You Don’t Need Botox
Dr Stephanie Lipnicki, DACM, LAc
I do not steal baby’s butts to look like this. This is 52. No filter, no foundation, Just mascara and lip gloss. How do I do it? Let me tell you some things first. . .
You Don’t Need Botox is the title of one of my mentor’s books about Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture. And it’s true. I’ve been practicing Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture (CA) since 2007.
One of the things I love about Asian Medicine is how poetically they describe aging and the roles women have in the community as they age. But American society, there is way too much pressure to look 20 when you are my age.
And I get it, we all want to look like our 20 year old selves some days. And maybe something shifted for me after all of my surgeries and almost dying in terms of where I want my energy to go. I don’t want to look like a wrinkled up prune, but you can 100% tell someone’s age by their decollete, their hands, etc.
Injections, botox, fillers - sure they can make you look a little like you aren’t aging - but you still are. And the earlier you start injecting your face, the more invasive procedures you will need as you age to try and keep you from aging. AND they are only attending to your face. THERE IS AN ENTIRE BODY ATTACHED TO YOUR FACE!!!!!
Let’s take Botox. People are starting this earlier and earlier. Muscles that are frozen lose tone. So now you are setting your face up to sag more in the long run because you aren’t using those muscles. Now if you start in your 30s, by the time you are 50 you have already had or need to have a face lift. And before you know it you are Joan Rivers and you don’t even resemble the person you were.
Let’s expand on this, studies are now showing that Botox rewires the brain and could potentially lead to longer term health issues,
“. . . limited paralysis caused by Botox deprives the brain of sensory inputs normally generated by forehead and facial movement. Even more unexpected is that both hands suffer a loss of cortical brain activity following a relatively small loss of facial movements.” Psychology Today.
Cosmetic Acupuncture (CA) doesn’t work that way. In fact, most Acupuncturists when administering CA include a body treatment because improving overall health is an additional path to the fountain of youth. If anything the “side effects” of CA include things such as:
Improved sleep
Increased energy
Improved digestion
Stronger immune system
Less pain
Improved mood
And on and on
A recent NY times article shared the following about CA,
“Cosmetic acupuncture (a.k.a. facial acupuncture), the injection-free outlier of the bunch, uses needles approximately one-fifth the diameter of typical hypodermic needles and is said to increase circulation, boost collagen production and improve skin tone. Long-favored by wellness moguls like Jessica Alba, Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow, it has grown in popularity as more people turn to holistic skin care methods. In an interview in May, Sarita Choudhury, who stars in “And Just Like That …,” said she indulged in weekly sessions with her acupuncturist.”
All that being said, I started this with the intention of sharing my own “routine”, so here goes.
What’s my own routine?
Daily:
Cleanse
Tone
Moisturizer with an SPF of 30 (yes even in the winter - why? - google Truck drivers and the left side of their face)
Monthly:
Alternating Microneedling and glycolic peels (fun fact no 2 as an Acupuncturist I can Microneedle at a depth greater than I could with my Esthetician’s license)
Every 2-3 years:
Full round of cosmetic acupuncture face (10 treatments)
Full round cosmetic acupuncture neck (10 treatments)
And then maintenance through the times in between
Fibroblast Skin Tightening (I’ve done this once and I am due to repeat it this winter - so every 2-3 years)
Diet:
Stay hydrated - seriously don’t be a raisin
Avoid too much sugar - seriously not good for your skin
Eat lots of fiber - your gut will thank you and so will your skin
Miscellaneous:
Avoid the sun in the summer for prolonged periods between 11 am and 2 pm
Wear a hat that covers your face
Don’t smoke, avoid smoke - why do you think smokers have lines
Avoid straws - they will make the same small lines around your mouth that smoking does
What I need to do:
Full body check with a dermatologist (yes I’ve been slacking on that way too long)
Beyond anyone’s control:
Genetics - all the more reason to be careful. My grandmother had gorgeous skin but if I go into the sun, the Italian genetics kick in and I will increase hyperpigmentation with tanning.
When you use cosmetic acupuncture for anti-aging - you are treating the whole person - which is why it works so well.
And yes that pic is me this year a few months before turning 52. No foundation. No filter.
Also - my mad skills dating back to my years as a massage therapist and esthetician make any facial-esque care even more enjoyable! This is why you should definitely choose me for your anti-aging/ aging with grace needs!
There you have it my skin care regimen in a very large nutshell.
Back to invasive procedures - if you are only paying attention to injecting, filling and cutting up - the rest of your body is still aging. . .
Why not go for the whole fountain of youth and use Acupuncture instead?
© 2025 Dr Stephanie Lipnicki, DACM, LAc