97 needles stuck in your face! What is the point of that, Lisa?
HER youthful glow kept her at the top of the modelling world for more than two decades. Now Lisa Snowdon has turned to a painful-looking therapy to stay looking young. Cosmetic acupuncture, touted as a natural alternative to Botox, involves having up to 100 needles inserted into the face and ears.
It is claimed to improve skin moisture balance, elasticity and cellular turnover, and to reduce inflammation from skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.
The TV presenter, who had a five- year relationship with George Clooney after meeting him while filming a Martini advert in 2000, shared a picture of herself on social media which showed 97 needles of various sizes placed around her face.
Miss Snowdon, 46, claimed the procedure was ‘ most relaxing’ and helped balance her hormones. The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, who is engaged to entrepreneur George Smart, 37, is being treated by Sarah Bradden, a holistic therapist based in Mayfair, London, who specialises in cosmetic acupuncture.
Patients are recommended to have a minimum course of six to 12 weekly sessions costing around £175 a time.
Miss Snowdon had her sixth session, which lasted 25 minutes, earlier this week.
Posting the picture to her 180,000 followers on Instagram, she wrote: ‘So I’ve progressed to 97 needles in this treatment, which is very much an all-over body, mind balance, as well as helping to lift and tone my face.
‘I also have needles in my ears, which helps to treat the whole body, boost my kidneys etc. Exciting to see and feel a difference in my body, my mind, my hormones balancing out and my overall health improving. It may look terrifying but I promise you the most relaxing treatment.
‘As soon as the first needle goes in my whole body seems to breathe a sigh of relief and surrenders.’
Miss Bradden shared an image of an ‘ emotional map’ of the face. She wrote on the diagram: ‘It shows what all the wrinkles on the face mean. It shows what emotions you have expressed frequently and repetitively or have repressed.’
The map suggests a wrinkle above the left eyebrow represents scepticism and small lines underneath the lips mean bit- terness. Irritation, impatience and annoyance can be seen as fine lines between the brows.
Miss Snowdon is not the only celebrity to have undergone the cosmetic procedure.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Madonna and Angelina Jolie are all said to be fans, while Millie Mackintosh and Kim Kardashian have posted ‘needle selfies’ on social media.
Acupuncture, a Chinese remedy dating back more than 2,000 years, is used to treat everything from backache to migraines and fertility problems. Some acupuncture – though not cosmetic – is even funded by the NHS.
Cosmetic acupuncture claims to work by targeting pressure points with the needles to release energy and endorphins.
This is said to improve blood flow, stimulate cell regrowth and encourage the production of collagen – the protein that helps keep the skin youthful and elastic.
‘I promise you it is most relaxing’