I once believed that a facelift was an easy non-invasive procedure that many women of a certain age chose to undergo. I was young and naive and dating a guy who had a one such woman as a grandmother. We would visit her in Florida during our vacations and she'd great us at the door with smooth, wrinkle-free cheeks and eyelids pulled back taught and tight. At the country club in her retirement community other septuagenarian beauties would cut in front of me on the buffet line. Each year I'd notice that the few who once looked, well, their age, were now also boasting the tight cheeks and wide eyes that made them look continually surprised.

But facelifts aren't easy. Cosmetic surgery is major surgery - with the potential for complications, lengthy recovery times, and a high price tag. While I understand the female quest for eternal youth, there are less dramatic methods of striving for it. Cosmetic acupuncture or facial rejuvenation is one that is gaining in popularity. Following the same guidelines as traditional acupuncture, cosmetic acupuncture works to build collagen, tone muscles, improve circulation, and hydrate skin without any of the risks associated with traditional cosmetic surgery (i.e. scars and infection).

"As you might imagine, facial acupuncture for, shall we say, cosmetic purposes, was not one of the core issues in ancient Chinese medicine," said Michael McCoy, executive director of the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance in an Associated Press interview. "It just turns out to be an interesting application that fits a lot of cultural values of the present."

Kristin Misik, an NYC-based acupuncturist, recommends assessing a practitioner's safety standards before jumping into cosmetic acupuncture. She warns against the procedure for those with diabetes, pituitary disorders, high blood pressure, and migraines.

[via PR Web]

Image: nowtoronto.com