No Fear of the Needle
by
Charles Yarborough, L. Ac.
from Les Nouvelles Esthetiques, August 2005
Facial acupuncture is a unique and exhilarating experience,
one that combines ancient techniques with modern technology. However, before adding it to your spa
menu, there are logistical and legal issues you should consider. While facial acupuncture draws on
centuries of Chinese medical theory, it has to be administered and marketed
correctly to maximize its effectiveness and minimize your liability. Let’s first define this modality. Who developed it, what does it entail
and how well does it work?
Cosmetic acupuncture is also known as acupuncture facial
rejuvenation and acupuncture facial renewal. Common to all facial acupuncture
techniques is the concept that a person’s face reflects the health of their
internal organs. For
this reason, a practitioner will first diagnose the organic strengths and
weaknesses of the client within the context of traditional Chinese medicine and
give him or her the appropriate whole-body treatment. From there, techniques may vary. Generally, they entail the painless
insertion of super-thin needles into the face—along wrinkles, on facial acu-points and at specific locations on facial muscles. Depending on their training and technique,
practitioners may use as few as a dozen or as many as 60 needles on the face
and body. Herbal
poultices and creams may be administered and diet is likely to be discussed as
well. Facial acupressure and essential oils
may also be included, along with pulsed light and microcurrent
stimulation. Despite
claims of ancient pedigree, facial acupuncture has been refined into a distinct
discipline only within the past 10 years.
Various teachers have since developed their own techniques,
which practitioners may modify in service.
Nevertheless, there exist ancient records of acupuncture in
the service of enhanced beauty.
Does it really
work?
Can clients look better and more youthful with facial
acupuncture? Absolutely! Fine lines can be lessened or eliminated (after a
half-dozen treatments), deeper lines can be reduced, baggy eyes and sagging
jowls firmed up. Also
important is the probability that the client will feel better and enjoy
increased energy. While
the practitioner may also address health issues during the course of treatment,
clients should understand that specific health issues must be addressed during
a separate appointment, at a different rate of service. A series of 10, twice-weekly facial
treatments is usually recommended (smokers and others with destructive
lifestyle habits may require more), along with periodic tune-ups. The marketer of this program—or your
receptionist—may encounter skepticism from potential clients who seek a quick,
permanent fix. These
clients will be poor prospects for facial acupuncture and should probably be
steered toward more familiar services.
There are, however, many people willing to make a sustained
commitment to generating vitality and radiance from the inside out.
Integration
into the menu
Integrating facial acupuncture into the menu of spa
services needn’t be an ordeal.
Your acupuncturist should help you by supplying the
receptionist with printed answers to questions they’ll inevitably face. Experience has taught me that these
will include:
1.
How does it work? A maximum three-sentence explanation,
including the word “collagen.” Skip the Eastern philosophy; leave it to the
acupuncturist.
2.
Does it hurt? The answer should be “not generally.”
Avoiding absolutes will reduce liability.
It is essential that the acupuncturist give sample
treatments to all staff members who interface with the public.
3.
How much is a treatment? This is a high-end purchase. Treatments should be sold as a package
only, if possible. In
some states it’s illegal to sell blocks of treatments. A way of staying within the law may be
to offer pro rata refunds for unused sessions. Check with your state’s acupuncture
licensing board.
4.
How long does a treatment last? At least an hour, depending on
modalities included.
5.
Does the acupuncturist offer weight
management and other services? Price these out in advance, as the question will
inevitably arise. Call
it weight management, not loss.
6.
Is this a facial? No; nor is it an alternative to a facial.
7.
Are needles sterile? Needles should always be disposable.
8.
Is the practitioner trained? He or she should be a member of the
American Cosmetic Acupuncture Association: www.AmericanCosmeticAcupuncture.com. This assures you the practitioner is
certified.
9.
Free consultations? Yes. A 15-minute consultation will allow
the practitioner to reassure and educate the client. This is an opportunity for the
acupuncturist to inform the client of other services he or she offers, whether
or not facial acupuncture is purchased.
In these consultations, as with any treatment,
practitioners should be wary of inserting needles and offering diagnoses
without first having the client sign an “informed consent” form and (if their
insurance company requires it) a standard arbitration form.
Insurance
imperatives
At a recent acupuncture conference, I met several seasoned
practitioners who were, to my amazement, conducting business without liability
insurance. Their
close connection with their patients, they argued, was their protection from
legal problems. As a
spa owner or manager, you know that regardless of close connections,
enthusiastic clients can become disgruntled litigants very quickly—and without
apparent cause. In
the facial acupuncture field, it’s important not only to be insured, but to
know whether one is performing within one’s scope of practice.
The American Acupuncture Council, a California-based
insurer with nearly 10 thousand
“State laws vary regarding scope of practice. The question that keeps coming up is:
Are you practicing acupuncture or Western medicine? The answer lies in how you
frame your treatment and what you call it.
We have declined applications from those who perform what
they call ‘acupuncture facelifts.’ That’s clearly Western medicine. The term ‘facelift’ creates
disappointment for the patient who expects sudden dramatic—or even
structural—changes.” And this, Schroeder notes, is pivotal when it comes to
legal exposure.
“Unrealistic expectations are going to generate insurance
claims,” says Schroeder.
“A client may go for a treatment, expecting his or her life
to change, expecting to walk out magically transformed. When that doesn’t happen, when they
find they’re still the same person, they may be disappointed and angry. It is essential to manage the
patient’s expectations.
They should know what to reasonably expect. This ought to be spelled out in your
‘informed consent’ form.”
Putting it to
work
The term “facelift” may not be appropriate, but there are
many others to choose from.
One of them is “Constitutional Facial Renewal™,” a
patented protocol. It
is a treatment modality used at several Canyon Ranch Spas, at
“This is very exacting work,”
Besides her rigorous teaching schedule,
“Working within a spa setting is very different from
private practice,” she says.
“You have to be able to discuss all the spa features
intelligently with your clients and understand the value of cross-referrals. It’s not enough to be proficient in
this work; you must become part of a well-integrated team.”
A qualified facial acupuncturist on a well-integrated team
will be a terrific asset to your spa.
With facial acupuncture, you’ll widen your client base and
give yourself a competitive edge, bringing an added dimension of health and
beauty to your service menu.
Charles
Yarborough, L. Ac.,
practices at Blue Spa in Sherman Oaks, CA, and is director of the American
Cosmetic Acupuncture Association (www.AmericanCosmeticAcupuncture.com).
Mary
Elizabeth Wakefield, L. Ac.,
practices in