Facial Rejuvenation

Facial Rejuvenation with a Skin Specialist

Dr. Joseph Alban has spent 20 years treating the skin with acupuncture and Chinese medicine, including advanced training in Chinese medicine dermatology and a hospital residency in Hunan, China. That background shapes his approach to facial rejuvenation. He treats the face as living tissue that responds to circulation, inflammation, and overall health, not just as a cosmetic surface. Read his full bio.

Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation Benefits

The stimulation of the skin with acupuncture needles increases circulation, which in turn promotes healing and rejuvenation. The needles also trigger the body to produce more collagen, which smooths out wrinkles and improves the elasticity of the skin.

Facial acupuncture also works in other ways:

• Skin Vitality. Improved local blood flow brings color and vitality to dull or tired-looking skin, which is often the first thing patients notice
• Muscle tone. Points can tone slack facial muscles or release overly tight ones, such as the jaw and brow.
• Puffiness and drainage. Combined with gua sha, treatment supports lymphatic drainage.

Acupuncture can also address what’s behind a particular line. Vertical creases between the eyebrows, for example, often reflect habitual tension, frustration, or stress. Along with local facial points, a point such as Liver 3 on the foot helps calm that pattern so the face can relax.

What Can Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture Help With?

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Sagging skin, jowls, and nasolabial folds
• Puffiness and under-eye circles
• Dull or uneven tone and hyperpigmentation
• Jaw tension and clenching 

For active skin conditions such as acne or rosacea, see our TCM dermatology page, where treatment is tailored to the condition itself. Because the whole body is treated, many patients also notice better sleep, less stress, and fewer headaches.

What the Research Shows

Research on cosmetic acupuncture is still growing, but early studies are encouraging.

• In a 2013 pilot study at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, women aged 40 to 59 received five facial acupuncture sessions over three weeks and showed significant improvement in facial elasticity. The most common side effect was mild bruising at the needle site.
• A 2020 study of 54 women used fine acupuncture needles combined with mild electrical current on the face, and skin samples showed more compact, thicker collagen fibers compared with controls.
• A 2020 review of seven studies found that facial acupuncture may improve skin laxity, wrinkles, muscle thickness, and pigment changes associated with aging, with few side effects, while noting that larger studies are still needed.
• In a 2025 randomized controlled trial of 72 women aged 30 to 59, twelve sessions of facial and body acupuncture over six weeks visibly improved frown lines in 64% of participants at rest and 72% when frowning.
  

What a Session Looks Like

Your first visit is 75 minutes and follow-up visits are 60 minutes.

We begin by talking through your skin concerns along with your overall health, including sleep, stress, digestion, and hormonal changes. Points are then chosen on both the face and body for your specific needs. You’ll rest with the needles in place for about 20 to 30 minutes.

To finish, we use facial gua sha. A smooth gua sha tool moves with slow, deliberate strokes to release tension, support lymphatic drainage, and sculpt the contours of the face. Learn more about gua sha.

Add-on: LED light therapy. Red light can be applied over the needles during your session.  Red light supports collagen production and skin repair, while infrared reaches deep levels to calm inflammation. Learn more about LED light therapy.

For deeper texture or scarring concerns, facial acupuncture also pairs well with microneedling.

What Kind Of Results Can I Expect?

Many patients notice a more lifted, refreshed look after a single session. Lasting changes, such as softer creases, firmer skin, and more defined contours, build over a series. We typically recommend 10 to 12 treatments over 6 to 10 weeks, followed by monthly maintenance visits. Results vary with age, skin type, and lifestyle, and acupuncture produces natural-looking change rather than the dramatic effect of surgery or fillers.

Is Facial Acupuncture Safe?

Facial acupuncture is very safe in the hands of a licensed acupuncturist, using sterile, single-use needles. The most common side effect is small, temporary bruising, which usually fades within a few days. To be safe, avoid booking right before a major event.

Let us know before treatment if you are pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, take blood-thinning medication, have an active skin infection or rash on the face, or have had a recent cosmetic procedure.

Facial Acupuncture, Botox, and Fillers

Facial acupuncture and injectables work differently. Botox temporarily relaxes targeted muscles and fillers add volume. Acupuncture works more gradually, improving circulation, skin quality, and muscle tone while also supporting your overall health. Many patients choose acupuncture as a natural alternative. Others use it alongside injectables.

If you’ve had injectables, wait 2 weeks after Botox and 3 weeks after fillers before facial treatment, so the product can fully settle. Your injector may recommend a different timeline, so check with them as well.

When Should I Seek Treatment?

You can start at any age, whether you want to prevent signs of aging or address long-standing concerns. Regular treatment helps counter the effects of stress, sun, and gravity on the face.

References

1. Yun Y, Kim S, Kim M, Kim K, Park JS, Choi I. Effect of facial cosmetic acupuncture on facial elasticity: an open-label, single-arm pilot study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:424313.
2. Sifaki M, Calina D, Docea AO, et al. A novel approach regarding the anti-aging of facial skin through collagen reorganization. Exp Ther Med. 2020;19(1):717-721.
3. Smith AM, Ferris T, Nahar VK, Sharma M. Non-traditional and non-invasive approaches in facial rejuvenation: a brief review. Cosmetics. 2020;7(1):10.
4. Haghir H, Yazdanpanah MJ, Farahmand SK, Khadem-Rezaiyan M, Azizi H. Is acupuncture effective in diminishing frown lines? Evidence from a randomized controlled trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(4):e70144.