Background.The use of acupuncture for cosmetic purposes has gained popularity worldwide. Facial cosmetic acupuncture (FCA)\r\nis applied to the head, face, and neck. However, little evidence supports the efficacy and safety of FCA.We hypothesized that FCA\r\naffects facial elasticity by restoring resting mimetic muscle tone through the insertion of needles into the muscles of the head, face,\r\nand neck. Methods.This open-label, single-arm pilot study was implemented at Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong from\r\nAugust through September 2011. Participants were women aged 40 to 59 years with a Glogau photoaging scale III. Participants\r\nreceived five treatment sessions over three weeks. Participants were measured before and after FCA. The primary outcome was the\r\nMoire topography criteria.The secondary outcome was a patient-oriented self-assessment scale of facial elasticity. Results. Among\r\n50 women screened, 28 were eligible and 27 completed the five FCA treatment sessions. A significant improvement after FCA\r\ntreatment was evident according to mean change in Moire topography criteria (from 1.70 �± 0.724 to 2.26 �± 1.059, P < 0.0001). The\r\nmost common adverse event was mild bruising at the needle site. Conclusions. In this pilot study, FCA showed promising results as\r\na therapy for facial elasticity. However, further large-scale trials with a controlled design and objective measurements are needed.
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