A new study evaluated the aesthetic outcomes and safety of auricular acupuncture as a noninvasive facial rejuvenation strategy in a large real-world cohort.1 In the largest randomized clinical series to date, findings suggest that auricular acupuncture can provide rapid, well-tolerated improvements in facial contour, nasolabial folds, and cheek firmness, particularly appealing to patients seeking non-injectable rejuvenation.
Background
Auricular acupuncture is based on the somatotopic organization of the ear, first formalized by Paul Nogier’s “inverted embryo” theory, which suggests that specific areas of the ear correspond to different parts of the body.2 In aesthetic practice, this approach offers an indirect method of facial contouring for antiaging and wrinkle reduction without a needle on the face itself, making it attractive to patients seeking minimal trauma and quick recovery.
“Key techniques in this trial include precise localization and precise operation,” the authors wrote. “Given the numerous acupuncture points of the ear and the small size of the ear, accuracy in locating the points is crucial for successful treatment.”
Study Design and Interventions
The self-controlled retrospective analysis was conducted in a tertiary acupuncture hospital in China and included 217 adult patients aged 35 to 70 years who underwent ear acupuncture specifically for facial cosmetic purposes between November 2023 and December 2024. The cohort was. demographics most likely to seek non-surgical facial rejuvenation. The cohort was divided into 2 groups: 131 patients with evaluable photographs before and immediately after a single session (immediate effect group) and 86 patients with standardized photographs before treatment and after approximately three months of weekly treatments (interim group).
All participants received a standardized protocol of two needles in each ear. One needle was inserted into a “cheek” point on the anterior lobe of the ear and directed toward the area of the great auricular nerve, and a second needle was placed into a gonadotropin point near the interstitial notch. The needles were held for at least 2 hours, substantially longer than in conventional acupuncture, based on the researchers’ experience that prolonged stimulation enhanced and prolonged the aesthetic effects.
Efficacy was assessed using both investigator-rated and patient-reported outcomes. Facial photographs were assessed using the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS) for nasolabial folds and the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). Patients completed selected domains of the validated FACE-Q, focusing on overall facial appearance, cheeks, lower face and jawline, and nasolabial folds. Pain and adverse events were monitored using a visual analog scale and systematic safety reporting.
Short and Long Term Effects
After a single auricular acupuncture session, the mean WSRS score improved significantly from 2.49 to 1.86, indicating a reduction in nasolabial fold severity. Approximately 63% of patients showed objective improvement and 77% were rated as improved on the GAIS. The most obvious immediate changes were seen in nasolabial folds, lower facial contour, and jawline definition, according to patients’ FACE-Q responses. Satisfaction with nasolabial fold improvement was highest (mean score 3.59/5), suggesting that wrinkle softening was a particularly noticeable short-term effect.
Among the 86 patients who completed weekly treatments for three months, the improvements were even more pronounced. The mean WSRS score decreased from 2.53 to 1.67, with nearly 78% showing objective improvement. GAIS response rates reached 95.35%, with over 60% rated as ‘very’ or ‘much’ improved. At this later time point, cheek firmness and midfacial firmness emerged as the most satisfactory outcomes, reflected by the highest FACE-Q score (3.78/5).
Overall, auricular acupuncture was well tolerated. About 35% of patients reported no pain and the rest reported only mild discomfort (VAS 1-3). Minor bleeding occurred in 36% of patients and resolved with brief pressure. Only 1 transient episode of vasculitis was recorded, and no infections, severe pain, or serious adverse events occurred.
Future research opportunities
The authors emphasized that this was a single-center, uncontrolled, retrospective study, making placebo effects, regression to the mean, and selection bias unavoidable. Furthermore, the cohort was overwhelmingly female, further limiting generalizability. Results were based on photography and subjective scales, and long-term durability beyond 3 months was not assessed, but should be considered in future prospective research.
References
1. Zhu W, Prateepjumraskul P, Han Y, Hu H, Chen L. Auricular Acupuncture for Facial Aesthetics: A Preliminary Retrospective Clinical Study of 217 Cases. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026;25(1):e70629. doi:10.1111/jocd.70629
2. Gori L, Firenzuoli F. Auricular acupuncture in European traditional medicine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007? 4 (Suppl 1): 13-16. doi:10.1093/ecam/nem106
