Cosmetic Acupuncture is a safe, natural and effective way to keep you looking and feeling your best.

If you’ve been looking for a natural approach to supporting healthy, aging skin – something that works with your body instead of against it – cosmetic acupuncture offers a gentle, non-toxic, non-surgical option.

Cosmetic acupuncture is not just about the face. It’s about supporting the internal systems that influence skin health, including circulation, hormones, and the nervous system – helping create healthy, vibrant skin from within.

What is Cosmetic Acupuncture?

Benefits of Cosmetic Acupuncture

How Cosmetic Acupuncture Works

What to Expect During a Treatment

How to Prepare for Treatment

Who Is It For?

Who Is It Not For?

Treatment Plans and Pricing

Cosmetic acupuncture (also called facial acupuncture or facial rejuvenation) is a gentle, natural treatment that uses very fine needles placed both on the face and the body. 

Facial points help stimulate local circulation and collagen production, while body points help to regulate the nervous system, digestion, hormones, and circulation—all of which play an important role in how your skin looks and ages.

Skin + Appearance:

  • Improves collagen and elastin production

  • Improves skin tone, texture and pore size

  • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles

  • Brightens and smooths complexion

  • Lifts and tones underactive muscles and relaxes tight muscles

  • Reduces under eye bags and dark circles and lifts drooping eyelids

Circulation + Lymph:

  • Reduces puffiness and edema

  • Improves local blood and lymph circulation

  • Come with clean skin

  • Avoid heavy workouts right after

  • Stay hydrated

  • Minor redness/bruising possible

  • Avoid alcohol right before/after if prone to bruising

Whole-Body Support:

  • Reduces inflammation

  • Helps sinus congestion and jaw tension

  • Whole body approach to aging naturally

  • Addresses root causes (stress, hormones, digestion, inflammation)

Compared to Other Cosmetic Procedures:

  • Safer with less side effects

  • Less painful

  • Less expensive

  • No downtime or recovery

  • Uses the body’s own resources to create sustainable change

  • Results after 6-8 treatments

Cosmetic acupuncture works on multiple levels:

Stimulates Collagen & Skin Renewal
The gentle micro-stimulation from the needles triggers a natural healing response in the skin. This supports collagen production, helping soften fine lines and improve elasticity over time. (Collagen renewal takes about 28 days, which is why consistency matters.)

Balances Facial Muscle
Many of us hold tension in the jaw, forehead, and between the brows. Releasing this tension can soften expression lines and create a more relaxed appearance.

At the same time, some muscles become overactive (like the furrowed brow), while others become underactive (like the cheeks or jawline).
Acupuncture helps rebalance these patterns, supporting tone, symmetry, and overall facial structure.

Improves Circulation & Lymphatic Flow
Treatment increases blood flow, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the skin and helps move stagnant fluid, which can:

  • Reduce puffiness

  • Brighten dull skin

  • Improve overall complexion

Whole-Body Support
Your skin reflects what’s happening internally. Body points are always included to support:

  • Digestion

  • Hormone balance

  • Nervous system balance

  • Inflammation

This is a big reason why patients often notice improvements in sleep, stress, and energy alongside skin changes.

Each session is designed to be both therapeutic and deeply relaxing.

A typical treatment includes:

  • A brief consultation to assess your goals and overall health

·      Full body acupuncture to support internal balance

·      Facial acupuncture tailored to your areas of focus

·      Relax and rest for 15-20 minutes with dim lighting and soft music

·      Sessions typically last about 40 minutes.

Cosmetic acupuncture is best suited for those who are looking for a natural, gradual approach to skin health and aging—rather than quick or dramatic changes.

You may be a great fit if you:

  • Prefer a more holistic, non-invasive approach over injectables or surgery

  • Are open to a series of treatments and understand that results build over time

  • Want to support not just your skin, but your overall health and nervous system

  • Are noticing early signs of aging (fine lines, dullness, loss of elasticity) or want to maintain healthy skin proactively

  • Experience stress, poor sleep, or tension that you feel is showing up in your skin

  • Value subtle, natural-looking results that help you look more refreshed

Cosmetic acupuncture can also be a good option if you’re already receiving acupuncture for other concerns and want to incorporate facial treatments as part of a more comprehensive approach.

It may not be the best fit if you’re looking for immediate, dramatic changes or a one-time treatment. Like most things in the body, meaningful and lasting results come from consistency and supporting the system as a whole.

While cosmetic acupuncture is generally very safe, there are certain situations where treatment may need to be modified, postponed, or approached more carefully.

You may need to wait or consult first if you:

  • Have uncontrolled high blood pressure

  • Are currently taking blood thinners or bruise very easily

  • Have had recent Botox or fillers (typically best to wait at least 2–4 weeks)

  • Are experiencing an active skin infection, rash, or inflammation in the treatment area

  • Have a bleeding disorder

  • Are currently pregnant

In these cases, we can still often support your skin and overall health—sometimes by focusing on body acupuncture first, or adjusting the treatment plan to better fit your needs.

If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out before scheduling. We can help determine the safest and most appropriate approach for you.

Cosmetic acupuncture works best as an initial series of 10-12 treatments with regular maintenance treatments.

  • Initial phase: 10-12 treatments (1-2x per week)

  • Maintenance: once a month

  • Individual treatment = $120

  • Package of 5 = $550 ($50 savings) – ideal for maintenance series

  • Package of 10 = $1000 ($200 savings) – recommended for initial series

* Cosmetic acupuncture is not covered by insurance and is a cash pay service.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Most people are surprised by how comfortable it is. The needles used on the face are extremely fine—much thinner than those used for injections. You may feel a slight pinch or sensation with insertion, but many patients find the treatment deeply relaxing.

  • Bruising is possible, but typically minimal and not common. The face has a lot of circulation, which helps healing. We use gentle techniques to reduce the risk, and if you’re prone to bruising or taking blood thinners, we can adjust your treatment accordingly.

  • Cosmetic acupuncture works by supporting your body’s natural processes—improving circulation, encouraging collagen production, and relaxing muscle tension. The results are more gradual and subtle compared to injectables, with a focus on looking refreshed and natural rather than dramatically changed.

  • Most people benefit from an initial series of 6–12 treatments, typically once or twice per week. After that, maintenance treatments every 4–6 weeks help sustain results. We’ll tailor your plan based on your goals and how your skin responds.

  • Some people notice a subtle glow or improved skin tone after the first few treatments. More noticeable changes—like improved texture or softening of fine lines—tend to build gradually over several weeks.

  • Results are cumulative and depend on consistency. With a full treatment series and regular maintenance, results can last several months. Lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, and nutrition also play a role.

  • Yes—this is actually one of the best ways to approach it. Treating the body and face together can enhance overall results by supporting circulation, stress regulation, and internal balance.

  • There’s little to no downtime. You may have slight redness or very mild swelling right after treatment, which typically resolves within a few hours. Most people return to normal activities the same day.

  • To reduce the chance of bruising, it’s best to avoid alcohol before and after your session. After treatment, try to skip intense workouts, saunas, or excessive heat for the rest of the day and stay well hydrated.

  • Cosmetic acupuncture can be beneficial at many stages. In your 20s–30s, it’s often used preventatively to support skin health and slow early signs of aging. In your 40s and beyond, it can help improve tone, texture, and elasticity. Treatments are always tailored to your skin and goals.

  • Yes—cosmetic acupuncture can support inflammatory skin conditions by improving circulation and calming the nervous system. In these cases, we often combine facial and body acupuncture to address underlying patterns contributing to the skin.

  • We commonly treat areas like the forehead, between the brows, around the eyes, cheeks, jawline, and neck. Treatments can also help with jaw tension, puffiness, and overall skin tone.

  • No—the goal is not to change your face, but to support your natural features. Most people notice they look more rested, refreshed, and balanced rather than “worked on.”

  • It’s best to wait at least a few hours before applying makeup to allow the skin to settle. If possible, giving your skin the rest of the day to breathe is ideal.

  • That’s okay. Cosmetic acupuncture can still be beneficial. We typically recommend spacing treatments at least 2–4 weeks away from injectables and will adjust your treatment plan accordingly.

  • Try to come well-hydrated and avoid alcohol beforehand. Arriving with no makeup is helpful.

  • In Chinese medicine, the face reflects what’s happening internally. Supporting digestion, circulation, stress levels, and sleep can all improve skin health—so treating the body often enhances and prolongs facial results.

  • We can absolutely adjust the treatment to your comfort level—using fewer needles, gentler techniques, and a slower pace. The goal is for the experience to feel calming and supportive, not overwhelming.

  • You can still benefit from occasional treatments—especially for relaxation, circulation, and glow—but the most noticeable and lasting results come from consistency over time. We’ll always meet you where you are.

  • That’s completely okay. I’ll walk you through everything, go at your pace, and adjust the treatment to your comfort level. Many first-time patients are surprised by how relaxing it feels.

  • Yes—if you’re already coming in for treatment, we can often incorporate cosmetic acupuncture or offer it as an add-on option.

  • We use single-use, sterile, disposable needles. Everything is opened fresh for each treatment and safely discarded after.

  • Yes—but ideally not for the very first time right before an important event. It’s best to try your first treatment at least 1–2 weeks prior so you know how your skin responds.

  • Your skin won’t “rebound,” but results will gradually fade over time. Maintenance treatments help sustain the benefits.