WHAT IS FACIAL RENEWAL?
At AcuCare, our approach to Facial Renewal is very holistic. It includes three different and complimentary modalities comprised of facial acupuncture, microneedling and Facial Soundscapes™.
Our goal is to rebalance the muscles and emotions, increase blood and nutrient circulation and boost collagen and elastin.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Facial Renewal creates a positive injury. This micro trauma is actually good for the skin! It promotes greater levels of collagen and elastin production brought on by tissue stimulation and subsequent histamine release. In addition, Qi and blood flow increases nutrients and oxygen to the cells and balances facial color.
Microneedling
collagen induction therapy
It can generate new collagen and skin tissue for smoother, firmer, more toned skin.
Facial Acupuncture
Also works on sagging facial muscles and tension. It truly is a non-invasive way to lift and balance the muscles around your face, eyes, and neck.
Facial Soundscapes™
It provides an alternative for treating areas of the face such as the neck, chin and jowls which patients may be sensitive to needling.
BENEFITS OF FACIAL RENEWAL:
“The face is the window to our entire physical, mental, and spiritual self.”
- Stimulate collagen production
- Brighten skin
- Lift sagging
- Reduce puffiness by improving metabolism
- Reduce acne scarring
- Combat loss of volume
- Reduce scarring
- Even out complexion
- Glowing skin
- Tone & tighten facial muscles and droopy eyelids
- Hydrate dry skin
- Helps depression, anxiety, stress, and hormonal imbalances
- Helps sinus congestion
- Treats headaches and benefits the eyes, ears, thyroid, and brain
- Slows aging
- Rejuvenate
- Soften lines & wrinkles
- Pain-less
- Natural
- Effective
- Safe and gentle
- Relaxing
- Preventative
- Detoxify
- Anti-aging
Unlike other unnatural cosmetic treatments you may have heard about, Facial Renewal is a safe alternative with no long term side effects other than younger healthier looking skin.
In addition to the visible benefits of Facial Renewal, patients will often experience improvement in other areas. Acupuncture can reduce anxiety and stress, improve sleep quality and provide a greater sense of energy and well-being.
ARE THE EFFECTS OF FACIAL RENEWAL PROVEN?
A 1996 research study in the International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture reported that among 300 cases treated with Facial Renewal, 98% had marked effects with one course of treatment.
The effects included:
- Skin becoming more delicate and fair
- Improvement of the elasticity of facial muscles
- Diminished wrinkles
- Healthier/brighter complexion
- Overall rejuvenation not confined to the face
YOUR AGE AND YOUR SKIN:
In your 20s:
Generally your skin is very healthy and you might not be too concerned about wrinkles, but you still might have skin issues like acne and rosacea, or start to see those first fine lines. If you’re a sun worshipper or healthy active outdoor type, chances are the sun has been doing damage to your skin without you being aware of it. Here is where facial renewal really shines in that any beauty issues that you have now are likely coming from underlying root imbalances. If these are addressed early, not only will it set you up to prevent the signs of aging, but it will also restore your body to optimal health. Speaking from experience, I started having facial renewal treatments at the age of 21, and am thankful that I did, as I feel it prevented my forehead wrinkles from becoming deep in my 30s!
Most people aren’t considering Botox or facial renewal in their 20s. Your skin is still fresh and youthful looking. Patients who benefit from facial renewal in their 20s tend to be dealing with issues of skin clarity, dryness, rosacea, and of course are no stranger to acne that impact their self-esteem and confidence as they pursue their career, relationship, and life goals
In your 30s and 40s:
Your skin is likely starting to show the first signs of aging. You may start to notice fine and deeper lines around the eyes, lips, and forehead. Build up of stress from work, lack of time for self-care, and dehyration or poor nutrition has likely created underlying health issues that are now starting to show in sagging, dark circles, lackluster dry skin, and facial tension. Facial renewal in your 30s and 40s works wonders to naturally stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Typically, these are the childbearing years, where pregnancy can not only deplete the blood and iron levels, but also cause permanent symptoms like melasma, weak hair and nails, and stretch marks. In your 30s and 40s life becomes even busier as you pursue your career and life goals, and possibly start to raise a family. There are so many demands on your time and energy and your self-care suffers. This causes underlying imbalances that can really start to show on your face like deepening crows feet, lines on the lips and forehead, dark circles, loose skin tonality. During this busy, stressful time, facial renewal can address your topical beauty concerns that are showing on your face by stimulating production of collagen and elastin, while oxygenating the skin. More importantly, it helps to bring your body back into balance internally, and support a strong immune system and boost your energy.
Seeing others spending money on botox and fillers, you may have started thinking about whether you should consider this as an option. You may be tempted to start just a little bit, so the challenge with botox and fillers is that not only are there risks, but it is very easy for a little bit over time to leave you unrecognizable to your children and friends, let alone yourself. Facial Renewal keeps you looking like yourself, and helps you not only look great, but feel great too in your own skin. Botox and fillers only temporarily address the surface, and has potential to create health complications on top of the underlying health imbalances that are already contributing to the signs of aging on your face.
In your 50s and 60s:
Even though you still feel 20 inside, by the time you reach your 50s and 60s, peri-menopause and menopause have started their natural processes of thinning skin, breaking down collagen and elastin. You may see turkey waddles, sagging jowls, and deep wrinkles and lines around the smile, eyes, forehead and lips. Crepiness around the neck, bags below eyes, and loss of fullness around cheekbones may leave you wondering where to turn to look as young as you feel inside.
In addition, you might be experiencing symptoms such as thinning hair, dryness or lack of sex drive, and other aging symptoms that can be addressed along with more visable benefits of facial renewal.
A few of the skin concerns facial renewal can help with are:
-Dry and dull skin:
Many of us go to the department store’s makeup counters hoping that the skin care company’s promises of miracle creams will do the trick! Often times what happens is the active ingredients in these creams don’t get absorbed by our skin due to a lack of circulation. Facial Renewal will improve the circulation through increased blood and energy flow. It reduces dry flaky skin and stimulates all the flesh and soft tissue around it. Finally, those skin creams nutrients and moisturizing properties will have a better chance of working with the epidermis.
–Hyperpigmentation and/or uneven skin tone:
As you age, you may notice dark patches of skin around the cheeks, nose, and sides of the face. Sometimes, this is also seen in younger skin due to an underlying predisposition. A common cause of hyperpigmentation is an excess production of melanin (this gives skin its color). As facial renewal boosts the skin cell production, which balances the melanin production. Acupuncture will also break up stagnation, which can help reduce discoloration and balance the overall skin tone.
-Rosacea:
Rosacea can be due to a hereditary disposition where you flush regularly due to swelling and inflammation of enlarged blood vessels of the cheeks and nose, In Chinese Medicine, this is due to heat accumulation within the channels. Acupuncture is beneficial to treat rosacea as it clears the blockage of stagnation on the face, as well as the internal imbalance of heat.
-Acne:
This is commonly seen in teenagers, but also in more mature skin. All different types of acne can be treated, including small bumps, cystic, and whiteheads. In Chinese Medicine, skin eruptions and redness of face are due to underlying toxic heat. In general, it is important to work with the circulation to release stagnation, as well as the underlying root imbalances of the entire body.
-Scars/acne scarring:
Facial scars can be due to the results of an injury including chronic acne. Facial Renewal can treat hypertrophic or atrophic scars, as well as the bumps, pitting, and uneven skin texture caused by acne scarring . Thankfully, through Japanese scar therapy techniques, a course of treatments can encourage the skin cells to regenerate significantly reducing the damage.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS?
Here’s an example of the changes you can expect with your course of treatment:
After the first and second treatments, you will feel lighter, and see an increased glow and hydration to the complexion, due to increased Qi and blood flow to the face. Your face appears more “open” and there is a clarity in the eyes (we call this “clear Shen”). In general, you will appear more rested.
After the third and fourth treatments wrinkles start to lessen and the skin appears more toned, tight, and lifted. There is an overall softening of the face, where you notice topical creams will absorb faster, and the pores will start to appear smaller. Your spirit will start to feel more balanced, and not hold on to stress as much.
When you reach your 5th to 7th session you should see even more improvements with wrinkles, skin tone, and plumpness. The impression of relaxation and calm is more pronounced like you have returned from a peaceful vacation. Lifting of the jowls, neck and the eyes has begun and is usually noticeable. You may find at this point you want to leave foundation and concealer in your makeup bag! With continuing treatment, constitutional issues like digestive complaints have been ameliorated or subsided.
When you reach between the 8th and 12th treatments, you are definitely getting some compliments from friends and family. The skin is hydrated, clear, firm, and plump. If you have been working on the jowls, you will notice the neck and shoulders have loosened up, therefore elongating the neck. The smile lines and eyebrows have lifted, making you look naturally alert and fresh. For acne and rosacea symptoms, this is when you notice clarity of the skin
However, these results may vary slightly, depending upon how well you have taken care of yourself during the process, and afterward. At this stage, maintenance sessions provide ongoing support within a normal process of aging. For individuals who smoke, we may need up to 20 sessions before we move towards maintenance sessions.
Facial Renewal is non-invasive, less costly than surgical procedures, and draws upon the ancient Oriental wisdom related to longevity, beauty and balance.
CONTRA-INDICATIONS:
- Laser treatments/resurfacing must wait 21 days before treatment
- Pregnancy
- Problems with bleeding (hemophiliacs, Warfarin treatment)
- Serious health conditions such as Cancer, AIDS, seizures, acute hepatitis, and coronary disease
- Colds or flu
- Acute herpes outbreak
- Acute allergic reactions
In the latter 3 instances, once the condition has passed, the patient may receive a Facial Renewal treatment.
FAQ – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
At what age should I start Cosmetic Acupuncture?
Skin elasticity starts to decline at the age of 21, so it is never too early to start. Best results are seen in patients between 20 to 55 years old as it delays the aging process and keeps the skin glowing. Even patients older than 55, however, have been known to experience fantastic results. No matter what age you start, you will find it beneficial. The great thing about facial renewal acupuncture is that it also benefits your whole body and can boost your energy, immune system, and overall sense of vitality.
How much does it cost?
All of our current prices for Constitutional Facial Renewal Acupuncture and specialty treatments, including our packages are listed on our Pricing page.
What should I expect during my first facial renewal session?
Typically, the first facial renewal acupuncture visit involves a comprehensive skin and health history assessment. You will bring in your consultation form you were emailed, or feel free to download it from the webpage. Questions we might ask may seem strange, but in Traditional Chinese Medicine we need to look at the entire system. In treatment, it is important to including the emotions, to diagnose what the root imbalances are in the system. For example, we may ask to examine your tongue, feel your pulse to help determine energy flow, or ask many questions related to bowel habits and diet, even if these seem to have nothing to do with your skin concerns.
After the initial acupuncture consultation and assessment, we will start the treatment. At AcuCare, we believe that education is imperative to the success of the treatment, thus we will explain why we are putting Acupuncture needles where, and why. It is common to experience a deep ache for a short time in some of the points. The depth to which the acupuncture needles are inserted varies according to the treatment and the individual. The pins are usually left in place for five to 20 minutes, usually no longer than 40 minutes, and then removed.
Following your facial renewal treatment, we will usually reassesses how you are feeling, and give suggestions for home care. Regular monthly visits may be suggested as preventive measures to decrease stress, improve energy or boost immunity.
Why do maintenance treatments?
Why wouldn’t you? It is important to do maintenance treatments because the two best friends of aging are gravity and the sun. We need to combat that through bi-monthly or monthly sessions – depending on your daily stress, diet, sleep and exercise habits. Most individuals wouldn’t question going to the gym 3-5 times/week, and know how it will help prevent more serious diseases. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and we must love and care for it in the same way.
I don’t live locally but would love to have Constitutional Facial Renewal Acupuncture treatments. What do other patients do?
Julie Shillabeer, R.Ac practices in pHresh Spa – Nestled in the heart of downtown Vancouver’s West End. Her patients are so happy to travel for treatment and she treats patients from all around Vancouver.
Patients come from all areas including White Rock, Surrey, Langley, Richmond, Delta, Vancouver Island (Nanaimo area). If you feel you live to far away, please contact Julie as she can do home visits at an added cost, or she may have a facial renewal Acupuncture referral in your area.
I want to know more about Constitutional Facial Renewal Acupuncture.
Have you got a question about Constitutional Facial Renewal Acupuncture? You can find more FAQ about it in the About Cosmetic Acupuncture page, our blog or get in touch with Julie Shillabeer R.Ac for more information or a consultation.
Why shouldn’t I get injections and fillers?
- Botox cannot treat wrinkles due to aging or sun exposure or reduce the fine lines (only works on dynamic wrinkles – smile lines, frown lines)
- Risk of paralysis of surrounding muscles & upper eyelid droop
- Only temporary results. The more you get, the more you need to achieve same effect
- Cost is at least $600.00 every 3-4 months!
- May not be able to raise eyebrows and have other expressions
Long term effects of injections can be:
- Thinning skin
- Uneven and discolored skin tone
- Weak muscle tone
- Botox injections may spread to other parts of the body, click here for the article.
CELEBRITIES THAT HAVE SPOKEN UP AGAINST BOTOX:
Julia Roberts:
“I want my kids to know when I’m pissed, when I’m happy and when I’m confounded,” she tells ELLE. “Your face tells a story and it shouldn’t be a story about your drive to the doctor’s office.”
Julianne Moore:
“I don’t believe it makes people look better,” Moore tells Allure when asked about cosmetic procedures, like Botox. “I think it just makes them look like they had something done to their face, and I don’t think we find that instinctually appealing.”
Kate Winslet:
This is how Kate Winslet reacts when asked if she’s tried Botox: “Oh f**k no!”
Tina Fey:
“We’ve been so conditioned now to never see a real human face, one that moves, with its original teeth,” Fey told Town & Country. “Sometimes we forget that there is a choice. I choose not to do this. It’s like wearing multiple pairs of Spanx: Good for you, not for me. Not mandatory.”
Nicole Kidman:
“I’ve tried a lot of things, but aside from sports and good nutrition, most things don’t make a difference,” Kidman tells TV Movie. “I have also tried Botox. I didn’t like how my face looked afterwards. Now I don’t use it anymore–I can move my forehead again!”
Salma Hayek:
“I don’t believe in Botox, especially when [people] do it so young,” Hayek tells People. “They destroy themselves. They keep telling young girls, ‘Do it young, so you never get wrinkles.’ No, your face is going to fall. You’ll have to keep getting more and more and more each time. So if you’re going to do it, I recommend doing it as late as you can.” Last year, Hayek shared her views on Botox and plastic surgery for InStyle’s April issue. “I’m turning 50 this year, and I still haven’t done it. I’m sure I would look better with it, but my philosophy isn’t how I can look my best today; it’s how I can look my best when I’m 70,” she said. “Quick fixes age you. Have you noticed how radiant your skin looks after you work out? Well, imagine if your face didn’t move. Preserve your youth for as long as you can. That’s my advice.”
Amanda Seyfried:
“Face-lifts and Botox are very different, one’s more extreme,” she tells New York. “I’m 30, going to be 31 in a couple of days, and I don’t want to knock that stuff—to each their own. But I also feel like there’s a look. When you start doing that, you start looking the same as everyone else. Because unfortunately, you’re conforming to something and your face doesn’t move. Everybody’s faces blending into each other and the more surgery you do, with the big lips, skinny nose and tight brow—why would you want to look like everybody else [in Hollywood]?”
Jennifer Aniston:
Aniston worries that it’s easy to lose perspective when it comes to treatments like Botox. “Why would you want to atrophy muscles anyway?” she poses to InStyle. “If you don’t work out, eventually everything drops.”
IF I HAVE HAD BOTOX OR FILLERS, CAN I HAVE A FACIAL RENEWAL TREATMENT SERIES?
If you have recently had botox or fillers, it is important to let us know. You are absolutely allowed to have facial renewal, however it is important that through your individually catered treatment protocols, we work around them or it may release the injection. After 3 to 4 months, we are able to work locally in the injection sites, to increase blood flow once again and promote healing.
A short introduction to facial renewal.
A more in-depth discussion on acupuncture for facial renewal.