Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture Gold Coast

Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture at Vyne Health

Are you looking for natural, hormone and pregnancy friendly skin support? Or, a whole self approach to skin health, facial tension and visible signs of stress? At Vyne Health, our Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture treatments are designed to support the face and body together. We acknowledge the quality of our skin health and aging signs and symptoms are story tellers about our inner health, our emotional health and physical self. We draw our deeper assessment and understanding from Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture point selection and its function on the whole body system. We then fuse traditional techniques like Chinese Medicine facial readings with gua sha, facial cupping and needling, alongside modern approaches like facial anatomy function or disfunction, facial motor points, and LED light therapy. 

Rather than treating the skin as separate from the rest of the body, we take time to understand your health history, skin concerns, stress levels, sleep, digestion, hormonal patterns, jaw tension, neck tension and overall constitution while striving for pattern identification from a Chinese Medicine perspective to influence our overall results. The aim is to create a treatment that feels restorative, supportive and tailored to what your body and skin are presenting with on the day.

Treatments are performed by Shannon Smith, Chinese Medicine practitioner and AHPRA-registered Acupuncturist. Shannon has completed further training in Facial Acupuncture including Practical Applications of Anti-Aging with Michelle Gellis, as well as cosmetic acupuncture training with White Lotus. Her training has included facial motor points, facial acupuncture techniques, neck protocols, submuscular needling, traditional acupuncture, gua sha, facial cupping, LED therapy in addition, Shannon is confidently trained in safe application, inclusive of contraindications and referrals and/or working alongside to specialists if necessary. 

How Might Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture Support the Skin?

Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture uses very fine, sterile, single-use acupuncture needles placed into specific areas of the face and body.

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the treatment is guided by an individualised assessment and is designed to support healthy circulation, relaxation and the movement of Qi and Blood [2].

From a modern anatomy perspective, facial acupuncture is thought to work through gentle local stimulation of the skin, connective tissue and facial muscles. Proposed mechanisms include local changes in blood flow, gentle tissue stimulation and relaxation of areas where facial tension is held [3,4].

Research into facial cosmetic acupuncture is still developing, and current studies are limited. For this reason, we do not promise specific aesthetic outcomes. Instead, Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture is offered as a gradual, low intervention approach that supports skin health, facial relaxation and whole person wellbeing [5]. 

The below images (Figure 1a, and Figure 1b) are from a small pilot study exploring facial cosmetic acupuncture and facial elasticity. The researchers used Moiré topography, a contour line imaging method, to observe surface changes in the face, particularly around the cheek and mouth region. The contour lines help show the shape, curve and position of facial tissue, rather than relying only on a standard photograph. In the study, participants received five facial cosmetic acupuncture sessions over three weeks, and the researchers compared Moiré topography measurements before and after the treatment period [4].

The images are not intended to show guaranteed cosmetic outcomes. They are used here for educational purposes only to explain one way researchers have attempted to assess facial surface changes. This was a small, open label study without a control group, so while the findings were promising, stronger research is still needed before making firm claims about cosmetic results [4].

For clients who would like to track their own treatment journey, we can offer the option of taking a baseline photo before beginning treatment, followed by a photo after each session. After five sessions, we can review the images together to observe any possible changes in facial tension, puffiness, skin tone, expression, or overall presentation. This is optional, used for treatment review and education only and will not be shared with anyone else except your practitioner. Individual responses may vary and may be influenced by factors such as sleep, stress, hydration, menstrual cycle stage, skincare, lighting, facial expression and general health.  Please note: Throughout this page, numbered references in brackets refer to the sources listed under "Reference list" in the FAQ section below.

A Whole-Body Approach to Skin

In Chinese Medicine, the face is not viewed in isolation. The skin may reflect many internal and external influences, including stress, sleep quality, digestion, hormonal changes, circulation, inflammation, lifestyle, tension and emotional load.

During your session, your Chinese Medicine Acupuncture practitioner may ask questions such as:

• How is your overall sleep and energy?
• How is your digestion, and do you experience bloating?
• Does your bloating fluctuate or change depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle?How have your stress levels and emotional wellbeing been recently?
• Have you noticed any changes in your menstrual cycle or hormones?
• Do you experience jaw clenching, teeth grinding, or TMJ tension?
• Do you hold tension in your neck, shoulders, scalp, or face?
• Have you noticed any changes in your skin texture, puffiness, redness, breakouts, or dullness?
• What does your current skincare routine involve?
• Have you had any recent cosmetic treatments?
• Is your skin sensitive, reactive, or prone to irritation?

These questions help your practitioner understand the bigger picture of your health, rather than only looking at the skin or face in isolation. In Chinese Medicine, changes in sleep, digestion, stress, the menstrual cycle, muscle tension and skin presentation can provide insight into underlying patterns that may be contributing to how the skin, facial muscles and nervous system are presenting.

Your treatment may include body acupuncture points alongside facial acupuncture. This allows us to support both cosmetic concerns and the underlying patterns that may be contributing to how your skin, muscles and nervous system are feeling and responding.

What Is Included in a Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture Treatment?

Each treatment is tailored to the individual, but may include a combination of:

Full body acupuncture points may be selected based on a Chinese Medicine assessment. This assessment may include asking questions about your sleep, digestion, stress, menstrual cycle, skin, muscle tension and overall wellbeing, alongside traditional diagnostic techniques such as tongue observation, pulse assessment and abdominal palpation.

In Chinese Medicine, the tongue may provide information about patterns relating to fluids, digestion, heat, cold, stagnation or deficiency. Pulse assessment may give your practitioner further insight into how the body’s systems are presenting from a Chinese Medicine perspective. Gentle abdominal or stomach palpation may also be used to assess areas of tension, sensitivity, tightness or imbalance.

Together, these assessment methods help your practitioner form a Chinese Medicine pattern diagnosis. This guides the selection of body acupuncture points that may be used alongside facial acupuncture to support the underlying patterns that may be contributing to skin presentation, facial tension, puffiness, redness, breakouts, dullness, stress response or muscle tension.

This approach allows treatment to be individualised, rather than targeting the face or skin in isolation.

• Please note: we do not seek to heal, treat, or fix acne, skin disease, or other medical skin conditions. All of our acupuncture treatments are a supportive measure used in conjunction with your usual care. We will refer any patient who may need further assessment or diagnosis to a GP, medical practitioner, or specialist accordingly. If you have any questions, we recommend calling us to discuss your individual situation, to help ensure you are seeking the most appropriate care. 

Where appropriate, facial motor point techniques may be included as part of your treatment. Your practitioner may provide education around areas of facial muscle tension, movement patterns, or muscles that may appear to be working harder or less actively. This helps guide an individualised treatment approach, particularly where facial tension, jaw clenching, expression lines or muscle tightness are part of the overall presentation. 

Where clinically suitable, targeted facial acupuncture techniques may be used to work with specific areas of facial tension, muscle tightness, skin texture or local tissue presentation. The techniques selected will depend on your individual assessment, comfort level, skin sensitivity and treatment goals. In conjuction otehr techniques such as: 

• Facial acupuncture using fine, sterile, single-use needles
• Gentle facial gua sha and cupping
• LED light therapy
• Scalp, neck, shoulder or facial or jaw release where appropriate
• Aftercare and skincare guidance 
• Chinese Medicine Dietetic guidance

How may these techniques be included?

Facial cupping and gua sha may be used gently as part of your treatment, where appropriate. These techniques are used with the intention of supporting local circulation, soft tissue relaxation and gentle fluid movement within the face [9-111]. Facial cupping and gua sha are not intended to be aggressive or strongly marking in the way traditional body cupping or body gua sha sometimes can be. 

LED light therapy may also be included where clinically appropriate. LED therapy is a non-invasive, light-based modality commonly used in skin-focused treatments. Research into LED and photobiomodulation for skin health is still developing, with studies exploring its use in areas such as acne, skin rejuvenation and tissue repair [6-8]. Suitability will be assessed during your consultation.

Before LED light therapy is used, your practitioner will discuss whether it is appropriate for you. This is especially important if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking photosensitising medication, have a history of light sensitivity, epilepsy triggered by light, active cold sores, open wounds, active infection, recent cosmetic procedures, or inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea, dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis. In some cases, treatment may be modified, postponed or avoided until the skin has settled or further medical guidance has been received.

All techniques are selected based on your individual presentation, comfort level, skin sensitivity and treatment goals.

If you have any questions about Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture, please reach out to us via the contact page below. We would love to help answer any questions that you might have.

Cosmetic Acupuncture - with facial acupuncture, gua sha, facial cupping and LED therapy

Initial 90 minutes,  $209 

Return 60 minutes, $159 

6 pack,  $789 

10 pack, $1250

Treatment Series 

6-Treatment Series - $789 (Save $165)

10-Treatment Series - $1,250 (Save $340)

Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture is typically recommended as a series of treatments rather than a one-off appointment. Our Treatment Series are designed to support consistency while offering better value throughout your series.

For consideration

Most patients begin with a series of 6–10 weekly treatments, followed by maintenance treatments every 4–8 weeks, depending on their individual goals, skin concerns, and response to treatment. 

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