Cosmetic Acupuncture Works!

This website contains carefully researched content meant to guide readers in educated health decisions. Although I am not a physician or research scientist, I am a committed and careful researcher of technical information and share health tips which I have considered and used in my own journey of health as a breast cancer survivor. I am also mindful of citing sources and careful not to plagiarize. If you choose to share the information I have published, please extend the respect of citing this website and my name as the source of the information, or citing the sources I have shared out of respect to your readers who choose to trust you as a source or conduit of information in their own journey of health. - Christy Begien, Non-Toxic Lifestyle (c) 2023 All rights reserved, Denver Colorado.

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Hey readers! Okay, so you know I practice what I preach :-). A year ago I wrote a blog post about cosmetic acupuncture. During my research, I was fortunate to find Dr. Martha Lucas who lives right here in Denver! I went to see Dr. Lucas with these areas of concern: facial age spots, sagging jawline, neck lines and puffy eyes.

As promised, I set up a series of 10 sessions with her a few months ago and am happy to report that I’m very pleased with the results! Here’s why! Below are my before and after photos, without makeup or retouching… no judgments please!

Christy Begien | Christy's Non Toxic Lifestyle

Before

Christy Begien | Christy's Non Toxic Lifestyle

After

First, and most important to remember, this is NOT plastic surgery and there are no promises of super tightened, smooth as a baby’s bottom skin. If that’s what you’re looking for, then this isn’t for you. What Dr. Lucas does ensure is that she can “minimize” the effects of aging. What I also like, is that she treats the whole body using acupuncture since body functioning does show up on our face and skin. A great barometer of health, if you ask me.

Does it hurt? I’m asked this question frequently. I did not find this treatment uncomfortable at all during my hour sessions. A few times there were a couple of sensitive places, but usually near my sinuses and the sensitivity went away quickly. Helped my sinuses too! And no negative side effects. All while dozing comfortably and listening to gentle healing music. What’s not to love!

Christy Begien | Christy's Non Toxic Lifestyle

After

Christy Begien | Christy's Non Toxic Lifestyle

Before

How about the cost? Ten sessions run $2000. Maintenance sessions run $150 for the hour. Dr. Lucas runs specials, for example there is a discount per session if you pay for the ten sessions in advance. If you’re interested in her treatments, be sure to find out what they are.

How long will it last? I’m currently in a “maintenance” mode of seeing Dr. Lucas once per month, which I’m cool with. I am happy with the improvements I see and several friends have commented that they have seen huge differences. In the spirit of the “no-makeup” movement we see happening, I’m sharing a couple of before and after photos. My under eye puffiness has been reduced a lot (though not in these particular photos) and I’m really happy with the diminished lines in my neck, age spots and the lifting of my “jowls.” 🙂

As part of this process, I also asked Dr. Lucas if she’d write a guest blog so it’s my pleasure to introduce Dr. Martha Lucas, PhD.

Martha’s Guest Post:

We all know that there is a tremendous interest these days in any product or procedure that is touted as “anti-aging”. No matter the state of the economy, people continue to spend billions of dollars a year on therapies and procedures that promise to make them look younger, thinner, or more beautiful. You can have a procedure to modify almost anything about your body with which you are dissatisfied. People are having chin implants, fat transplantation, arm lifts, ear plastic surgery, cosmetic foot surgery, and even (believe it or not) cosmetic leg-lengthening surgery.

The industry has gone so far that there is now a book written for children about mommy’s plastic surgery! When children’s books are being written about how kids can keep up with the world of cosmetic “improvements”, the field has reached a new low in my opinion.

Many cosmetic procedures began as medical treatments. Plastic surgery began as a blessing to those who had been disfigured in an accident, born with a cleft palate, or injured in combat. In fact, war injuries accelerated experimentation in plastic surgery after World War I. The history of Botox also begins with its beneficial use. In the 1950s it was discovered to relax hypertensive muscles and spasms and is still used to give relief to patients who suffer from facial, neck, or shoulder spasms.

Acupuncture treatments didn’t start out being “cosmetic” either but there were unintended outcomes (i.e., “cosmetic” results) of using certain points and techniques. For me, one of the most enjoyable parts of my practice is having the skills and knowledge to help use “the least” to help people maintain their youthful appearance. With the use of needling, herbs, QiGong, and/or nutritional advice – all basic therapies included in the system of Chinese medicine – our medicine can stave off the outward signs of aging. When I use Chinese medicine for “cosmetic” results, that is, do the Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture protocol, I am treating the internal causes of aging, not just the outward results of it. That is the true beauty of Chinese medicine; it treats wrinkles from the inside and the outside.

Chinese medicine can help you maintain a youthful appearance with the use of one of the “least” aggressive procedures available: cosmetic acupuncture. Cosmetic acupuncture improves your health rather than damaging it. It uses your own body to be youthful rather than injecting toxins into it. Chinese medicine can create a vibrancy and healthfulness inside that is reflected on the outside.

Christy Begien | Christy's Non Toxic LifestyleAs Christy Begien | Christy's Non Toxic Lifestylepart of this guest blog, she’s also offering her book “Cosmetic Acupuncture WORKS!” at a discount rate of $10! Email her at drmlucas@acupuncturewoman.com, and she’ll send you one. She’s testing two jacket covers, so be sure to let her know which one you like. I think her books would make wonderful gifts, too!

Martha’s Biography

Christy Begien | Christy's Non Toxic Lifestyle

I am a Research Psychologist who started my career in Western medicine, doing research. My specialty was studying heart disease and patients who had had cardiovascular bypass surgery. As I worked, I would think about what great mechanics surgeons are, but knew or felt that something else is operating in our bodies besides the physical part.

That feeling is what led me to begin my studies on what some call “energy medicine” – which, by the way, acupuncture is not. Acupuncture treatment is changing your physical body; it’s changing how your physical body works.

My first training was to become a Reiki Master followed by learning Axiatonal Alignment and then Colorpuncture. But the teachers didn’t explain why we put certain colors on certain acupuncture points. Me, being a researcher, needed to know why so I went to Chinese medicine school to learn that part of the treatments. There, I met my beloved pulse diagnosis mentor, Jim Ramholz O.M.D., and he fueled my passion for Chinese medicine. And here I am – twenty years in to this beautiful medicine!

For ten years I have been teaching medical doctors overseas how to perform Chinese medicine. My overseas clinic base is in Antalya, Turkey, at the clinic of Dr. Asuman Kaplan Algin. Though our international base is in Antalya, MDs and acupuncturists from all over the world come there for these annual or semi-annual conferences. It has been fascinating to see how other cultures approach Chinese medicine and gratifying to see that MDs want to learn more and be more proficient at practicing the medical system that I love so much.

I teach everything from pulse diagnosis to cosmetic acupuncture to acupuncture for fertility to using food as medicine. I have also taught cosmetic acupuncture and pulse diagnosis in Australia and in Cabo San Lucas (let’s go there for a women’s healing retreat!). I just returned from Turkey this past March to teach, and feel blessed to have this opportunity to travel to other countries to teach Chinese medicine.

Christy’s Summary:

As you can see, I’ve been in the very best hands possible, and blessed to have cosmetic acupuncture expert, Dr. Martha Lucas, near where I live. I have been very happy with the results of my sessions with her! I highly recommend this mode of anti-aging to all of you, my readers. For those of you who don’t live in Colorado, check your local listings for cosmetic acupuncturists. Also, feel free to contact Martha with any questions you might have. There is a lot of information in her book, so that is where I would start.

In addition to the wonderful sessions that Martha offers, she has developed her own Skin Care line called Mei Zen. The ten or so products are all affordable (compared to so many out there), are holistic in nature, using the highest quality ingredients, organic herbs and essential oils. These complement the cosmeceutical ingredients in them to battle wrinkles, sagging and dull skin. I particularly love the Astragalus Geranium Skin Prep/Toner which helps with hyper-pigmentation and the Wakame Stem Cell Eye Cream which treats bags and eye puffiness. The Hibiscus Bamboo scrub is also a pretty fine exfoliator.

With the creation of Mei Zen, Dr. Lucas also adheres to  sustainable practices and ethical sources. Learn more on her skincare website: meizenskincare.com.

For more information on cosmetic acupuncture, visit Martha’s website: acupuncturewoman.com

Peace and Healthy Anti-aging!

Christy Begien | The Non Toxic Lifestyle

 

 

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Comments

  1. Kirsten  April 5, 2018

    Thank you for the great information in this blog post. I’ve had acupuncture for many things over the years, but never for cosmetic reasons. I am so glad to know that you are seeing results with it, because it seems like a great alternative to some of the toxic and invasive procedures out there. I’m going to keep it mind for when the time is right for a “face lift”.

    • Christy Begien  April 5, 2018

      Thanks, Kirsten! Yes, definitely happy with my results and glad you will keep it in mind for the future. Be sure to spread the word too as I don’t think many women know of this alternative! Happy weekend!