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With all the reported risks of plastic surgery, it is no wonder that women are seeking out other options. Plastic surgery requires anesthesia, usually takes several hours, and leaves the patient with a swollen, red, and sometimes bruised face. It takes around two weeks for complete recovery.

The only possible side effect of cosmetic acupuncture is minimal bruising. Other than that, cosmetic acupuncture is a totally safe form of treatment. However, cosmetic acupuncture is not the fountain of youth. The results will not resemble a facelift and they won't be realized immediately. The results of cosmetic acupuncture are subtle and will be revealed over time, without using a harsh chemical peel or slicing your skin.

The person doing the procedure will put small needles into the skin near each wrinkle or frown line. These needles encourage energy in the facial tissue, sending blood to the surface, and relaxing the muscles. Then each muscle tightens, decreasing the sag of the skin on the face. The insertion of the needles also encourages each cell to build collagen fibers to lift wrinkles and eliminate fine lines. The International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture recently published evidence that 9 out of 10 people who underwent acupuncture to the face experienced softer facial lines, better skin tone, smaller circles under their eyes and an overall facial rejuvenation.

Practitioners charge different fees and differ in the number of treatments they plan to administer. You should be careful, therefore, to choose a licensed practitioner for your cosmetic acupuncture needs. Licensed practitioners have been trained by qualified teachers.

Also, another benefit exclusive to acupuncture: while patients are seeking treatment for cosmetic concerns, acupuncture has a positive effect on the person as a whole. Traditional Chinese medicine has been used for stress, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and a whole list of other modern complaints. Although many are skeptical about the effectiveness of facial acupuncture, it is not hard to imagine that when one's general well-being improves, the appearance of one's skin will improve also.

Opponents of the procedure will remind you that it is only a short term solution, lasting no more than a handful of years. However, surgical facelifts also have a limited period of effectiveness. There is no solution that will last forever. In less than a decade, the ravages of time will begin to show again, regardless of the number of surgeries completed.

Similar to the traditional Chinese medicine called body acupuncture, a practitioner of cosmetic acupuncture places very small needles into age lines on the face. The purpose of the needles is to get energy flowing in these areas. As blood rushes to the surface, the muscles tighten which firms the skin. The growth of new collagen cells is also encouraged by the needs, and collagen decreases the lines in the face as well. The International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture reports that 90% of trial participants of facial acupuncture noted results like softening of facial lines, better skin tone, lessened blue circles under the eyes, and an overall facial rejuvenation effect.