Dr. Yue Huang’s Cosmetic or Facial Acupuncture

My area of specialty in TCM is Cosmetic or Facial Acupuncture, which I have spent many years studying and practicing. Cosmetic acupuncture is a holistic approach to skin rejuvenation and beauty enhancement that provides an alternative option to cosmetic injectables and toxic substances. Many people would prefer a more natural approach, rather than relying on injectables for the rest of their lives to maintain their look.

Cosmetic acupuncture involves inserting fine acupuncture needles at specific points on the face to promote collagen and elastin production. This is a non-invasive cosmetic alternative to undergoing a surgical facelift with all its subsequent bruising and downtime before you can face the world. Chemical treatments can also result in some downtime for deep peels when redness and swelling may persist for a while, sometimes even months.

What interested me in specializing in facial acupuncture is that after a treatment, you can face the world without hiding away for a few days. Our treatments help maintain skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and give you improved blood circulation for a glowing complexion. Facial acupuncture opens the meridians for better lymphatic drainage, helping to reduce puffiness and under-eye bags by removing excess fluids and toxins from the facial tissues.

My treatment protocol involves an initial consultation and assessment where we chat about your lifestyle, diet, stress levels, and the specific skin concerns that you may have. From this, I can work with you to make the necessary changes because changes in lifestyle and diet can hugely affect your skin, which will amplify the effect of cosmetic acupuncture. Like all TCM practitioners at Zhou Wellness, I look at the body holistically, with the skin being the largest organ of the body, together with nails, hair, sweat, and oil glands making up the integumentary system.

After the initial consultation, I determine the specific treatment for your skin concerns. Each patient is different, and I will insert the extremely thin, sterile needles, which are disposed of after the treatment, into the specific points on the face that will stimulate energy flow (Qi) and blood circulation to the skin and underlying tissue.

My treatment starts with constitutional acupuncture on the body first, followed by cosmetic acupuncture. As I have mentioned, the treatment is holistic, so I need to get blocked lymphatic drainage systems to flow correctly to achieve a better skin outcome. The facial rejuvenation points I target are on the forehead, cheeks, chin, and around the eyes.

If you are afraid of needles, rest assured that acupuncture needles are NOTHING like the needles you may have been subjected to when having medical injections! Many people fear needles due to unpleasant experiences as a child.

Our needles are super thin, and you may feel a slight tingling as I insert them, but as one of our patients reports, “I just relax and think of the most beautiful experiences in my life, and honestly don’t feel pain – just a slight sensation of warmth as the needles remain in place for around 15 to 30 minutes.” Many of my patients report that the process is relaxing – akin to the lovely, dreamy feeling you have after a good massage.

Speaking of massage, after removing all the needles, I administer a facial massage using techniques learned during my studies at university. I also use various tools like jade rollers to soothe the skin and promote relaxation. I may apply a moisturizer, depending on your skin type.

Looking after your skin takes a holistic approach, and I will provide you with some dietary and lifestyle recommendations to help with your specific skin concerns. I may suggest facial yoga exercises at home and oils using Ayurvedic herbs to support your skin.

You will walk out of a treatment feeling relaxed, with a rejuvenated flow of blood to give you a better complexion, and best of all, you won’t have to hide at home for a couple of days as there is no bruising, no redness and no puffiness. Make an appointment to try a holistic, non-invasive, naturally beautiful approach to your complexion.