Cosmetic Acupuncture with Microneedling vs. Botox

Cosmetic acupuncture vs Botox is a common search term online but the comparison is misleading. While both have been shown to reduce facial lines and wrinkles, they are radically different procedures with very different effects on the body.

Botox is an injection-delivered pharmaceutical-grade toxin made from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. While Botox has multiple important medical uses, it’s best known as a cosmetic treatment for reducing the appearance of wrinkles. The toxin partially paralyzes muscles at the injection site which relaxes the surrounding skin. The effect, a temporary reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and lines, reduces blood and qi flow to the treated area.

Additionally, it’s important to understand that Botox does not fill in lines, rather, it weakens facial muscles making certain facial expressions that accentuate wrinkles more difficult. For this reason, many people accompany their Botox treatments with additional filler treatments. Botox can lead to unnatural-looking effects such as a lopsided look if applied unevenly or facial drooping if overdone. It also carries a risk of allergic reaction.

Cosmetic acupuncture in contrast to Botox actually restores blood and qi flow to the treated area and does not restrict the face in any way. Generally, there are two different types of treatments. Facial acupuncture for lifting and toning and microneedling for wrinkle and line reduction. The combination of the two leads to the most noticeable and long-lasting results.

During Facial Acupuncture, fine needles are inserted into key areas of the face to stimulate and focus qi and blood flow toning facial muscles and resulting in a lifting effect. During microneedling treatments, a specialized oscillating microneedling pen is used on the entire face. The single-use head of the pen contains 12 extremely tiny needles. The treatment is painless and results in microtrauma to the skin that stimulates your body's natural healing response. The immune response increases collagen and elastin production by stimulating keratinocytes in your skin. The two proteins work to reduce wrinkle depth and skin dryness naturally resulting in a glowing complexion and firmer more youthful-looking skin.

The benefits of microneedling go well beyond wrinkle reduction. Facial scarring, including acne scarring, pore size, sun spots, and skin texture can be dramatically improved by the treatment.

For Oakland microneedling and facial acupuncture, look no further than Root and Stem Oakland. We offer full-service acupuncture healthcare. All of our practitioners offer facial acupuncture and microneeding as a stand-alone service or in addition to your holistic treatment plan. Book online today or reach out to jessica@oaklandrootandstem.com or call 510-463-4304.