TMJ. The tiny micro-injuries caused by the needles may reduce inflammation and relax muscles. This may alleviate jaw pain, headaches, and facial tension, improving overall comfort and mobility in the jaw area.

What is included in a cosmetic acupuncture treatment?

Needling

  • We use Japanese Seirin needles that are fine and sharp. They are specially designed for facial acupuncture to provide a pain free experience.

  • We leave the needles in for 15-30 mins

  • We use very fine needles! The needles are especially designed for facial acupuncture, so they are fine and extra sharp. You might feel a prick as the needle goes in, but that is about it. Once the needles are in you shouldn’t feel anything.

Cupping

  • Improves circulation to nourish the skin with fresh blood, this delivering oxygen and nutrients to enhance skin health. Cupping moves the lymphatic fluid to reduce puffiness and clear congestion. Cupping also relieves tension in the muscles, which can reduce the appearance of lines. 

  • No, as we are constantly moving the cups on the skin, so there is no time for marks to develop.

  • Yes, facial cupping can help reduce the appearance of eye bags by stimulating lymphatic drainage and improving circulation around the eyes. The gentle suction encourages fluid to move away from the under-eye area, reducing puffiness and brightening the skin.

Gua sha

  • Facial Gua Sha improves circulation, reduces puffiness, and promotes lymphatic drainage, leading to a brighter complexion and smoother skin. It also helps relieve muscle tension, boosts collagen production, and enhances the absorption of skincare products for firmer, healthier looking skin.

  • Yes, regular facial Gua Sha may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating blood flow and promoting collagen production, resulting in firmer skin over time.

  • Facial gua sha is highly effective for reducing puffiness by promoting lymphatic drainage. The gentle, gliding movements used in gua sha help move stagnant lymph fluid out of the tissues, reducing bloating and swelling, especially around the eyes and cheeks. As lymph flows more freely, the face appears more contoured and refreshed.

Frequently asked questions

  • The number of treatments depends on age, skin type and overall health. For the best outcome we recommend 6 weekly sessions if you are under 30, and if you are over 30, 8-12 weekly sessions. After completing a course of treatments appointments can move to fortnightly, and then to monthly, or every 6 weeks for maintenance. Click here to read more about the progress timeline

  • We don’t just treat the face and skin, we balance the body from the inside out. To read more click here

  • Cosmetic acupuncture is very gentle, and there is no down time.

    We use arnica gel during the treatment to minimise the potential of bruising, it is not common that a bruise appears after needling, but it can happen. This usually resolves after 1-2 days.

    The face may also become flushed/red after the treatment as the needles encourage blood flow, this glow is a normal reaction to needling.

  • No problem, we just avoid those areas, and work on other areas. If we were to needle the areas where you have had botox, it will just cause the botox to wear off sooner.

  • This is always the first question we get asked, and the answer is - no it is relatively painless, and sometimes you feel nothing! You may feel a quick prick as we insert the needle, but that is about it. The needles used on the face are extra fine and sharp, so that most of the time you will hardly feel them go in! We use fine Japanese Seirin needles which are specifically designed for facial acupuncture.

What to expect?

Week 1 + 2

Commonly within 1-2 weeks skin is softer and hydrated. Blood flow has been improved and brought to the face through the needling. The face is brighter and glowy. Tension in the jaw and brow has softened.

Week 3 + 4

Muscles that were weaker and droopy may feel tighter and lifted, skin appears tighter. Skin feels softer and more hydrated. Fine lines have softened, skin is more refined and appears smoother.

Week 5 + 7

Lines are softening, skin is becoming tighter and firmer, this is usually more noticeable around the mouth and cheeks. Muscles appear lifted, and the face appears firmer and plumper.

Week 8 + 12

We see the best results at this stage. Redness is reduced, skin tone is even. Nasolabial folds become smoother, lines around the mouth become softer. Pores are minimised and the face is fuller and lifted.

How does cosmetic acupuncture work?

There are 3 ways that facial acupuncture works. The goal of cosmetic acupuncture is to reduce fine lines, lift and tone and increase skin hydration. We include facial gua sha and facial cupping also in our cosmetic acupuncture treatments, to further soften tension, reduce puffiness and clear skin. Book in for cosmetic acupuncture at our Point Cook clinic.

1.Circulation

Needling increases the circulation of blood to the skin, boosting hydration, and creating a healthy glow which results in softer skin.

2.Soften tension

We needle muscles in the face to soften tension and tighten weak muscles. We needle motor points in the muscle. Motor points in muscles are specific spots where the motor nerves enter the muscle. These points are important because they are where nerve signals from the brain trigger muscle contractions.

3. Muscle tone

Motor points are targeted to treat muscle spasms, tightness, and injuries because they provide efficient access to the muscle's neuromuscular junction, where the nerve connects to the muscle fibers. Hence stimulating these points can restore normal muscle tone and improve mobility.

When not to have facial acupuncture

  • Experience migraines/headaches

  • Have a blood clotting disorder or take blood thinners

  • Are pregnant

  • Seizures/Epilepsy

  • Uncontrolled hypertension

  • Botox: Will make botox/filler wear off faster

BOOKINGS

all bookings can be made online