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The “Facial Acupuncture for Charm and Elegance (F.A.C.E.)” Effect
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What are the results for F.A.C.E.? Will the treatment hurt? Who’s suitable for it? Societal beauty standards have been changing, whether through skincare or aesthetic medicine. Aside from them, do you know what F.A.C.E. is? Let’s dive in and read through what its principle is, its precautions, and everything in between!
What is F.A.C.E.?
Facial Acupuncture for Charm and Elegance, or F.A.C.E. in short, originated in Korea, one of the most popular places for aesthetic medicine. The founder of F.A.C.E. is the Korean professor Dr. Song Jhen Han, who used TCM to provide a non-invasive way to remodel facial features and shape without using injections or medications. The technique is deeply rooted in using hair-like needles to target fascia, muscles, and ligaments to improve circulation and lift facial lines through acupuncture. Aside from aesthetic purposes, F.A.C.E. is also used to alleviate pain and improve insomnia. It is an elegant and special technology that is loved by Japanese celebrities and Youtubers!
Principles & Result Analysis
TCM acupuncture’s main principle is to use acupuncture needles to improve and circulate the blood and qi within the body. It can be used to cure diseases or alleviate symptoms. F.A.C.E. integrates both Chinese medicine and Western technology to create a treatment that focuses on the head and face. Through F.A.C.E., these can be achieved:
- Muscle relaxation
- Restore muscle elasticity
- Lift facial lines
- Reduce fine lines
- Lift facial shape
It is recommended to those, especially with uncoordinated facial expressions; that F.A.C.E. will be able to balance the tension of the right and left facial muscles.
Who is Suitable for F.A.C.E.?
F.A.C.E. is suitable for all skin types, whether it’s oily, dry, or combination skin. It is also suitable for men and women of all ages, but those with skin lesions or conditions must inform their doctor first to avoid any complications. Let’s talk about who is and isn’t suitable for F.A.C.E. in detail below:
TCM F.A.C.E. is suitable for those who have:
✅ Sagging jowls
✅ Asymmetrical face
✅ Overactive masseter muscles
✅ Tight scalp
✅ Stress and migraines
✅ Poor sleep quality
✅ Reduce fine lines: nasolabial folds, crow’s feet, etc.
Not Suitable For 4 Groups:
⚠️ Women whose menstrual cycle starts 1-3 days before
Women's qi and circulation are usually weaker right before menstruation. Since everyone is different, it is still recommended to consult your physician before treatment.
⚠️ Those who’ve done facial threading, laser treatments, etc.
It is best to avoid F.A.C.E. treatments for those who’ve done aesthetic medical treatments recently, especially fillers or invasive facial treatments. On the other hand, F.A.C.E. is fine after treatments like Pico laser or spot removals, but it is still recommended that any treatments are disclosed to the doctor before getting the desired result. On top of that, some people would go above and beyond, and get Thermage FLX once a year and F.A.C.E. every month as maintenance and self-care.
⚠️ Those with recent public appearances
F.A.C.E. can very rarely cause bruising sometimes. Those who need to show their face in public appearances, or have any important plans in 2 weeks, are recommended to avoid F.A.C.E. treatments to prevent swelling during public appearances.
⚠️ Those with an open wound, inflammation, or swelling
Aside from having an open wound, inflammation, or swelling, those with conditions such as lymphedema, poor blood clotting, (ex: hemophilia, taking anticoagulant medications), serious illnesses, chronic diseases (ex: diabetes), and those who are faint around needles are not recommended for F.A.C.E.!
Are There Side Effects?
F.A.C.E. is a noninvasive procedure, and it uses extremely fine microneedles that latch onto the scalp and face. Every needle’s direction, depth, and angle is different for everyone, and it stimulates the deeper muscles and fascia of superficial skin and meridians. Even though the microneedles are tiny and the probability of bleeding and scarring is low, there are sometimes cases of bruising or swelling, so it is best to avoid rubbing or kneading the skin for 2 days.
Need-To-Know for the Best Result!
After the F.A.C.E. procedure, it is normal to experience a slight hot and heated sensation for a couple of hours. After that, it is also normal to experience facial tightness and soreness while making expressions for a few days. Below are 3 stages of the treatment, and let’s dive into the do’s and don’ts of each step.
Before:
- Test well and get a good night's sleep the night before
- Please avoid makeup or put on light makeup the day of treatment, sunscreen or toner would suffice. You would need to thoroughly wash your face before treatment to prevent infection.
- Please inform your doctor if you have bloodborne infectious diseases (ex: Hepatitis B, C)
During:
- Avoid making big facial expressions
- Please inform the doctor if you experience any dizziness, chest tightness, sweating, difficulty breathing, continuous pain, or any discomfort during the treatment
After:
- Skin will appear radiant after treatment, but to prevent overexposure or sunburn, please apply moderate amounts of skincare and facemasks accordingly
- If there is bruising or swelling, please avoid rubbing for 2 days. You can use a hot compression 3 days after treatment and will disappear around 1-2 weeks
- If there’s slight bleeding after the treatment, please avoid contact with water for 2 hours
- If you experience swelling, pain, or discomfort, it is recommended to consult your physician
Extended Reading: TCM F.A.C.E. Procedure Explained
FAQs
Q1: I’m scared of needles, does the treatment hurt?
F.A.C.E. needles are slightly thinner than acupuncture needles, and even thinner than hair sometimes. It is best described as a mosquito bite most of the time, and most can barely feel the needles; it is usually widely accepted by everyone. There might be soreness and tightness if it is done on deeper fine lines on the face, but because it relaxes the head and scalp, a lot of patients will even fall asleep during treatment!
Q2: Can I return to work right after the F.A.C.E. treatment?
Of course! There is no recovery period for F.A.C.E., and you can put on makeup right after the treatment. It’s super convenient for office workers or new moms, providing a small window of relaxation for them!
Q3: What’s the difference between F.A.C.E. and a regular aesthetic clinic? Which one yields a better result?
Usually, aesthetic medicine treatments include: botox, facelifts, threading, fillers, etc., and are invasive most of the time. They all have higher levels of pain and costs despite seeing results immediately after. On the other hand, TCM F.A.C.E. uses a softer and more comfortable approach compared to that of aesthetic medicine. This is usually done routinely as maintenance and for longer-lasting results, and will be adjusted accordingly to your physical state by the doctor. It’s highly suitable for those who are scared of pain and desire natural beauty treatments that are lower in cost.
TCM F.A.C.E. is a combination of aesthetic medicine technology and traditional Chinese medicine, a feature that is not seen in aesthetic medicine. Sometimes people use both kinds of treatments interchangeably to get their desired results!
✨ To make an appointment for F.A.C.E.:
Official LINE - NUWA Taipei
Official LINE - NUWA Taichung
If you want to know more about our clinics, please proceed to NUWA Healthcare’s website, where there is a detailed description of our clinics and services!
Author’s Information
NUWA TCM
NUWA’s TCM team boasts over 20 years of experience, with clinics in Taipei and Taichung. We offer an individual acupuncture room, prioritizing your privacy and comfort above all else. We hope we can provide even more comfort on this recuperating journey in our TCM clinic.
Main Services: Infertility treatment, pregnancy preparation, pregnancy, postpartum care, miscarriages, menstrual pain, allergies, weight loss, F.A.C.E., sleep disorders, child growth and development, etc. 👉 Learn more about NUWA Healthcare