Your Guide To Facial Services
Because I offer a number of holistic facial options, I know it can be daunting to figure out where to begin. I wanted to outline some of the services together on one page to help you to decide where to start.
LED Facial
This is recommended for most for those who are looking for a lower cost option for skin rejuvenation, want a shorter appointment, a no needle option and/or are dealing with frequent acne break outs. The session is just 30 minutes of either Blue or Red light. (Not both at the same time).
Recommended frequency is 2x a week for cystic acne or hormonal break outs, for 2-4 weeks depending on the severity of your acne.
For facial rejuvenation 2-3x a week for 4 weeks.
Blue light, helps to reduce inflammation in current breakouts and kill the acne causing bacteria
Red light, For improving complexion and reducing wrinkles
30 minutes, $65/visit
Facial Acupuncture
This is for those who want to work on improving complexion, facial tension and sagging skin. This is contraindicated for those with anemia, high blood pressure and other severe autoimmune conditions. It is recommended to receive 10-12 treatments, 1-2x a week. The session lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes facial gua sha and LED. $350 first visit, $280 follow up. It is now required to pay before booking this service. there is a 48 hour cancellation policy on all facials.
Nanoneedling
Specifically recommended for those who want to work on under eye bags, lip wrinkles, improving overall skin complexion, texture and minimal fine lines. This is a comfortable treatment for those who have thinner skin and might be sensitive to microneedling. This is safe for those with autoimmune conditions, anemias, high blood pressure and other conditions. This treatment is recommended 1-2x a week, for 8-12 visits for facial rejuvenation. It can be done as often as 3x a week. Treatment frequency depends on your desired results as well as how long you have had your fine lines and wrinkles. For deeper wrinkles or faster results, consider more visits, more frequently. For maintenance and complexion based results 1 x a week for 6 visits is a great place to start. For those who want to maintain their current skin a treatment plan of 1-2x a month for 6 visits is recommended. This treatment also includes: LED, facial gua sha and your aftercare serums and free refills on your follow up visits. $380 for your first visit/$350 for follow ups. It is now required to pay before booking this service. there is a 48 hour cancellation policy on all facials.
Microneedling
Is recommended for those who want to see more major changes in their fine lines, wrinkles, complexion, especially neck wrinkles, scars, discolorations. Everyone responds differently so it is recommended to begin with 3 visits every 4-8 weeks. We can re-assess the results, and if you want to see more changes you can include nano needling visits in between. This treatment also includes: LED, facial gua sha and your aftercare serums and free refills on your follow up visits. For those with longer standing discolorations, scars and deeper lines it is recommended to include nanoneedling between microneedling visits. $380 for your first visit/$350 for follow ups. It is now required to pay before booking this service. there is a 48 hour cancellation policy on all facials.
FAQ’s
I’m a highly sensitive person and am not sure how I might respond to needles, but I want to try something natural for facial rejuvenation, what would be best for me? Nanoneedling and LED facials can be a great non-invasive option for you to start out with. You can also choose to do a first time acupuncture visit ($150) and add on LED for and additional $30. We can try a few acupuncture points on the body and the face and see how you respond to it. At your first visit, you can also feel free to ask questions and we can determine together what will be best moving forward according to your concerns and your comfort.
Can I get a facial gua sha only treatment? Sure! This falls under the category of a Facial Acupuncture visit. You can choose to forgo having acupuncture on your body and/or your face. You will receive facial gua sha for approx 15 min at the start of the treatment, a cleanse, have 30 minutes of an LED facial and a hydrating mask. Your treatment ends with another 15 minutes of facial gua sha.
Can I just get one treatment to see how I like it? Of course you can. Because my clinical practice is not based on aesthetics only and rather, I treat many patients weekly for health conditions and imbalances. Carving out time to do facials during the pandemic can be very time consuming to schedule and I would prefer to see those who are able to commit to consistency. Consistency is also part of the medicine. I have a limited amount of appointment slots for facials each week. These are all natural treatments so your expectation should not be to see magical results after just one visit. Chinese Medicine should not be thought of as a quick fix or a hack but instead a natural method that includes living harmoniously with your surroundings and lifestyle modifications.
I have dark spots that I want to address, what would be best for me? Nanoneedling or microneedling is recommended for you. Chose one or the other depending on how frequently you can come, your sensitivity to needling or if you have any contraindications for microneedling. If you’re able to have more frequent visits a mix of micro and nanoneedling would be best. If you cannot come as often you can choose to do microneedling 6 weeks apart. If you’re generally more sensitive you can choose nanoneedling. With nanoneedling only it will take more visits to see results. Dark spots that are larger and have been present for longer will require a longer treatment plan. When working with dark spots, limiting your sun exposure is also important.
What is recommended for Rosacea? LED Facials and Facial Acupuncture can help to reduce rosacea over time. When it begins to improve you can move on to micro or nano needling. For some it is recommended to have regular acupuncture visits and herbal medicine along with lifestyle modifications.
I have Eczema, what is recommended? Acupuncture, Herbal medicine and LED treatments are helpful for the treatment of eczema. Eczema can manifest differently from person to person so it is important that we do a thorough health history intake and form a treatment plan according to your goals. Expect to have weekly acupuncture visits with LED for 3-6 months.
What can I expect for under eye bags? Nano needling 1-3x a week for 4-8 weeks is the typical protocol for under eye bags. This can take anywhere between 6-12 visits depending on your desired results.
I have cystic acne, but I also would like to address my fine lines, can I get microneedling? If you are in a cystic acne break out it is recommended for you to do 2 LED visits a week until your break outs calm down. Once they are under control we can begin a microneedling course of treatment every 4-8 weeks for 3-6 visits. You should be advised that when it comes to acne and microneedling that as part of the healing process you will get break outs that might seem worse before they get better. This is the typical for acne. This is why multiple treatments on a treatment plan is recommended.
I have high blood pressure, why can’t I get a facial? Acupuncture facials and microneedling facials draw circulation up to the face, this is how it can affect the production of collagen, elastin and brighten the complexion. Drawing circulation upwards is contraindicated for those who are pregnant and have high blood pressure. Nanoneedling is very effective for reducing fine lines and brightening complexion and is a safe treatment for someone with high blood pressure.
I’m pregnant, why can’t I get microneedling? Microneedling draws a lot of circulation to the face for the purpose of increasing collagen and elastin. In Chinese Medicine, during pregnancy, we do not want to draw circulation away from the womb area. Though there are other types of providers who deem this to be safe during pregnancy, acupuncturists view your body as a whole. So even though theoretically, we are treating the skin, we are still looking at your skin in the context of your whole body. During pregnancy you should not lay on your back as it can cause too much pressure on the blood vessels that go to your heart. As an acupuncturist and holder of this medicine, I adhere to a code of ethics in which I not only intend to, do no harm but I also refrain from giving treatments ‘just because’. Instead, I would rather assess whether something is helpful or not in the context of your situation. I recommend that pregnant people come in for regular acupuncture treatments and save their facials for postpartum time.
How long does it take to work? It depends. While some might feel and look brightened and refreshed from just one treatment, everyone responds differently and treatment goals will vary. Deeper lines take longer to fade. Thinner skin and more aged skin can take longer to rejuvenate. That is why the recommended treatment plans are important to consider and follow. Acupuncture facials should be done weekly for a minimum of 10-12 visits before assessing changes. Microneedling should be done every 6-8 weeks for a minimum of 3 visits. LED facials should be done a minimum of 1- 2x a week for 6 visits. After your minimum amount of visits it is important to assess where you’re at and plan to go forward accordingly. Things that can speed up the process are using multiple modalities and alternating them. For example nanoneedling can be done more often that microneedling. Having some of those sessions between your microneedling sessions will speed up your progress.
What can I do to speed up my progress? There are numerous things you can do to help improve your skin at home! 1. Reduce greasy, processed foods and increase more whole foods. Digestion is hugely linked to your skin. Notice what foods you have sensitivity to and try to avoid them. 2. Use good skin products. Find products that are more natural, and contain less toxins and fragrances ( endocrine disrupters). Just like the foods you eat, notice which products your skin likes and stick to those. 3. Stay hydrated. 4. Get good sleep and rest! This allows your skin and body to repair itself and regenerate skin cells, collagen and elastic. 5. Facial gua sha on a regular basis. 6. And stick to your recommended treatment plan.
Why is Facial Acupuncture and Microneedling so expensive? These services are a little more effortful and time consuming on the provider’s end than a standard acupuncture treatment. There are a lot of things included in the treatment like facial gua sha, LED as well as serums and masks. Special needles and equipment are also a factor. My pricing is comparable to similar facials you could get with an esthetician (600 hrs of training) or at a medispa, however you do not pay tip (gratuity) in my clinic. Acupuncturists have a minimum of 3,000 hrs of training, with additional hours required for cosmetic acupuncture, microneedling and other cosmetic strategies and modalities. As someone who has invested a lot in my training and education I would not be doing myself or my profession any justice to charge less. I try to be mindful about pricing and always consider the cost of my labor as well as what others might be able to afford. Chinese Medicine faces a lot of discrimination due to anti-Asian sentiments in the United States and as someone who is ethnically Chinese I will not be appeasing those who want to deem me, my services, my culture as something that is lower quality due to discrimination. I do understand that not everyone can afford a higher priced facial which is why I offer the LED only option for $65.
By Dr. Emily Siy, DACM, L.Ac. 12/19/22
As a gift to those who read my blog I am offering a one time $50 off a microneedling, nanoneedling or facial acupuncture visit. Use the code MICROBLOG for $50 off! This offer expires June 30, 2023. There are no refunds on discounted sessions. 48 hr cancellation fee applies to all facial appointments. Microneedling and facial acupuncture cannot be done with those with certain bleeding disorders, autoimmune conditions, high blood pressure. Microneedling and Facial Acupuncture are contraindicated during pregnancy.
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