Acupuncture face lift: Is this really a thing?

I was recently out for a run and came across this store front.

Now, I’m certainly not an expert on Eastern medicine, but I am an expert on face lifts and I was quite skeptical that you could get one through acupuncture. But here on the blog we keep an open mind!

So I turned to a friend of mine, Dr. Nancy Yen Shipley, MD. Check out her website! She’s also on Facebook!

Dr. Shipley is a sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon. Before going to medical school, she received some training in Eastern medicine, so I reached out to her. Here’s her explanation of Acupuncture Facelifts:

Acupuncture facelifts are gaining in popularity and although acupuncture and Eastern medicine are becoming less foreign to us, the concept of using it for a more youthful appearance may be new.

Acupuncture is a centuries-old art with roots in China. It famously become well-publicized in the West when a journalist had an appendectomy while on assignment in China, using only acupuncture for anesthesia.

The theory behind acupuncture is that rather than thinking about blood vessels and lymph networks running through our body, there are energy or “qi” channels, otherwise known as meridians. If there is a blockage in these meridians, a variety of health conditions can arise. This applies also to the appearance of the skin.

One thing to remember, however, is that the training requirements for practicing acupuncture vary state by state, ranging from merely an hours-based requirement up to a Masters level degree. If you fell that acupuncture is right for you, make sure you discuss it with your physician, and also seek out an acupuncturist who is licensed by your state board.

So there you go, acupuncture may improve the appearance of your skin.

Western facelifts involve elevating and tightening the deeper tissues of the face to create a more youthful jaw and neck line.

Of course, you can expect some down time because it is a surgical procedure. Usually you can go back to work in about 7-10 days, although pain is minimal (the patient above only took Tylenol!).

So no, you cannot actually get a facelift through acupuncture. But if you want to try to improve your appearance with Eastern techniques, be sure to check your provider’s credentials! Just like in western medicine, you can never be sure what you’re going to get!