Could Facial Acupuncture Treat Wrinkles? Plastic Surgeon Voices Skepticism

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.”

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