As long as time is good, beauty is very important among both women and men and methods have become available to pause the process of ageing, ranging from acupuncture to full plastic surgery. But with so many options available to everyone, understanding not only what each treatment does but also picking the one that suits you the most is vital.
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Youth and Beauty, how far are you willing to go?
It is just as important, if not slightly less, than picking the facility in which you receive the treatment. When it comes to anything revolving around our appearance, choosing the best quality facility should be a top priority. You can get the same treatment but two different results; therefore, picking results over price should be considered.
When it comes to combating the signs of ageing, there is the popular option of botox, although acupuncture is not as often used to serve the distinct purpose of preventing or slowing down the ageing process. Knowing the difference between the two is crucial to ensuring you’re making an educated decision and not just copying what other people ‘swear by’.
What is Cosmetic Acupuncture?
To put it simply, this is acupuncture for cosmetic purposes, which entails needles placed in specific areas of the skin and muscles of the face. This means reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face, a method of anti-ageing that doesn’t involve anything being inserted into the skin.
These tiny needles placed on specific points of the face increase the production of collagen and improve blood circulation. As a result, your skin will become noticeably brighter and signs of wrinkles will reduce while adding some elasticity to the face. This is becoming a popular alternative to botox or filler, a natural method that has proven to provide effective results.
It originated in ancient Chinese healing practices. It was believed to be rooted in the belief that vital energy or “qi,” flows through meridians in the body and acupuncture was a method used to create a balance of this energy flow. Renowned for its effectiveness in managing and healing pain, as we’ve all seen in films, it also has a broader spectrum of health benefits, such as alleviating stress and anxiety and improving your overall well-being.
What To Know Before You Book In
Holistic Healing
Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to health, addressing underlying causes and issues rather than just treating symptoms.
For example, individuals with acne on their foreheads can often indicate digestive issues with acupuncture, which can help regulate and relieve types of acne.
Natural Results
Cosmetic acupuncture is a safe treatment as it stimulates the skin and rejuvenates it by addressing the underlying imbalances contributing to ageing without injecting anything into the face.
Multiple Sessions
Sometimes to be aware of to avoid any disappointment is that cosmetic acupuncture often requires multiple sessions to achieve your desired results, so it’s a slow and steady process and doesn’t provide any instant gratification.
Potential Side Effects
Cosmetic procedures have become more common. Most people are reporting that it’s a painless experience, although this is completely personal and everyone’s pain threshold is different. Thin needles are used for this cosmetic procedure and are inserted shallowly into the skin, leaving less room for pain in comparison to Botox.
All procedures have some sort of risk factor, but when it comes to cosmetic acupuncture, they are rare, mild and temporary. The most common are bruising, local inflammation and temporary exacerbations of existing conditions.
What is Botox?
It can simply be defined as a non-surgical cosmetic solution that uses injections to paralyse facial muscles and smooth wrinkles. This is only a temporary solution and a procedure that can become repetitive if you’re happy with the results. This cosmetic procedure is predominantly used for areas around the forehead and eyes but it is not limited to those areas. For example, botox can also be used in the armpits to prevent perspiration; therefore, it’s not only available for beauty reasons but for medical or convenience reasons as well.
The FDA approved botox back in 2002, as it was deemed a safe and effective way to reduce wrinkles.
It’s a minimally invasive treatment that delivers quick results (within a week) and has become a popular choice among those who prioritise their natural appearance.
What To Know Before You Book In
Instant Gratification
Botox can take a minimum of 2–3 days to see some sort of result and up to 3 weeks for the full effect. This can be a preferred treatment for most people who only want to revise when they want a top-up every 3–6 months, depending on how well your body takes to the Botox.
Temporary Effects
For some, this method is only a temporary fix and requires maintenance every 6 months.
Cosmetics Focus
Botox primarily addresses personal cosmetic concerns; for example, frown lines aren’t linked to any health concerns but, among society, are deemed an ageing and unattractive feature of women.
Botox aims to fill the gaps but without health benefits.
Possible Side Effects
This non-surgical treatment requires longer needles that penetrate the muscles of the skin; therefore, it has been reported as a slightly painful experience if there is no numbing cream involved, especially for those new to the procedure. To be on the safe side, if you have a low pain threshold, buy your own and apply 30 minutes before the appointment and you’re good to go.
Sometimes a needle can hit a blood vessel and cause bruising. Some providers offer further treatment for bruising; however, it shouldn’t last longer than a few days. Other side effects, such as swelling and mild redness, are normal and don’t tend to last longer than 24 hours.
Price shouldn’t be a factor when considering botox; choosing a cheaper option without considering the reputation of the practitioner can bring a great deal of risk of incorrectly injecting botox; therefore, research into reputable practitioners is essential.
Botox or Acupuncture: Which Should You Choose?
Knowing the key differences between them both allows you to move forward well-educated and up-to-date on the options now available to achieve your desired results. In general, there is no ‘better’ option, as every person is different and desires a certain look.
Figuring out which cosmetic procedure works best for you can be done, and the best part is that none of them is permanent. This gives you the freedom to choose and repeat whichever procedure suits your needs. Just make sure you’re wearing a comfortable loungewear set before your appointment and enjoy the process.
