P. Sze 
While aging is a natural part of getting older, it is often not so forgiving on our physical appearance. Although it is inevitable, we will eventually have to deal with everything from wrinkles to fine lines. Many people reduce the appearance of these traits with skincare products and even plastic surgery. However, if you would like to look younger in the most natural way possible, consider acupressure treatment. In the following article, we will help you jumpstart your journey to the fountain of youth by treating acupressure points for facelift.
Is Acupuncture Good For A Facelift?
Do you want to look young again but are nervous about going under the knife or committing to botox treatment? Cosmetic acupuncture is a great holistic and less risky alternative. But before we dive deeper, we should distinguish the differences between surgical and acupuncture “facelifts”. In the real sense of the term, a “facelift” refers to a surgical procedure that changes the physical features of the face. During acupuncture treatment, several needles are placed onto specific acupuncture points on the face. It is believed that this will help with collagen and elastin production, increase blood flow to the face, and ultimately reduce the signs of aging. However, there are no guarantees as to the outcome of facial acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture treatment will benefit not only your skin but also your overall well-being. This practice operates on the idea that the body contains energy channels that can become disrupted or blocked in cases of illness or abnormal body issues. These energy channels are connected to various systems throughout the body that can affect each other. When acupuncture is performed, the practitioner stimulates points that help remove any energy imbalances in your system. Acupuncture points on the face can treat anything from joint pain to fertility. As a result, cosmetic acupuncture treatment is treating so much more than the face.
Is Facial Acupuncture Better Than Botox?
Many people tout facial acupuncture as the “natural botox”, and there is some promise that it can live up to this title. A 2013 study showed that facial cosmetic acupuncture improved facial elasticity in participants after only five treatment sessions. Unlike botox though, acupuncture won’t necessarily deliver results right away. Because acupuncture intentionally causes small traumas in the skin, the body responds by healing these “injured” areas by increasing blood and energy flow. As you may know, healing takes time. Over the long term, you will start to see improvements in both your skin and health altogether. This is also due in turn to the fact that cosmetic acupuncture is not just limited to the face. During a typical treatment session, your practitioner will treat other parts of your body that will further enhance skin health. On the other hand, botox involves injecting Botulinum toxin, a protein that prevents muscle movement and reduces blood flow to the areas affected. Both treatments produce the same result, and there is no better or worse way to go about it. In fact, some people even do a combination of the two! It is more of a matter of preference and how these two treatments will work for you personally.
Can Acupuncture Help Sagging Skin?
Sagging skin is another legitimate concern when it comes to aging. As previously mentioned, facial acupuncture can increase skin elasticity and, thus, firm up its appearance. The muscles tighten and/or relax in response to the needle pricks, allowing us to “shape” our face. Again, it is not all about the face. Your health has a direct impact on how your face and skin look. There may be other factors that you may not know are speeding up the aging process. Acupuncture seeks to treat the whole body to solve all ailments from wrinkles to back pain. But don’t rely on it to completely restore your youthful features. If you are looking to make drastic changes to your face, plastic surgery may be the better option for you.
Does Facial Acupressure Really Work?
Are you scared of needles? No problem. Acupressure, which follows the same principles of acupuncture, is another route you can take to achieve a natural “facelift” at home. Instead of using needles, you would use your hands and fingers to stimulate acupressure points for facelift. To put it simply, you would be giving yourself a more strategic facial massage.
Although there is little to no evidence on facial acupressure treatment specifically, acupressure has been shown to improve muscle tension, a significant contributor to wrinkles. And given the potential of cosmetic acupuncture treatment, there is no harm done if you try acupressure out for a while. It is low risk and easy enough for anyone to try.
Acupressure Points For Facelift
One of the only things that is best to push off until later in your life is aging. Contrary to popular treatments out there, there are more affordable anti-aging options. Acupressure is one of them. Even though you don’t need to be experienced to perform acupressure, make sure to stop if you feel pain or uncomfortable at any point. Below we will detail the specific acupressure points for facelift to treat in your facial massage routine.
Increase blood circulation and eliminate fatigue with these acupoints:
1. Acupoint: EM-5 (Other Names: Tai Yang)
EM5, also known as “taiyang”, is located in the depression of your temples. This point reduces swelling and redness around the eyes and is also involved in facial pain, headaches, and sinus issues. Treatment of EM5 has also been shown to improve anxiety disorders based on a 2014 study.
2. Acupoint: Bl-2 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-2/Zan Zhu/Gathered Bamboo)
Bl-2, also known as “zanzhu” or “gathered bamboo”, is located on the inner end of the eyebrow closest to the middle line of your face. Similar to EM5, this acupoint helps treat swelling around the eyes. However, it is more known for eye disorders such as irritation of the eyes due to allergies, as well as glaucoma and blurry vision.
Bl-2 is also one of the many acupressure points for eyes-related issues.
Tone up your face with these acupoints:
3. Acupoint: LI-20 (Other Names: Large Intestine-20/Ying Xiang/Welcome Fragrance)
LI-20, also known as “yingxiang” or “receiving fragrance”, is located in the nasolabial groove at the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi. Use this point if you’re experiencing some facial swelling. Otherwise, it has been mainly indicated for nasal and sinus disorders like anosmia, nasal discharge, rhinitis, sinusitis, etc. It is also highly effective for snoring as a result of nasal obstruction.
Together with the third eye acupressure point, they are frequently used together to repair your taste and smell lost due to illness
4. Acupoint: ST-3 (Other Names: Stomach-3/Ju Liao/Large Bone Hole)
St-3, also known as “juliao” or “large bone hole”, is located below the pupil of the eye and is at the same level as the lower end of your nostrils. This point can tone your face by reducing swelling of the lips and cheeks. It is also treated for facial paralysis, eyelid twitching, and toothache.
5. Acupoint: SI-18 (Other Names: Small Intestine-18/Quan Liao/Cheek Bone Crevice)
SI-18, also known as “quanliao” and “cheek bone crevice”, is located in the depression below your cheekbones. As you might have guessed, this acupoint is great for swelling of the cheeks. Practitioners also treat this point for facial paralysis, eyelid twitching, jaw pain, and toothache.
TCM practitioners also love to use this acupoint in acupuncture for toothache.
Improve facial lines and relax tight muscles with these acupoints:
6. Acupoint: ST-7 (Other Names: Stomach-7/Xia Guan/Below the Arch)
St-7, also known as “xiaguan” or “below the arch”, is located in the indentation right where your jaw bone attaches to your skull. As far as the face is concerned, this point can work for facial paralysis and pain. It mainly helps with deafness, tinnitus, toothaches, jaw pains, and nasal congestion.
This acupoint is also often used in acupuncture for teeth grinding.
7. Acupoint: ST-6 (Other Names: Stomach-6/Jia Che/Jaw Bone)
St-6, also known as “jiache” or “jaw bone”, is located on the cheek where the masseter muscle attaches. Treat this area if your cheeks are swelling. St-6 will help to clear obstructions in this energy channel and rejuvenate the area with blood flow. Any toothaches, jaw pain, and even belly fat can be cleared away with just this point.
8. Acupoint: ST-5 (Other Names: Stomach-5/Da Ying/Large Receptacle)
St-5, also known as “daying” or “large receptacle (facial artery)”, is located along the mandible and just in front of St-6. Combine treatment of St-5 with St-6 to especially reduce swelling of the cheek, but it can also help with toothaches, jaw pain, back pain, and stiff tongue.
Trigger lymph circulation, metabolism, and reduce facial swelling with these acupoints:
9. Acupoint: SI-19 (Other Names: Small Intestine-19/Ting Gong/Palace of Hearing)
SI-19, also known as “tinggong” or “palace of hearing”, is located next to the tragus in the depression that forms when the mouth is open. You can treat SI-19 any swelling that is coming from a toothache or jaw pain. But it is more well known for treating ear problems like tinnitus, deafness, and otorrhea.
10. Acupoint: TE-21 (Other Names: Triple Energizer-21/Er Men/Ear Gate)
TE-21, also known as “ermen” or “ear gate”, is located just above SI-19. Combining TE-21 with St-6 and St-7 will help eliminate toothaches or jaw pains and any swelling that came from them. This acupoint is especially notable for TMJ and ear issues.
11. Acupoint: GB-2 (Other Names: Gallbladder-2/Ting Hui/Meeting of Hearing)
Gb-2, also known as “tinghui” or “meeting of hearing”, is located below SI-19 and right next to the earlobe. Massage Gb-2 in tandem with TE-21 and SI-19 for the best results if you are looking to alleviate pain and/or swelling on your face. But just like TE-21 and SI-19, Gb-2 is more focused on the ear. It especially helps with tinnitus and deafness.
12. Acupoint: Ren-22 (Other Names: The Conception Vessel-22/Tian Tu/Heaven Projection)
Ren-22, also known as “tiantu” or heaven projection”, is located below the Adam’s apple right in the dent of the neck. While it is usually used to treat lung and throat issues, it helps clear heat in the area. As a result, there will be more lymph and blood circulation throughout the face to achieve a more subtle “facelift” look.
