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“What makes my approach different is my Western style combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine. My facial treatments are multi-layered utilising facial massage techniques, facial masks as well as needling. They result not only in reduction of the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and a lifting, toning and plumping of the skin but they also benefit the mind and improve the entire body’s state well-being”.
Athena Giralea
Studies have shown that acupuncture needling improves blood flow and stimulates the skin to generate new collagen and healthy skin tissue. The result: firmer facial contours and increased skin elasticity.
That makes cosmetic acupuncture an excellent alternative to anti-wrinkle injections, fillers, and surgical cosmetic procedures.
It also addresses puffiness or bloating of the face, fine lines, marks, scars, acne, prominent pores, pigmentation, and other skin conditions.
Acupuncture points stimulate the central nervous system. That releases chemicals that stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and increase physical and emotional wellbeing.
Cosmetic acupuncture can rebalance your hormones, especially hormone imbalances caused by stress, menopause, or acne.
Needling the face will stimulate the brainstem, the area of the brain which regulates sleep, stress, anxiety, and the cardiorespiratory system. As a result, you can see an improvement in your sleep pattern and feel more rested.
At Cosmetic Acupuncture Wisdom, we guarantee an invigorating experience that will eliminate mental and physical exhaustion and leave you feeling healthier and happier. Most people notice results after the first or second session. However, most noticeable, long-term benefits of cosmetic acupuncture usually manifest after six treatments.
We offer highly personalised cosmetic acupuncture programs that are delivered through a course of treatments to achieve not only the desired cosmetic benefits but also several wellness benefits.
The treatment involves needling the face. We put needles on the concerned areas (lines, wrinkles, scars, pigmentation, acne, spots, etc.) and also on the acupuncture points, which are anatomical areas with a high number of nerve receptors and endings.
Needling certain acupoints produce the therapeutic effects of acupuncture, known as Deqi. In easier terms, it generates a nerve-fibre sensation that affects the area surrounding the needle site with a diameter of up to 3mm. We also focus on body and ear acupuncture to help you relax and balance the whole body.
- Acne or breakouts related to stress or hormones
- Uneven skin tone
- Scarring and pitting effect
- Eyebags and dark circles
- Enlarged pores
- Pigmentation issues
- Fine lines, Crow’s feet, and Marionette lines
- Neck crease lines
- Sagging skin or muscles
- Puffiness & lymphatic drainage
- Jaw tension (TMJ)
- Tension headaches or migraines
- Digestive issues, bloating
- Stress, anxiety, mental disorders
- Hormonal imbalances
- Menopause symptoms
- Post-natal skin problems and body balance
Cosmetic acupuncture involves inserting the finest quality, specially designed needles into the skin around the face, neck, and ears. Needling the skin initiates electrical depolarisation in the tissue, which, in turn, initiates a change on the cellular level known as the healing cascade. As a result, collagen, elastins, and hyaluronic are naturally produced in the body to heal the micro-injuries produced by the body.
Apart from activating the healing response, inserting the needles also opens up micro-channels in the skin where the sub-dermal scaffold may have weakened or collapsed. As a result, the natural healing mechanism of the body is stimulated to encourage the production of collagen and elastin.
Consequently, the tissue scaffolds build up with higher collagen levels and effectively packs the epidermis. These changes take place on the cellular level. However, results manifest externally in the form of enhanced skin tone, healthier and plumper skin, and softened fine lines or wrinkles.
Blood circulation also improves, enhancing the texture and overall appearance of the skin. The improved blood circulation also allows for easy absorption of the daily moisturizing creams that help keep the skin in top-notch condition.
It is also important to understand that as we age, our skin cells slow down, reducing the production of coveted protein bonds. As a result, the skin cycle increases and signs of aging become apparent on the skin. The skin cycle is the time it takes for new skin cells to migrate from the epidermis layers of the skin, where they are produced, to the surface where they are finally shed off.
This neutral exfoliation of dead skin cells keeps the skin healthy and fresh. However, over time, the process may slow down or stop altogether, leading to uneven, dull, dry, and flaky skin with large clogged pores, bumps, and wrinkles.
It is possible to shorten and maintain the skin cycle through cosmetic acupuncture. The fibroblast stimulation is responsible for the regeneration and proliferation of skin cells. The micro-wound healing response from the needles speeds up cell regeneration.
The treatments also enhance the production of different extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents, including collagens, fibrin, fibronectin, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and matricellular proteins. These ECM are fundamental to fibroblast, migration, metabolism, and health of skin cells.
Another important molecule that triggers skin regeneration is cytokines. Cytokines are peptides or proteins. They function as the biological messengers and are responsible for communications. These are water-soluble compounds that are produced only to trigger certain functions, including skin repair or regeneration. Cytokines are regulated in the body in response to skin-wounding actions associated with cosmetic acupuncture
Needling the face and neck stimulates the brainstem through nerve pathways in the body. It affects the parts of the brainstem that play a role in the regulation of the central nervous system and the sleep cycle to help improve sleep. Therefore, cosmetic acupuncture is considered to be a powerful natural alternative to treating sleep disorders.
As we age, we lose fat and our bones tend to wear down. However, bone roughness is fundamental to connective tissues. Connective tissues in the skin rely on bone roughness to hang on it. A healthy bone surface is covered with tiny protuberances that act as hooks to hold connective tissue.
However, as the bones in the facial structure wear away, the tissue loses support and relies solely on the elasticity of the superficial skin to hold it up. As a result, the appearance of the skin is affected. The good news is that acupuncture promotes bone health and also helps in maintaining the structure of the face.
Cosmetic acupuncture and medical microneedling is the go-to solution for treating acne and scars. The physiology is simple – when spots and scars are needled, the process initiates the healing process.
The needles are inserted in a specific manner, either directly in the scar and pore or in the skin surrounding the pimple. As the skin heals, it gets tougher and more fibrous with new and strengthened skin cells. Consequently, we notice a stark difference in the appearance of the scars.
It is important to mention healthy skin contains Type I collagen. However, scars are made of Type II and Type III collagen, which makes them bumpy, inelastic, and discoloured. Luckily, through cosmetic acupuncture, it is possible to replace Type II and Type III collagen with Type I. As the skin heals from micro-injuries caused by needling, the collagen is replaced effectively.
Acupuncture treatments target scars and acne through multiple mechanisms, as described below.
• Cosmetic acupuncture prompts the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors to reduce inflammation.
• The treatments modulate and enhance the number of immune cell types.
• Cosmetic treatments aid the dispersal of swelling or bloating in the skin by improving local microcirculation.
As acupuncture treatment stimulates the nervous system, it releases a burst of neurochemical messenger molecules to initiate biochemical changes in the homeostatic mechanisms of the body. These changes lead to physical and emotional wellbeing. Certain acupuncture points can also affect the areas of the brain to reduce pain, stress, and sensitivity.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is possible to maximise the healing response of a cosmetic acupuncture program by supporting the body’s inner health.
It is supported by ear and body acupuncture, massage therapies, auriculotherapy, lymphatic drainage, dietary changes, and lifestyle changes. Together, these techniques and changes work to improve skin health and enhance the overall health of the body to produce long-lasting results.
Cosmetic acupuncture has many profound, medically-proven aesthetic and wellness benefits. If you’re ready to make the most of them, contact Athena Giralea, a certified acupuncturist, today to book your appointment and experience the best of the best.
