Here at PDX Acupuncture, we provide an incredible service we like to call Aesthetic Acupuncture. This is what you may know as cosmetic acupuncture, or facial rejuvenation - BUT BETTER.

Aesthetic acupuncture is organic, holistic, and rejuvenating facial acupuncture focused on long-lasting results as an alternative to Botox. In our aesthetic acupuncture service, we not only include needles to the face for addressing your aesthetic desires, as well as red/yellow/blue light therapy, but we also perform facial cupping, and gua sha facial sculpting.

Aesthetic acupuncture can be very beneficial for acne, fine lines/wrinkles, dull and lustreless complexion, dark circles, puffiness and bags under the eyes, and a feeling of overall glow and brightness to the skin.

Lara has been practicing Aesthetic Acupuncture services in Portland for over 17 years and is aware of its benefits and limitations. This is not botox, so it won't relax your wrinkles by immobilizing the muscles. It can, however, plump up the finer and deeper wrinkles and encourage the skin to resurface that area so it is less folded and crepe like. Generate more qi and blood to the face for collagen production, blood circulation, cellular turnover, and eliminate fluid retention and inflammation with our facial rejuvenation acupuncture services.

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture also has the added benefit of the tailored acupuncture body treatment "boosting" the healing power of the facial needles as they are for your individual constitution. For example, to reduce puffy eyes, we would add in points on the body that help to eliminate and transform and drain dampness, and needles on the face in the spot we want the puffy fluid-filled area to reduce. It's unique and incredibly effective.

So, with this follow up treatment you get to enjoy the experience of relaxation on a warm table, feel the glow of the red/yellow/blue light therapy while you are drifting away in AcuLand, followed by facial cupping and gua sha facial sculpting and sent home with organic, tailored Chinese herbal serum as your moisturizer for the day.

You can also add-on microneedling on to the end of this treatment by booking our "Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture + Microneedling Combo" for extra glowing skin.

What is the treatment like?

It is similar to a regular acupuncture treatment in that aesthetic acupuncture is focused and concise. We do a thorough wellness intake, and we talk about your concerns with the way you feel about your face and its appearance.

Lara is trained in two styles of Facial Rejuvenation treatments. One is by Virginia Doran L.Ac. and one is by Shelly Goldstein L.Ac. Both of these styles involve a thorough wellness intake and a whole-body focused acupuncture treatment, but one is more lifting and needle orientated, while the other focuses more on treating the root and using some amazing products with Chinese Herbs in it.

Lara usually does a combination of the two, plus muscle tonification techniques, and direct intradermal needles to fit the needs of the patient.

We will do an acupuncture treatment with needles placed perfectly for your constitution in the body and right where you need them for your facial concerns.

Facial cupping is to encourage lymph fluid movement, increase circulation, stabalize the facia and stimulate the muscles. It also happens to feel amazing.

The gua sha sculpting is similar in its benefits as facial cupping and techniques, but it has more of a massage feel to it. And if you have redness or acne or puffy eyes we can use a cold one to reduce the redness and puffiness. It also feels so luxurious!

Lastly, you will receive a relaxing neck and shoulder massage, and your face will be topped off with a custom Chinese Chinese herbal HA serum.

Aesthetic Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to your experience of your appearance of aging.  If you are not sleeping well, your hormones are changing and you have headaches constantly, it would be worth your time to explore remedying those symptoms to get better results with any modality.  How you feel on the inside is a direct reflection of how you feel on the outside.  

Botox (or neurotoxins, wrinkle relaxers) work great for a few months and sometimes even longer.  Some patients have better results and reactions than others.  We have experience with it and can help to find a path of combining them to meet you needs as well and have clinics we recommend.  But, botox does not address the inside or your innate health needs. It is a quick fix and works well.  

Aesthetic Acupuncture works to increase blood flow to the face, increases your ability to heal, reduces pain, stimulates the non-fight or flight mechanism in the body called the parasympathetic nervous system where actual healing happens, improves sleep, digestion and immunity.  All of these aspects are key to maintaining glowing skin and a bright spirit in your eyes that truly makes your natural beauty shine. 

I am interested in aging gracefully and am scared of fillers and botox. How does this compare? 

I have other issues acupuncture might be able to help with, but I also want to experience the effects of Aesthetic Acupuncture.  What visit should I schedule to make a plan of action?

Each new patient visit has time set aside for a thorough intake in order to perform acupuncture and microneedling and bodywork safely.  We will focus treatment on the face if you make a facial rejuvenation appointment, and we will focus on your other concerns, i.e. low back pain, digestive issues, headaches, if you make a Signature Integrative Acupuncture and Therapeutic Massage appointment.  In either case, we will give you our professional opinion of how to proceed for the best results.