The Acupuncture Facial Is Billed as ‘Natural Botox’ But Does It Really Work?

With the need for face masks slowly falling away, facial treatments that will make us feel good and look great are in hotter demand than ever. And chief among the most popular post-lockdown options is the acupuncture facial.

Billed as ‘natural Botox’, the acupuncture facial consists of dozens of fine needles penetrating the skin to create a series of microtraumas across the face and neck.

These microtraumas trigger the body’s wound healing process, which sees blood flow to the site (bringing nutrients and nourishment with it) and the stimulation of collagen and elastin (AKA nature’s miracle anti-ageing drugs). Following the treatment, skin can appear brighter, plumper, and dewier, and issues like scarring, skin tone, elasticity and redness can also all be targeted.

From the outside, being pricked by countless tiny needles might not sound like the most relaxing of experiences. But, Dr Tory Giles, an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine specialist says the acupuncture facial offers women not just a natural alternative to popular treatments like Botox and fillers but also treats far more than just the face.

“Acupuncture is holistic, and we always treat the body as a whole to address the root cause. So if you’re getting acupuncture for something like acne or fine lines, yes, we will put lots of points in your face, but we’ll also investigate what’s going on in your body because the fine lines might be there because you’re deficient in something.” 

For her facials, Dr Giles uses a combination of acupuncture needles, gua sha, jade roller and crystals, and generally recommends anywhere from between six to 12 treatments for people wanting to see long-term results. During treatment, she also addresses issues like gut health, stress, diet, lifestyle and other factors that may be impacting the skin.

“The skin is our biggest organ; it directly reflects what is going on in our body, so you have to then treat the inside of the body to help the outside,” said Dr Giles. “The acupuncture facial does that by treating both the internal and also the external by creating those micro traumas. With a treatment like Botox, you’re in and out, you’re done, it’s not relaxing.”

Giles, who has been practising acupuncture for nine years, says that the acupuncture facial is growing in popularity as people continue to move towards more holistic solutions for their skin, explaining, “Botox is a toxin that goes into the skin and paralyses the muscles; that is not a natural process. Whereas when you get an acupuncture facial it’s creating a natural healing response. Botox may make you look younger temporarily, but acupuncture makes you feel great.”   

She adds, “I don’t love the word wellness sometimes — it’s such a buzzword — but people are looking for natural ways that they can look after themselves, there’s so much anxiety around toxins and pollutions and now it’s more important than ever to go back to your body’s own healing response. People want something that is not doing something unnatural to their body. Botox can make people feel good, of course, but it’s just causing the muscles to freeze, it’s not treating what’s on the inside.” 

Dr Leona Yip, a Consultant Dermatologist in Brisbane and member of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, says the science is still out on the acupuncture facial’s long-term success. “There are no studies to date that have compared the results of acupuncture facials versus Botox to improve skin wrinkles, therefore claims that they are similarly effective are unsubstantiated.”

She adds, “Since it is difficult to improve deep wrinkles caused by underlying muscle tone and movement with skin micro-needling (as well as with more powerful lasers), it would be unlikely that acupuncture facials can.”

Whether choosing Botox, acupuncture, or another anti-ageing treatment, Yip’s message is simple: do your research ahead of time. “The cosmetic industry in Australia is insufficiently regulated, therefore the level of training, knowledge and experience can vary widely between providers that can affect how effective and safe your treatment experience will be.”