Cosmetic Acupuncture

Written By Karen Williams, DACM, L.Ac., Diplomat. O.M.

The art of facial acupuncture, "mei rong," translates to beautiful appearance and has been practiced in China for thousands of years. Medical physicians regularly performed facial acupuncture on empresses and emperors to maintain a youthful appearance and delay signs of aging.

Facial cosmetic acupuncture has become a desired alternative or adjunct to modern-day beauty-enhancing procedures such as neurotoxin injection or surgery. Cosmetic acupuncture is an extension of traditional acupuncture.

Traditional acupuncture and Chinese Medicine place heavy emphasis on treating external problems internally. Since the skin is the body's largest organ and is connected to all other organs, a differential diagnosis must first be determined prior to treatment to address the root cause of the problem. Therefore, during a cosmetic acupuncture session, a consultation and exam will be performed, discussing medical history and addressing any other health concerns before receiving treatment. Then the needles will be placed on the face and other areas of the body to support the long-term health of the skin rather than just the superficial signs of aging. As needles are inserted into the skin, they create positive microtraumas, which send the body into repair mode and stimulate the lymphatic and circulatory systems of the body. From a cosmetic perspective, this reaction increases blood flow to the face while promoting collagen and elastin production. The results are reduced signs of aging, including lightening of age spots, brightened skin tone, reduced excess fluid, and reduced fine lines and wrinkles while sculpting and boosting facial definition. 

 

Many notice improvements to their skin just after a session or two of cosmetic acupuncture. However, ten sessions, an entire course of treatment, is recommended to see optimum results. It is also essential to remember that cosmetic acupuncture is not a quick fix, and these treatments focus on creating long-term health changes within the skin and body. If you want to continue cosmetic acupuncture's benefits on your own, cosmetic acupressure can easily be integrated into a home beauty routine. Cosmetic acupressure may be performed with your fingers, knuckles, or a Gua Sha tool on specific pressure points on the face to improve blood circulation and promote lymphatic drainage. 

 

If you want to learn more about cosmetic acupuncture and acupressure, please join us for our "Unbotox Party" at Sacred Spa + Wellness on November 12th. This is a fantastic opportunity to receive cosmetic acupuncture while relaxing under a weighted blanket in our beautiful greenhouse. There will also be demonstrations on how to perform home cosmetic acupressure, facial yoga exercises to lift and tone the forty-four muscles of the face, and a tutorial on the use of a Gua Sha sculpting tool. We look forward to seeing you there.

Have a Blessed Day! 

 

Karen Williams, DACM, L.Ac., Diplomat. O.M.

Dr. Karen Williams, DACM, L.Ac., O.M. is a nationally board certified and New York State-licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. Graduating with honors with a Master of Science Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Seneca Falls, N.Y., she has more than 3,000 hours of extensive training, which includes clinical rotations from multiple outpatient health centers in the Finger Lakes Region including the Canandaigua Veterans Affair Medical Center and the Rochester Health Clinic. To further her knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she studied abroad at the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hangzhou, China. While there, she received additional training with an emphasis on gynecology, gastroenterology and pediatric care. She continued her education at Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego, California, and graduated with a Doctorate Degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. She also holds certification in Usui Reiki, a healing technique which promotes balance restoration within the body.

Since childhood, Dr. Williams has always been intrigued by science and medicine. She majored in Chemistry during her undergraduate studies at SUNY Oswego and, following graduation, embarked on a successful career as a chemist and research scientist for many years. After combining her scientific knowledge with her love of nature, plants and herbs, she came to the realization that nature is medicine. Her next step was to delve into the world of natural plant therapies in detail by completing an apprenticeship and advanced clinical training at the Boston School of Herbal Studies with a focus on Chinese Medicine and Western Herbalism. It was at this time she knew she needed to fully commit herself to study natural medicine and redirect the course of her career. By combining her interest in medical science with natural healing interventions, her career as a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine began.

Dr. Williams is truly passionate about her work and uses a heartfelt approach to deliver quality patient-centered care. She treats a wide variety of conditions, however her focus has primarily been women’s health, including fertility, pregnancy support and menopause, pain management, digestive disorders, as well as emotional + spiritual wellness.

Her employment experience has been in both private practice and at CNY Fertility in Albany, N.Y., where she was able to broaden her knowledge of treating women’s reproductive health and IVF/IUI assisted fertility. She is a proponent of patient education and believes this is key in creating lasting health and wellness. Dr. Williams is committed to working with each patient to create a customized and comprehensive treatment plan to obtain the most effective results possible.

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