Acupuncture vs. Med Spa: Why Combining Acupuncture With Your Microneedling Treatment Matters

If you're interested in cosmetic skincare, there's a good chance you've heard about microneedling.

Thanks to the treatment's rising popularity and availability, invasive treatments like plastic surgery, lasers, botox, and fillers are no longer your only option for significantly improving a variety of aesthetic concerns, like wrinkles, scars, large pores, and stretch marks.

While med spas commonly offer the procedure, many people choose to get their microneedling done by their microneedling trained acupuncturist instead. We'll explain exactly why later in the post.

First, what exactly is microneedling, and why is it so effective?

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive and painless cosmetic procedure. It uses ultra-fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in your skin.

The process stimulates and improves your body's natural wound healing response, resulting in cell turnover and increased collagen and elastin production, providing noticeable and long-lasting results. 

In addition to being incredibly effective, microneedling has very few side effects.

While microneedling can treat any area of the body, it's most commonly used to improve the appearance of facial skin concerns.

So, now that we know a little more about microneedling, let's take a closer look at why getting the treatment from an acupuncturist may be your best option.

When it comes to med spa vs. acupuncture for microneedling treatment, the underlying differences in how the two approach the therapy can lead to notably different results.

So what are the primary differences?

• Medspas look at your skin from a western medical perspective that isolates individual body parts and systems. 

• Acupuncture is an ancient holistic medicine rooted in thousands of years of wisdom. Your acupuncturist looks at your body as a whole and understands how its interconnected systems affect one another.

Why is this important?

Because, it means that your acupuncturist will take a more comprehensive and holistic approach to your microneedling treatment and design a plan specifically for you and your individual needs.

Your acupuncturist will base your plan on a holistic traditional Eastern medical examination of your body and overall health. 

Acupuncturists know that facial aesthetic concerns often have roots in internal imbalances that can lead to stagnant qi.

If these imbalances are not addressed and treated in conjunction with microneedling, the efficacy and effective duration of the treatment's results may be diminished. For this reason, acupuncturists often apply needles to other areas of the body during microneedling treatments, addressing multiple issues simultaneously and significantly increasing the chances of optimal and enduring results.

Another reason acupuncturists are a better choice than med spas is they offer you the option of alternating between microneedling and facial rejuvenation acupuncture treatments. Facial rejuvenation acupuncture has been used for over 3000 years to support facial skin during aging. Combined, the two treatments often lead to dramatic improvements in skin tone, wrinkle appearance, and sagging.

In addition, acupuncturists often combine microneedling with other modalities like LED light therapy. This combination can provide even better results than microneedling alone by increasing the collagen-boosting and cellular regnative effects of the treatment.

The bottom line is that no matter where you get your microneedling done, it's a powerful and effective facial rejuvenation treatment with few risks or side effects. 

But, at the end of the day, your microneedling results are only as good as the practitioner performing the procedure. So, if you want to ensure optimal, long-lasting results, your best bet is to visit your acupuncturist trained in microneedling.

All of our practitioners offer microneedling as well as facial acupuncture as a stand-alone service or in addition to your holistic treatment plan. 

Book now at our Oakland or Nevada City clinic or reach out to Dr. Jessica Parker at hello@rootandstemclinic.com.