Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna are three of the celebrities to claim an acupuncture facelift has helped them simultaneously revitalize their skin and improve their health and well-being. However, upon closer examination, an acupuncture facelift is unlikely to deliver long-term facial rejuvenation results comparable to those associated with facelift surgery.
What Is an Acupuncture Facelift?
An acupuncture facelift is a non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedure commonly touted as a holistic alternative to Botox injections. During an acupuncture facelift, a patient receives tiny needles in different areas of the face. The needles disrupt skin tissue in the body to increase collagen and elastin production and stimulate blood flow. As such, an acupuncture facelift helps patients eliminate wrinkles, frown lines and other visible signs of aging in the face.
A cosmetic acupuncture treatment requires between 20 to 25 tiny needles to be inserted into the face. Meanwhile, an acupuncture facelift may be used to treat a variety of skin issues, including:
- Acne
- Dull skin
- Puffiness
- Rosacea (skin disease that causes facial redness or red, pus-filled bumps on the face)
- Skin that is too tight or lax
A typical acupuncture facelift lasts between 45 minutes and one hour. Patients sometimes report no pain following a cosmetic acupuncture treatment. Conversely, some cosmetic acupuncture patients experience a stinging sensation or minor pain or discomfort after treatment.
How Does Cosmetic Acupuncture Stack Up Against a Traditional Facelift?
A recent study published in the Journal of Acupuncture Research indicated that the benefits of cosmetic acupuncture is limited. Additionally, researchers concluded more systematic research is necessary to verify the benefits of cosmetic acupuncture.
Ultimately, an acupuncture facelift offers no guarantees. For those who want to reduce visible signs of aging in the face and neck, a facelift performed by globally recognized facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Babak Azizzadeh is ideal.
Dr. Azizzadeh understands there is no quick-fix solution to revitalize the facial appearance. Therefore, Dr. Azizzadeh learns about a patient to tailor a facelift treatment program to his or her needs.
Initially, Dr. Azizzadeh requests a facelift consultation so he can perform a full patient evaluation. He reviews a patient’s medical history and finds out why he or she is considering facelift surgery. Dr. Azizzadeh also uses the Aging Arc tool to visualize a patient’s treatment results. The Aging Arc allows a patient to see what he or she will look like after a facelift procedure and determine if the surgery can deliver the desired facial rejuvenation results.
If Dr. Azizzadeh recommends facelift surgery for a patient, he next crafts a personalized facelift treatment plan. Dr. Azizzadeh accounts for a patient’s treatment goals and develops a strategy designed to provide long-lasting results.
Finally, Dr. Azizzadeh and a patient work together to put a facelift treatment plan into action. Dr. Azizzadeh is ready to respond to a patient’s concerns or questions throughout the course of a facelift treatment. Plus, Dr. Azizzadeh monitors a patient’s progress after facelift surgery to ensure he or she can reap the benefits of a beautiful, natural-looking and balanced facial appearance.
Dr. Azizzadeh teaches patients about facelift surgery, too. He strives to help patients prepare for each stage of a facelift procedure, as well as establish realistic treatment expectations. That way, Dr. Azizzadeh puts a patient in the best position to achieve the optimal facelift treatment results.
For those who want to learn about facelift surgery and determine if they qualify for this facial rejuvenation procedure, Dr. Azizzadeh is happy to help. To find out more, please contact the CENTER for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery today at 310-657-2203 to schedule a facelift consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh.