Facial Rejuvenation Treatment
(cosmetic acupuncture and facial massage)

This aesthetic treatment has been developed in China and Japan from traditions dating back over thousands of years. The aim of this treatment is to improve facial complexion and reduce the signs of ageing by enhancing the flow of the body’s energy (the qi) to the face, through the use of very gentle facial massage and acupuncture using extremely fine needles.

Sometimes I use a second set of slightly thicker needles to treat specific features, such as areas of deeper wrinkles or individual lines, but these needles are still very fine so there is little discomfort associated with them.  It is thought that this second set of needles produce benefits through increasing the blood supply and collagen levels in the areas treated. However, for patients who are sensitive to needles, I can use additional facial massage instead of this second set of needles to produce similar results.

Towards the end of the treatment I give gentle tui na body massage (through normal clothing) to balance the energy within the body; most patients find this to be very relaxing and relieves any muscle tension present.

Because cosmetic acupuncture treatment improves the flow and balance of energy within the whole body, not just the face, often conditions patients may have had for many years (such as chronic backache or recurrent headaches) improve as well.  Also during treatment I address other conditions which may affect appearance - such as skin complaints, or excessive stress which can lead to the development of ‘worry lines’.

How many treatments would I need?

The number required can vary from patient-to-patient. Many patients notice a difference after two or three treatments, with their face having a brighter appearance, and reduced fine wrinkles due to the relaxation of facial muscles.  However, for further longer term improvements at least 6 treatments are needed at weekly intervals, and a similar number at fortnightly intervals. Once the desired level of improvement has been achieved, I usually recommend that patients continue to have several treatments a year to maintain these improvements.

As with any aesthetic treatment, the results of cosmetic acupuncture can vary greatly from patient-to-patient.  However most patients are very pleased with the treatment, both in terms of how they look and how they feel!

Traditional Chinese Medicine
(therapeutic/remedial massage (tui na), acupuncture and exercise therapy (qigong) and dietary advice)

Traditional Chinese therapeutic/remedial massage (tui na), acupuncture, exercise therapy (qigong) and dietary advice are part of a medical system developed over thousands of years.  The aim of these treatments is to improve health by adjusting the flow and balance of energy (the qi) within the body.  With traditional Chinese massage, this is achieved by gently massaging along specific energy channels (know as meridians) and applying pressure to certain points on these channels - it works in a similar way to acupuncture, but without the needles!

This massage is usually carried out through the patient’s normal clothing, although areas of muscle tension can be massaged with oils. I can also use various patent balms and creams which have specific energetic properties; ones with warming properties can be used to nourish energy and improve its flow in the area of the body being treated, whilst cooling ones can be used to reduce any inflammation or skin irritation present.

Traditional Chinese exercise therapy involves performing gentle movements which can produce health benefits by activating the energy in the channels. These movements can be combined with modern remedial exercises (similar to ones that would be offered by physiotherapists) to have a greater effect.   For patients who are interested, I can draw up daily exercise programmes which would reinforce the massage treatment.

I also offer combined traditional Chinese acupuncture and massage therapy, which produce better results in the treatment of some conditions. The acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine needles at specific points along certain energy channels (depending on the condition being treated). These needles are very fine; much finer than those used for injections, and there is normally little discomfort associated with these.

These therapies can be very effective in the treatment of a wide range of both emotional and physical conditions. They can be particularly effective in the treatment of muscle and joint complaints (including sports injuries and back pain), recurrent migraine and tension headaches, digestive disorders (such as IBS), insomnia and some stress-related disorders. 

These therapies can also help with quitting smoking and weight loss (combined with dietary advice). Some people choose to have treatment as a preventative measure to strengthen their constitution or because they feel generally ‘under the weather’, rather than to treat any specific condition.

As the aim of the treatment is to improve general health by adjusting the energy balance within the body, during a course of treatment many people find several conditions they have improve, not just the one they first wanted treated.  For instance a patient may start treatment for back pain, but find that their hay fever is not so bad during the following spring or they are less susceptible to catch colds during the winter.  Women experiencing menstrual problems, PMT or symptoms associated with the menopause such as hot flushes, often find that these conditions improve during the course of treatment even if they first choose treatment for another condition.

I can offer traditional Chinese dietary advice to support the other therapies.  In traditional Chinese medicine various food groups are considered to have different energetic properties, and diets can be tailored to meet the patient’s individual energy requirements.

In addition to the therapeutic/remedial massage, I can also offer back and shoulder massages (using traditional Chinese massage techniques) to promote relaxation, relieve muscle tension and produce a sense of well-being.

If you would like more information about these treatments, I can send you one of my leaflets or arrange a free 15 minute preliminary consultation.