To temporarily reduce facial wrinkles, some people are placing their trust in acupuncture, the ancient Chinese therapy long believed to alleviate many physical ailments and emotional imbalances.
In this ABC News segment Dr. Bruce Genter, a Pennsylvania plastic surgeon, voices skepticism about the treatment, pointing to the lack of scientific evidence supporting acupuncture as a wrinkle treatment. Still, some people claim that it works; are they seeing real results or simply being optimistic?
Julia Engstrom, who says she has used Botox and laser treatments in the past, believes facial acupuncture has improved the texture of her skin and reduced the appearance of wrinkles. Nearing the end of 10 treatments, she says her improvements have come through improved sleep and relaxation. “I’ve noticed that my skin is a lot smoother, [there’s] a lot less red pigment in there and the wrinkling seems to be a lot less,” Engstrom said. “I [also] have a lot less darkening under my eyes and I’ve been getting a lot of compliments.”
Acupuncture, a process of strategic needle placement in the body, is said to bring improved health and well-being. In an article for Prevention magazine, licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner Phyllis Olson asserts that acupuncture can indeed lessen the appearance of wrinkles. She attributes this to a core premise of acupuncture – that health is reliant upon the healthy flow of chi (energy) in the body, which can be disrupted for a myriad of reasons. Acupuncture treatments are believed to break up energy blockages that prevent optimal blood flow to certain places in the body, improving circulation.
Beata Maslanka, Philadelphia acupuncturist and author of the “Art of Wellness” acknowledges that acupuncture doesn’t yield visible results that compare to Botox or other facial fillers, but claims that beauty actually comes from within; when internal imbalances are healed, people will look better overall.
Olson agrees, noting that the treatments foster relaxation of facial muscles, thereby reducing wrinkles. “Aside from the light, momentary stings, acupuncture is really quite relaxing,” she adds.
The results Engstrom points to are hard to discern from the video, but one can wonder about the salutary effects of relaxation and optimism, not to mention the natural human tendency to see (and believe) what we want to see.
If it does have a wrinkle-relaxing effect, how long could this last? NYC dermatologic surgeon Barney Kenet, MD tells Prevention: “If acupuncture relaxes the muscles, it might reduce wrinkling temporarily. As for the increased blood flow, at most it will probably give you a temporary rosy complexion–something you don’t want if you have an inflammatory condition such as acne or rosacea,” he warns. “Otherwise, cosmetic acupuncture is relatively harmless.”
Maybe so, but then you may want to consider the cost. The average price of an acupuncture treatment for facial wrinkling could be as much as $60 to $100 per session, with 10 sessions recommended by Olson, followed by monthly maintenance procedures. In contrast, the average Botox treatment in the U.S. costs $472 and a single treatment will last 3-6 months. This makes acupuncture wrinkle treatments both an unproven and costly proposition.
Dr. Genter, whose patients are proof that Botox and other facial fillers visibly reduce the effects of aging on the face, says: ”If it increases your well-being that’s great, I just don’t know that it can make your face look younger.”
The popular wrinkle treatment Botox Cosmetic could be prescribed as a headache treatment in the future. New research published in Archives of Dermatology shares information about the recent clinical studies of Botox as a headache treatment, finding that certain patients experienced less frequent migraine attacks: “Patients who responded to Botox reported their migraines were reduced to fewer than 1 day a month from almost 7,” said Bloomberg news.
Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc has applied for FDA clearance to market the drug as a headache treatment. However, researchers say they cannot fully explain how Botox works to relieve headaches. One co-author of the study, Rami Burstein says, “it may block the signals in sensory nerves located on the outside of the head.”
In Houston, we all like to start the New Year on a positive note. Many of us take stock of what we’ve accomplished and focus on aspects of our life we hope to improve. If time has etched lines, wrinkles and grooves into your face, finding a solution may be near the top of your self-improvement wish list. BOTOX to the rescue!
By now, you probably know that BOTOX is a highly diluted form of the botulinum toxin used to correct certain facial lines and wrinkles. FDA-approved in 2002, BOTOX injections may be the single most popular non-surgical procedure to reduce or eliminate facial lines, wrinkles and grooves.
Wrinkles emerge over time
Crow’s feet, lines and even deep grooves appear on our faces over the years, the result of our natural expressiveness, lifestyle habits, and the tendency to move our facial muscles in habitual ways. For instance, you may squint a lot (when you’re concentrating, when you’re worried, when the sun is bright, or when you are trying to focus your vision.) As the years go by, this repetitive motion begins to carve lines in your face and can eventually result in a permanent expression of worry or intense concentration.
We frequently notice these facial lines and wrinkles on friends and strangers alike. At times, we also find ourselves looking at someone and wondering, “Why is she so angry?” or “Why is he so uptight and stressed?” We’re talking about that vertical line that runs down the center of the forehead: one of the most obvious facial flaws, in otherwise attractive men and women.
Why BOTOX?
BOTOX injections are a quick and cost-effective way to improve your looks. Performed by a highly experienced hand, the results are truly gratifying, softening the appearance of common lines and wrinkles:
Around the eyes (crow’s feet)
On the forehead (both vertical and horizontal lines and creases)
Around the mouth (smile lines)
For days after BOTOX is administered, you will look in the mirror and continue to see increased improvement in your face as the treatment reaches its full effect. BOTOX requires only local anesthesia, if any at all. The procedure effectively blocks signals relayed between certain nerves and muscles, causing a temporary paralysis in specific facial muscles.
After Botox treatment, you’ll still be able to smile, frown, and make normal facial expressions. BOTOX generally lasts 4-6 months before it needs to be replenished. Over time, many of our patients notice that their facial wrinkles continue to diminish even when they have BOTOX treatments less often. It almost seems to “train” the muscles to be more relaxed, resulting in a more serene, pleasing image as time goes by.
You only have one face
A word of caution: You may have heard about “BOTOX parties,” where the treatment is administered to a group of women in someone’s home. We strongly recommend that you avoid this route. You only have one face. Don’t place it in the hands of someone whose knowledge of facial anatomy may be insufficient. Just because someone can inject BOTOX doesn’t mean he or she can do it properly or with an eye trained to give the best aesthetic result. A trained plastic surgeon will administer the treatment with your very own unique face taken into consideration. The only BOTOX party worth attending is the one done safely in our Houston office.
If you are between age 18 and 65, are not pregnant, nursing or living with a muscular disorder, you’re probably a good candidate. Talk to us about BOTOX and start the New Year on a brighter, more attractive note. We’ve got Botox appointments available in Cypress, The Woodlands, at our Medical Center office, and Sugar Land.
treatment in the future. New research published in Archives of Dermatology shares information about the recent clinical studies of Botox as a headache treatment, finding that certain patients experienced less frequent migraine attacks: “Patients who responded to Botox reported their migraines were reduced to fewer than 1 day a month from almost 7,” said 
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