Real causes of facial lines and wrinkles. To the western mind, beauty is thought in terms of cosmetics and make up art. Yet the health of the skin significantly reflects the body’s internal condition. The skin is the body’s largest organ and not only protects but also detoxifies it. A wrinkled face shows a mind and a body wrought with stress. Obesity shows a body already compromised with toxins. Eruptions shows a body crying for help.

Historically, typical ‘facial toning’ devices have been developed on the erroneous premise that facial wrinkles were caused by muscles that were too loose and should therefore be electrically stimulated (faradic current) to contract, thereby ‘tightening’ the appearance of the face. Some called it a non surgical facelift. Results from this approach were only moderately successful and were not lasting.

Tuina, Acupuncture-cosmetology. Tuina technique consists of vertical and horizontal manual movements along the muscle fibre tracts, fromorigin to insertion, a technique called “muscle stripping” The technique requires a firm pressure on the face, but should never be uncomfortable; in fact, most describe it as being quite relaxing. Cotton tips inserted into the skin toning device and moistened with a superhydrating cream make the technique more precise, comfortable and sanitary than can be performed with the fingers.

Along each muscle tract, from its origin to insertion will inevitably be found small, hard muscle knots or micro-spasms. Some feel like granules, while others can be the size of a split pea. Many of these are located at classical acupressure points, some are what we call Ah-shi or tender points. When a muscle has been stripped sufficiently, a dramatic improvement occurs in the appearance of a facial wrinkle.

Acupuncture cosmetology versus plastic surgery

The aesthetic art, the domain of aestheticians consists in improving the vitality and tone of the skin and underlying muscles. The facial plastic surgeon will make incisions, lift, tuck, suture and eliminate unwanted skin and fatty tissue. However no restorative therapy is involved. Poor skin habits and the underlying spasmed muscles still need to be addressed. Acupuncture cosmetology together with topical herbal preparations rehabilitate the muscles and skin so that they naturally conform to the shape of the skull.

When cosmetic, reconstructive or laser surgery become necessary, the best results depend on the condition of the skin at the time of surgery, which needs to be prepared to withstand the unavoidable trauma. Jade dermal toning together with oxygen osmotic hydration introduced to the skin at the cellular level will assist in increasing epitheliazation (cell regeneration) and reduce scar (keloid) formation. Treating the skin before and after surgery with 4-6 treatments strengthens the cells and decreases the time taken to heal.

History and evolution of the non-surgical facelift.

In 1977 I was on the faculty of Dr. Charles’ American School of Oriental Therapies. We were made privy to a little known monogram entitled :utilization for the Chinese points of Acupuncture of the face in Esthetics, Control of the Dynamics of the Face and Prevention of Wrinkles Published in 1975 by Dr. Jacques Lavier.

Our initial interest in the application of Acupuncture to Cosmetology came when Dr. Nakatani from Japan developped a system of electronically measuring and stimulating acupuncture points (rhyodoraku). It primarily addressed meridian energy, but not the numerous collaterals and tendino-muscular meridians. As a result, congestion and contraction caused by chronic emotional expressions would still be present as microspasms and toxicity within the facial fibres.

By following the Lavier’s acupressure stimulation results did occur, but it necessitated a series of treatments to be truly demonstrable. We then switched to micro-electrical stimulation of the acupuncture points which proved to be a quicker modality. The “lift effect” was more lasting than the manual acupressure method.

The system of electro-acupuncture and micro-current technology is now widely accepted in the field of aesthetics. Its treatment relies upon topical stimulation of acupoints to achieve long term therapeutic results. Dr. R.Voll and his colleagues in Germany further refined the system by utlilizing more sensitive equipment, specific currents and low frequencies to augment physiological functions. However the breakthrough came when Dr. Charles McWilliams added the frequencies of colors, sounds and crystals.

A 30-year scientific studies utilizing “micro-currents” have documented their ability to:

• Reduce inflammation,
• Decrease electrical resistance,
• Increase cellular ATP levels,
• Boost protein synthesis,
• Improve cellular amino acid transport,
• Increase DNA repair and synthesis,
• Increase hormone and neurotransmitter functions.

Aging of the skin, simply defined is the slowing down of its metabolism.

The phenomena of facial wrinkles is a two-fold process. In a young person the skin is supple. An emotional expression temporarily causes a wrinkle, but the muscle rebounds to its normal state, after the expression passes and the wrinkle or furrow vanishes. Over the years, however the muscles become toxic, the motions more ingrained and enduring (life becomes more serious) and the skin metabolism slows down. As a result the muscle does not rebound so easily and the skin loses its suppleness and develops deep lines due to thickening of the epidermal layer.

The outermost part of the skin is composed of several layers of flattened dead cells which contain the protein keratin. These cells are generated in the underlying skin layer and migrate outward as cells on the surface are sloughed off (the exfoliation process). As new cells regenerate and migrate upwards over a 9-10 day period, they dehydrate and flatten out into microscopic scales. The average person sheds literally millions of these scales daily.

With a wrinkle or furrow having been established by chronic muscular spasms, epidermal cells clump, overlap and “shingle” upon the fold, thereby accentuating the appearance of a wrinkle. This epidermal shingling effect is made worse when dead skin cells are excessively dry from exposure to harsh alkali soaps, makeup, hard water and excessive sunbathing.

Osmotic Hydration treats the skin cells before they emerge on the facial surface.

The skin barrier is penetrated non-surgically through a nebulisation process which places millions of molecules of oxygen onto the skin every minute. Estheticians are for the first time provided with a nutrient that includes the oxygen molecule and anti-oxidants made of plant sourced minerals, oil and water based vitamins. Its purpose is to retard, prevent and reduce the complicated effects involved in extrinsic and intrinsic aging by treating the skin inside out.