Acupuncture Cosmetic
WHAT IT IS
Acupuncture is the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice of inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to channel qi, or energy, to help the body achieve balance. Cosmetic acupuncture involves placing these needles into certain points on the face; this causes microtrauma, which signals the body to send new collagen (and qi) to the area. It’s similar to the idea behind microneedling, an in-office treatment that involves stamping or rolling fine needles across the face (which has usually been numbed).
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
I try the Silk Glow Cosmetic Acupuncture Facial ($150 for 75 minutes) at Silk + Palm in Toronto, where owner Kacie Krecolowich, R.Ac (that’s “registered acupuncturist”—in Ontario, and several other provinces, acupuncture is a regulated profession), first goes over my health history and diet and looks at my tongue (a TCM diagnostic tool). She cleanses my skin and then places around 50 tiny single-use needles into my body (specifically, my feet and the webbing on my hand between my thumb and index finger) and face. The feeling barely registers—less than a pinprick. In some places, like around my laugh lines and the divot in my chin, the feeling is more pronounced. I take a 25-minute nap, during which some of the needles, which are inserted very shallowly in the dermis, pop out of areas that are already plump with collagen. Following that, the needles are removed and Krecolowich performs gua sha—scraping the skin with a rose-quartz tool.
RESULTS
It’s hard to say after just one session. One to two treatments a week for a total of six to 12 treatments is recommended. My personal goal was to quell the inflammation I had on my face from trying a new product that didn’t agree with my skin, and when I left, there were no pinprick marks, bruises or redness to be seen. (Some people may experience these, but they should disappear within 48 hours.) Krecolowich told me that she uses different needle placement for dealing with wrinkles, scarring and acne; I made a mental note to go back and try it in lieu of my usual cortisone shot the next time I get a cystic pimple.