Facial Rejuvenation

Facial Rejuvenation

Our Facial Rejuvenation Programs combine different techniques that are all scientifically proven to help to rejuvenate the skin. By combining modalities we believe we get an enhanced, long-lasting effect.

Read on for more information about each technique, how it works, and its benefits.

Scroll down for before and after photos.

Micro-Needling For Facial Rejuvenation

Micro-needling is a cosmetic procedure gaining popularity in recent years for its many benefits in enhancing the appearance of the skin. It’s sometimes referred to as Collagen Induction Therapy.

It involves using a medical device (it looks like a fat pen with tiny needles at the tip) that creates tiny punctures in the skin, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. These are two essential proteins that increase elasticity and firmness of the skin while smoothing skin texture to help keep the skin looking youthful and healthy. Research studies have proven that micro-needling works, and for most people it’s painless.

Unlike surgical procedures like facelifts, the downtime is only one day after treatment, where the skin may look like you’ve had a mild sunburn (but painless).

Note: Micro-needling can only be done every 4 weeks because it causes micropunctures in the skin. The healing process which builds new collagen and elastin takes four weeks for the full healing effect. Each treatment builds on the last one and over time has a compounding effect.

Nano-needling (using tiny points) is a form of micro-needling. It exfoliates and pushes serums into the skin. Nano-needling can be done weekly to enhance and speed up the results.

Here’s what micro-needling treats: 

  • Fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin
  • Dull and dry complexion
  • Hyperpigmentation, age spots, and sun damage
  • Enlarged pores
  • Acne scars
  • Stretch marks
  • The results can last up to 5 years

 

 Micro-needling Enhances Absorption of Skincare Products

Another benefit of micro-needling is that it can enhance the absorption of skincare products, by up to 2000%! The tiny punctures created by the micro-needling pen create a pathway for skincare products to penetrate deeper into the skin to the layer where collagen and elastin are produced. This means that the active ingredients in your skincare products will be more effective, helping to deliver better results of facial rejuvenation.

The serums we use during treatment are all-natural, vegan, and organic. They contain powerhouse skin rejuvenation ingredients including hyaluronic acid, peptides, and collagen, and get that deep penetration into the skin.

Safe for All Skin Types and Ages

Micro-needling is considered safe for most people. Unlike other cosmetic procedures, such as dermabrasion or chemical peels, micro-needling does not require the use of harsh chemicals or abrasive tools. It’s a gentle, effective way to improve the appearance of your skin without the risk of significant side effects. And obviously, there’s not the risk associated with plastic surgery.

Contraindications for Micro-Needling (who can’t have it): 

  • People on blood thinners
  • Diabetics
  • Pregnant
  • Active herpes or shingles outbreak
  • People with cancer
  • Skin disease flareups on the area to be treated
  • Discoid lupus
  • Keloids
  • Use of Botox or dermal fillers in the last 4 weeks
  • Accutane within the last 3 months

 

Photobiomodulation (Light Therapy) for Facial Rejuvenation

Red light therapy is a type of phototherapy that uses low-level red light to stimulate cellular processes in the body and improve a wide range of health and beauty concerns. This therapy has gained popularity in recent years due to its many benefits, including reducing signs of aging, improving skin health, reducing inflammation, and promoting overall wellness.

One of the primary benefits of red light therapy is its ability to stimulate cellular metabolism. Red light is absorbed by the mitochondria, the energy-producing units within cells, and can help to increase the production of ATP, the primary source of energy for cells. This increased energy production can result in improved cellular function, faster healing, and reduced inflammation.

Another benefit of red light therapy is its ability to improve skin health. Red light therapy has been shown to increase collagen production, which is essential for maintaining the skin’s youthful appearance and elasticity, which helps rejuvenate the facial skin.

It also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as other signs of aging such as age spots and sun damage. Additionally, red light therapy has been shown to help clear up acne and improve the overall texture and tone of the skin, rejuvenating the face.

In addition to its physical benefits, red light therapy has also been shown to have positive effects on mental health and wellness. This therapy has been found to reduce stress, improve mood, and promote better sleep, making it an effective tool for those looking to improve their overall well-being.

Finally, red light therapy is a non-invasive and painless therapy that is safe and effective for people of all ages. It can even be done daily. Unlike many other treatments, it does not require the use of drugs or chemicals and is suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Contraindications for Red Light Therapy (who can’t have it): 

  • Pregnant
  • People with cancer
  • People on drugs that cause photosensitivity

 

Light therapy with other colors, like yellow, green, or blue light are great for other conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation, and age spots. The best color or colors in addition to the red light will be used in your treatments as appropriate.

What Does Each Color Do?

Red light: anti-aging, increases cellular energy production, increases oxygen content in the blood, regenerates skin cells, stimulates collagen production, promotes hair growth, improves acne and wound healing, reduces pain, and improves circulation

Yellow light: improves circulation, spider veins, reduces hyperpigmentation (red spots, red face, sun damage, and pigments)

Green Light: for dark circles, pigmentation, sun spots, broken capillaries, and calms over-stimulated skin.

Blue light: bacteria killing, skin cleaning, cell activation, injury recovery, acne, skin sterilization, prevention of wounds.

You can see the red light on in the picture below.

 

Far Infrared Therapy for Facial Rejuvenation

The Mat you see on the treatment table in the picture above is a Far Infrared Mat. It’s got up to 21 different layers in it and contains amethyst, jade, and tourmaline crystals. It produces Far Infrared (FIR) heat, hot stone therapy, and produces negative ions (also produced by waves at the beach – they make you feel good). It has advanced EMF shielding for protection.

What is Far Infrared Therapy?

Far infrared therapy is a type of heat therapy that uses FIR to penetrate deep into the body’s tissues, muscles, and bones. The heat can penetrate up to 8 inches into the body.

This heat is absorbed by the body and has been shown to increase blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the immune system. It also promotes relaxation, relieves stress, and improves overall health.

Far infrared therapy (FIR) works by emitting far infrared light, which is a type of electromagnetic wave that has longer wavelengths than visible light. So you can’t see the light it produces. And the Mat has advanced EMF shielding and protection, so there’s no danger from EMFs.

The Benefits of Far Infrared Therapy

Reduces Stress and Fatigue: FIR therapy is known to reduce stress and fatigue by promoting relaxation and improving overall well-being. It can help reduce the levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, and increase the levels of endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood boosters.

Improves Blood Circulation: FIR therapy can improve blood circulation by increasing the production of nitric oxide, a natural chemical that helps widen blood vessels and improve blood flow. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Relieves Pain and Inflammation: FIR therapy can relieve pain and inflammation by increasing blood flow to the affected area and reducing swelling. It is commonly used to treat chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and back pain.

Boosts Immune System: FIR therapy can stimulate the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells and antibodies, which are essential for fighting off infections and diseases. This can help reduce the risk of infections and improve overall health.

Detoxifies the Body: FIR therapy can help detoxify the body by increasing sweating and promoting the elimination of toxins through the skin. This can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall health.

Promotes Weight Loss: FIR therapy can promote weight loss. It is known to be effective in reducing cellulite and belly fat, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. By heating up the cells to a certain temperature, they’ll dump fat into the surrounding tissue that can then be transported out of the body. FIR and red light therapy are the only scientifically proven natural way to get rid of cellulite.

Improves Skin Health: FIR therapy can improve skin health by increasing blood flow to the skin and promoting the production of collagen, a protein that is essential for healthy skin. It can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve overall skin texture and tone.

Contraindications for Far Infrared Therapy (who can’t have it): 

  • Pregnant
  • People with a pacemaker

 

Our Triple Whammy Treatments for Facial Rejuvenation

If you read all of that, you can see that micro-needling, light therapy, and FIR Therapy each help to repair and rejuvenate the skin. And when you combine them together in each treatment session, you get a triple whammy! 

The only people who can do micro-needling in California are licensed medical professionals. (Estheticians are NOT allowed to do micro-needling.) It is a medical procedure. Dermatologists and med spas typically charge about $350 to $600/$700 per treatment, just for mico-needling without the light therapy… or anything else! Whoa.

We combine Micro-needling, Red Light Therapy, and Far Infrared Therapy for the triple whammy. 

AND, we add acupuncture to help support the skin and balance the body. You get the benefit of balancing acupuncture included, which dermatologists don’t (know how to) do.

That’s more than a Triple Whammy. By combining modalities we believe we can get a better result faster.

How long does it take to see results?

For micro-needling, results are usually seen within about 2 weeks. One treatment is not enough, though! You may see minor results, but it requires a series of treatments to see significant results. The number of treatments depends on age, skin condition, diet, sun exposure, smoking, etc. Most people require 4-6 months of treatments. The good news is that the results can last up to 5 years!

Red Light therapy alone takes 10 treatments (without micro-needling or acupuncture) to see significant results. Red Light therapy can be done as often as you like. It’s safe to use daily.

Sounds good! How do I start now?

Facial Rejuvenation Programs

What programs are available? 

Single Facial Rejuvenation Treatment:

with Micro-needling, body acupuncture, red light therapy, FIR Therapy, and organic and vegan topical serums is $450. This is only available as an add-on if you need another session or two after completing a package.

The Basic Facial Rejuvenation Program:

inludes everything in a single session, once a month for four months. $1200. A gift bag worth hundreds of dollars is included free!

The Signature Facial Rejuvenation Program:

is a 3-month program of 10 treatments, the same as the single treatment, except micro-needling is done once a month, and in the weeks in between, you get nano-needling instead. $2500. Includes the free gift bag worth hundreds of dollars!

 

 Frequently Asked Questions

1. What programs are available? 

Single Facial Rejuvenation Treatment, with Micro-needling, body acupuncture, red light therapy, FIR Therapy and organic and vegan topical serums is $350. This is only available as an add-on if you need another session or two after completing a package. 

The Basic Program is everything in a single session, once a month for four months. $1200. A gift bag worth hundreds of dollars is included free!

The Signature Program is a 3-month program of 10 treatments, the same as the single treatment, except microneedling is done once a month, and in the weeks in between, you get nanoneedling instead. $2500. Includes the free gift bag worth hundreds of dollars!

2. How does Micro-needling work?

Micro-needling uses tiny needles to create micro punctures in the skin. These punctures allow the organic serums such as hyaluronic acid used in the treatment up to 2000-3000% greater absorption.

The micropuncture healing process takes four full weeks. As the healing progresses, the body repairs the punctures and creates new collagen and elastin making the skin tighter, smoother, and more vibrant.

3. How are Micro-needling and Nano-needling different?

Micro-needling uses actual tiny needles to puncture the skin. Nano-needles are very tiny silicone tips that don’t actually puncture the skin, but do help to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin, allowing 97% more product absorption.

There’s no puncture to heal with nano-needling, so it can be done weekly.

Nano-needling is also done under the eyes and directly on the lips allowing treatment of those areas that can’t be micro-needled.

4. How long until I see results?

Great question! This is a process. As explained above, it takes time to heal and grow new collagen and elastin and rejuvenate the skin. Expect to see minor improvements within two weeks, though some people report their skin feels tighter in less time.

It generally takes 4-6 months to achieve the desired results. Some people may be happy with their results in 3 months. It depends on many factors, like age, diet, smoking, sun damage, etc. It’s really an individual thing. It does take at least 3-4 months for significant improvement.

That’s why single treatments are not offered before completing a package. Although one treatment can make minor changes, it’s not enough to make a significant change.

5. How long do the results last?

After you complete your rejuvenation program, if you do nothing else, the results last 3-5 years!

If you get a maintenance treatment every 4-6 months after your program, the results can last indefinitely.

6. Is this like a surgical facelift?

No! First off, there’s no risk associated with the anesthesia, trauma, and side effects of surgery. In a surgical facelift, after a few weeks of healing the face is much tighter. In some cases, it doesn’t look natural, and it’s pretty obvious because the skin is pulled too tight.

With micro-needling, it looks completely natural, because it is! The skin is naturally guided to heal, tighten, rehydrate, and rejuvenate. It’s a slower natural process.

7. Who can do micro-needling treatment?

In California, micro-needling is a medical procedure that can only be done by doctors, nurses, and acupuncturists. That’s it. No one else. Estheticians cannot do micro-needling – it’s illegal.

8. What does a typical treatment cost?
Here are some numbers for comparison:

» Los Angeles Pricing: $455 (by acupuncturists)
» New York Pricing: $699 (by acupuncturists)
» San Francisco Pricing: $775 (by acupuncturists)
» Beverly Hills Pricing: $1,000 (at skin care clinics)
» San Diego Pricing: $300-$600 (by acupuncturists)
» Average Nationwide Cost: $650/Treatment

Dermatologists charge even more!

The above prices are only for micro-needling. When you consider everything included in our treatments, you might think we’re nuts for offering so much for such a low price. Why would we do it? Simple. We’re more interested in helping people than price-gouging them.

9. I’ve heard about dermal rollers. Are they the same as microneedling?

Yes, but… dermal rollers are rollers with microneedles on them. It is micro-needling, so only doctors, nurses, and acupuncturists can legally use them on others.

There are a lot of issues with them, though. Anything with needles must be sterile and is for single use only. If they are reused, they must be sterilized. If not used exactly right, they can cause bleeding, damage the skin and potentially cause scarring.

People tend to think that “more is better”, which is just plain wrong in many cases, and especially this one. So they press too hard to try to get a “stronger effect” and cause bleeding, skin damage, and potential scarring.

People also tend to reuse the roller. Not good! If it’s not sterilized, there is a big risk of infection. The needles can also bend or break causing damage to the skin. On your face. Which you’re wanting to look better, not worse…

We don’t recommend them.

10. What areas of the body can be treated with micro-needling?

Another excellent question. In our facial rejuvenation treatments, we treat the face, and your neck and upper chest, if desired, all in the same treatment. The upper chest tends to get a lot of dark spots and sun damage and is easy to treat at the same time. We can do all three areas in the same treatment, at no extra charge.

Other areas can also be treated for wrinkles, sun damage, and sagging skin, like the arms, hands, legs, and stretch marks, often occurring on the abdomen.

Micro-needling can also be done on the scalp and eyebrows to promote hair growth. Research has shown its effectiveness. We also provide Hair Restoration Programs.

11. What’s the benefit of combining micro-needling, body acupuncture, and photo (light) therapy?

Research has shown that red light therapy also builds collagen and elastin, and rejuvenates the skin. Body acupuncture helps balance and support the body and the work we’re doing on the face, scalp, or other areas of the body. By combining therapies, they all work synergistically.

12. Are micro-needling devices FDA approved?

Yes. Microneedling devices are approved by the FDA to improve the appearance of facial acne scars, facial wrinkles, and abdominal scarring. 

Micro-needling is also referred to as Collagen Induction Therapy since it’s been scientifically proven to increase the production of new collagen and elastin, which firms and tightens the skin, making it look more youthful.

It also works for regrowing hair, since hair is made of collagen. And it “wakes up” dormant hair follicles so they start working and growing hair again.

13. How about the Red Light?

Red light therapy devices have been FDA-approved for a growing list of things including acne treatment, anti-aging, hair loss and regrowth, pain relief, and fat loss.

So you get the double benefit of combining both therapies together. Plus acupuncture and FIR Therapy.

14. Can I see some examples of before and after photos? 

The pics on the left are before, and the ones on the right are after. Note the disappearance of crow’s feet and bags under the eyes, and the deep lines around her mouth are almost gone. The sagging skin on the chin is lifted and firmer. And note the difference in skin texture.

Before:                                                                                After:

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a nice dramatic one for you:

15. This all seems pretty modern for someone who practices ancient Chinese Medicine…

Yep, it does. But I bet you didn’t know that cosmetic acupuncture using tiny needles (micro-needling), heat therapy, and light therapy have been used for thousands of years in Chinese Medicine. Mainly used by the Emperor, his family, and aristocrats, this is an ancient practice. There are ancient medical books about cosmetic acupuncture and herbs. We just have the advantage of some new modern tools to make it faster and more efficient. And fewer needles.

 

If you have a question not answered here, please get in touch.