Beauty from the Inside Out

Montecito Journal

Life Style
by Judy Foreman

Ms Foreman, a Santa Barbara freelance writer, has been covering fitness, beauty, health, fashion, new businesses and lifestyle trends for the Journal since 1998.

Facial Acupuncture

When Patricia Pilot offered to give me a Facial Acupuncture Rejuvenation treatment, I was a little squeamish thinking about needles in my face. Although I have had acupuncture before, it was not for facial rejuvenation.

As early as the Sung Dynasty (960 AD-1270 AD) acupuncture rejuvenation practices were employed for the empress and Emperor’s concubines.

Today, licensed acupuncturists require an extensive knowledge of anatomy and are trained to insert needles in a safe and painless manner, using instruments that are pre-sterilized and disposable after a single use.

Ms Pilot believes acupuncture can increase circulation and can help maintain healthy skin and muscle tone, encouraging collagen and elastin production and lifting energy to the skin and muscles of the face.

Ms Pilot has recently relocated from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and has over four years and over 4,000 hours of training; she earned a masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental medicine at Yo San University in Los Angeles and completed her advanced facial Acupuncture Rejuvenation training with Mary Elizabeth Wake L.Ac of New York City.

So, I felt I was in good hands as I lie on the massage table she had set up in my home. 

The procedure to prepare my face included a warm Chinese herbal mask, Constitutional Acupuncture (body needles in my legs, feet and hands) a cooling and soothing Jade roller treatment with Sea Buckthorn Cream, followed by facial acupuncture with strategically placed needles for 20 minutes. While the needles were moving my “Chi” around, Ms Pilot mixed up a mask made with pearl powder, egg whites and rose essential oils. The mask dried and was removed with a Gua Sha facial treatment with rose hip oil. The 1½-hour session was extremely relaxing and left me feeling and looking well rested and energized.

The number of treatments recommended for this non-surgical procedure is different for each individual and results can vary. While Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation does not produce the dramatic results of more invasive procedures, it does help the face look younger and healthier.

To learn more about Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture and a full menu of treatments contact licensed Acupuncturist Patricia Pilot at (805) 636-6522 or visit www.patriciapilot.com or email patricia@patriciapilot.com.