I first learned about facial acupuncture during school, but I wasn’t really interested in it until I saw the shockingly incredible results … ie. wrinkles in filling overnight! One of my clients went from having skin that looked like crumpled up tissue paper to skin that was completely smoothed out. Her daughter started coming in for treatments after witnessing her mom looking like she was 20 years younger! It’s been incredibly rewarding to offer people this type of boost in confidence + beauty ~ without medical invasion, aka: Botox.
Let’s talk a little bit about the chemical used in this medically invasive treatment:
Botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin, is one of the most deadly toxins known to man. What’s scarier? There is no known antidote to exposure to it! Produced from the bacterium Clostridium, it blocks the release of acetylcholine, which is the main neurotransmitter between muscles and nerves. This causes paralysis and if medical treatment is not sought, death may occur due to airway obstruction + respiratory failure. We are at risk for exposure in improperly canned food, a deep wound that was exposed to the spore, infants under one who eat honey (adults can handle small amounts), and through botox.
You read that right. One of the most dangerous toxins is being injected into people in a diluted form for cosmetic purposes. Local injects paralyze the muscles under the skin, which helps soften wrinkles. After the nerves heal, the muscles regain function and the person needs to go in for another round of injections. Continuation of “re-injuring” these nerves eventually leads to atrophy of the muscles that never get the chance to move. Atrophy is a risk of having deeper wrinkles and heavy hanging eyebrows after prolonged use - making botox essentially ineffective. Once that happens, you’re looking at more dramatic cosmetic options like a face lift.
Long term use of botox can cause the thinning of skin, a wavy appearance of skin + mild discoloration. Other problems that may occur after injections are problems speaking, droopy eyelids, muscle weakness, dystonia, neck pain, trouble swallowing, headaches, vision changes, overactive bladder, difficulty breathing, tinnitus, infections, fatigue, dizziness, and on + on …
One fascinatingly disturbing side-effect of botox is that it changes the “map” of the brain. Because the brain can’t sense the muscles, it starts to restructure the face area of the brain. Since the hand area is so close to that part of the brain map, the hands start to remap in the brain as well. In Chinese Medicine, the face is a microcosm - it represents the entire body. This mean wherever you inject can have a direct effect on a distal part of the body. This is why you see symptoms of overactive bladder.
Now let’s talk about what you can do instead to softens deep lines, gets rid of fine lines + give your skin a beautiful, healthy look!
Cosmetic acupuncture is an amazing natural alternative to botox. Since the face is connected to other parts of the body, you’re actually getting two treatments in one session! Facial acupuncture can also reduce puffiness, even out skin tone, improve muscle tone, localize blood + oxygen, stimulate collagen production, lift sagging skin, and just make you feel good!
I recommend 1-2 sessions a week for 10-15 sessions for the best results. People will start noticing healthier looking skin around treatment 4. After that fine lines reduce or completely disappear. Towards the end of your treatment plan, deep lines will soften and your face will 5-10 years younger. Maintenance after the initial treatment is recommended based on age + lifestyle.
I incorporate LOTUSWEI's Infinite Love Serum into all my facial treatments. This serum is all about loving yourself, taking care of yourself, softening, breaking through old patterns, magnetism + charisma; the perfect blend for taking care of your beautiful face!
If you’re still trying to figure out the perfect gift to give your mama or a mama in your life for Mother’s Day, this is the perfect gift! Give us a call or shoot us an email {hello@sancenterphx.com} to organize a treatment for someone special.
Happy thoughts,
