Christina Macumber had been taking Botox for a decade when she encountered horror stories about potential risks, including muscle wasting and botulism.
“It kind of freaked me out,” the 42-year-old told The Post. “I thought I should probably take a break for a while.”
Looking for an alternative, he turned Acupuncture Moon Rabbits in Chicago — though she wasn’t sure it would help smooth out her wrinkles.
“I went in thinking I would see almost no results,” said Macumber, a private wealth adviser.
“I actually scheduled a botox appointment a few months out for my ‘elevens’ because I thought there was no way acupuncture could fix them,” she continued. “I canceled it.”
Macumber isn’t the only beauty enthusiast turning to facial rejuvenation acupuncture, a natural alternative that promises younger, smoother, healthier-looking skin without the chemicals or frozen brows.
Acupuncture—the ancient Chinese practice of inserting fine needles into strategic points on the body—has been used to treat everything from chronic pain and menstrual cramps to anxiety and infertility.
Since opening her practice five years ago, Gudrun Snyder, who owns Acupuncture Moon Rabbitshe’s seen a steady increase in people using it to improve the health and appearance of their skin — a trend he said has grown in recent months.
“What I hear a lot from people is that they want to avoid Botox,” she said, noting that many come to her with concerns about smile lines, crow’s feet and “elevens” between the eyes. “They’re looking for a soft way to deal with them, either proactively or retroactively.”
You can’t rush the glow
In New York, Dr. Brittany Schneider, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist at TIMEsaid he sees the same trend.
“There are a lot of people who come in and don’t want to do as much Botox or as often,” she said.
Acupuncture, she explained, works on multiple levels to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The needles create tiny microtraumas in the skin, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin while activating the body’s natural healing response.
It also enhances blood and lymph flow, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to skin cells.
“Let’s say you do a crash diet. To me, that’s like Botox,” explained Snyder, an East Asian acupuncturist. “You want a quick fix, but it’s not sustainable and it’s not going to create lasting change.
“If you start acupuncture early, it’s like a healthy, beautiful, well-balanced diet. Over time, cumulatively, it will give you a better result.”
Many practitioners also combine facial acupuncture with full-body treatments to address underlying imbalances that can contribute to aging and other health problems, leaving skin nourished, radiant and youthful.
Does Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture Work? The Post gives it a try
Curious to see if it really works, I tried one of ORA’s treatments myself. At 25, I recently started noticing my first annoying wrinkles, particularly on my forehead and between my eyebrows.
Their 65-minute session costs $250 and is not covered by insurance, although it is FSA and HSA eligible.
My appointment began with a consultation about my health and wellness goals before settling into a heated massage table. Soon, Schneider began inserting fine needles from head to toe — most of which I could barely feel.
The needles were left in place for about 30 minutes, while a guided meditation session encouraged me to take deep, slow breaths, lulling me into a half-asleep state. Above, a red light bathed the room in a warm glow, a hallmark of the ORA method.
“With acupuncture alone, we stimulate collagen, chi, blood and other nutrients in the face, but the red light will penetrate the body at the cellular level,” Schneider explained.
“It will also help with inflammation throughout the body, our blood circulation and our nervous system, moving us from flight or fight mode to rest and digest mode.”
“When I look in the mirror and raise my eyebrows, the wrinkles aren’t as crazy. I still have all the movement in my face, but they’re kind of relaxed.”
Christina Macaber
And I rested I did. I could barely open my eyes when Snyder returned to remove the needles.
Looking in the mirror afterwards, my fine lines hadn’t disappeared — but I looked refreshed and felt amazing.
“It takes time,” Snyder reassured me.
For Macumber, it took a few treatments before the results really stuck.
Moon Rabbit recommends starting with a series of 10 sessions, once or twice a week, followed by monthly maintenance appointments, although the timing varies for each person.
The clinic says this can smooth fine lines, tighten skin, treat acne and calm inflammation. A 50-minute session costs $205 and includes a choice of facial rolling, gua sha or cupping alongside acupuncture.
After her initial treatment, Macumber noticed her skin felt smooth and taut—an effect Snyder calls “acu-glow.”
“Instantly, you’ll look like you had the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had,” she said. “But it’s not going to be a drastic change.”
About 48 hours later, Macumber saw the first results diminish, but she continued to do so every week. By her fourth session, the changes stuck.
“Now the glow lasts instead of fading,” she said—and unlike Botox, Macumber still has full facial movement.
“When I look in the mirror and raise my eyebrows, the wrinkles aren’t as crazy,” she said. “I still have all the movement in my face, but it’s kind of relaxed.”
The best of both worlds
The Post’s wellness editor Carly Stern — a self-proclaimed Botox enthusiast — also tried the natural route with WTHNBilled as a “natural glow” that stimulates collagen and elastin, the Acupuncture Facial Treatment boosts circulation and tones facial muscles.
Hourly treatment includes acupuncture, gua sha and LED light therapy for $195 a pop (or $155 for first timers) and is HSA/FSA eligible.
“I’ll definitely say it was a lot more enjoyable than getting Botox,” Stern said. “Botox hurts. It feels great and relaxing and I almost fell asleep.”
While she didn’t notice dramatic results after her first visit, she noted that “the science is pretty good” that consistent treatments can make a difference.
“But even if I come back… you won’t take away my botox,” she added with a laugh.
Fortunately, Botox devotees don’t have to choose between the two.
“If people want to come in who have Botox, we just wait two weeks so it has time to settle,” Snyder said. “Then, acupuncture can actually enhance these effects by prolonging them.”
After all, the results of a typical Botox treatment usually only last three or four months.
“I’m a big believer in integrating both Eastern and Western medicine,” Schneider said. “When we use them together, that’s where the healing really begins.”
