Toxic Tongue

Acupuncture Face Rejuvenation vs Botox

What is face rejuvenation in acupuncture:

 It is a non surgical method of reducing wrinkles.  It can help release physical, emotional, and mental patterns that contribute to aging and causes disease.  The great thing about the face is that while you are using the treatment for vanity purposes,  you are also treating many other organ functions.  The effects of facial rejuvenation can include diminishing wrinkles, puffy eyes, lifting the brow lines, and lifted double chins and also can give your face a little “glow” afterwards.

What is Botox:

Botox is a protein derived from botulism toxin that is injected underneath skin in order to minimize or smooth out lines and wrinkles on the face. In low dozes Botox will paralyze or relax facial muscles, giving the patient a clean, smooth facial appearance.  It is popular because it is a face lift without surgery and it is very quick to do.

Risks:

While some may think there are no risks with acupuncture skin rejuvenation, this is untrue.  A person with high blood pressure cannot have this done because there is so much energy and heat going up in the body it could possibly cause a stroke or aneurism.

The risks in Botox are much higher.  A person can have an allergic reaction to Botox.  Since Botox numbs the muscles, it can cause the appearance of surprise or make it look like the recipient has a permanent frown. Also it is hard to know all the effects of Botox because it is so new and there have not been many studies showing the effects yet.

How long do the effects last:

The effects of face rejuvenation with acupuncture needles is hard to say.  It varies from person to person.  When I get it done *I am 23, it is different than when a 45 year old gets it done.  Some people may see the effects immediately and notice a different and other it may take a series of sessions.  The treatment is about an hour and a half and usually involves a massage on the face with a good moisturizer. 

The effects of Botox are immediate.  Only one treatment is needed and it lasts 6-8 months.  The treatment is an injection and takes only a minute to do. 

Cost :

Acupuncture face rejuvenations vary from 100-200.  My acupuncturist charges 150 and it includes a moisturizer to keep and the face massage.  Botox can cost between

$300 – 1500 or more, depending on the size of the area being injected. 

It is obvious I would choose to do acupuncture face lifts over Botox and have been doing so for the past year.  But what would a normal person choose, not in acupuncture school choose?  Im curious to know what an older, well off New York woman with the funds to do either procedure would choose. Botox is certainly extremely popular among celebrities and the ages of some of these women, and men getting it are as young as 16.  Then you have celebrities such as Madonna who takes a holistic approach and gets acupuncture face lifts.   I surveyed a handful of 20 people and asked what they would get either when they are older or as soon as this year, if given the choice of acupuncture or botox.  Many were skeptical on acupuncture working to eliminate wrinkles and were not keen on the idea of 20 or more needles sitting in their face.  The results were as following:

7 said they would use botox

4 said they would not use anything and would let old age take its course

4 said they did not know

3 said they would most definitely use acupuncture for the face rejuvenation.

2 said they would consider using acupuncture

The Science in the acupuncture face life:

With an acupuncture face lift, an acupuncturist will be able to identify the reasons for facial aging and then act accordingly. Although this may sound strange, acupuncturists firmly believe that aging signs like wrinkles are caused by specific muscular movements. By inserting acupuncture needles into specific areas of a patient’s face, they will be able to reduce the signs of aging and provide the patient with a smoother, more youthful looking face. In this technique, specific acupuncture points are chosen to manipulate the movement of Qi and blood in the face and body according to one’s individual needs. This method directs the flow of blood, lymph and energy to the face. It plumps up, hydrates, and increases the skin’s supply of nutrients and oxygen and decrease the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes.