MAINTAINING THE GLOW ~ Dr Nicole Pawley
ZHONG CENTRE Wellness Hub
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & Cosmetic Acupuncture
Radiant skin is the skin we all want, right?! A lush, plump, smooth looking face comes from a great skin care regime, wholesome healthful food, optimal sleep, moderating stress, and cosmetic treatments such as acupuncture, facials, injectables. All within reach of most people’s capabilities. Though, what if your current regime has contraindications whilst you’re undergoing IVF treatment? Or even pregnant? Maintaining the glow can sometimes be a task for a mumma-to-be particularly if your cosmetic routine is a medicalised technique.
Botox, dysport and fillers are the typical injectables used to reduce wrinkles and fine lines or increase lost volume in areas of the face such as the cheeks, lips, chin, and forehead. Botox and dysport are made up of the active ingredient botulinum type A which blocks the signals that cause muscles to contract. It is effectively freezing your muscles. Unfortunately for women going through IVF/pregnancy they are classified by the TGA as Category C drugs, meaning that it may “have caused or may be suspected of causing, harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations”. To date, there is no controlled data in human pregnancy, because really, that would be very unethical and studies in animals are limited. The same goes for fillers. Fillers are a soft, gel-like substances composed of a variety of ingredients and injected under the skin. There is no proven data for the safety of them and the safest course for women going through IVF and pregnancy is to not use them at all.
Restricting injectables may not sit well for many women. Particularly because of its convenience and response – it is quick, has limited down time, accessible and can take a few days to a week to be active. Beauty is important for how you feel about you and present yourself and opting for a gentler and safer procedure that isn’t contraindicated during the IVF process or in pregnancy is optimal. Step in the superior Cosmetic Acupuncture! Also known as facial rejuvenation or facial acupuncture These petite powerful acupuncture needles are so influential in softening tension around the jaw, mouth, around and between the eyes and brow. Face acupuncture is an extension of body acupuncture, bringing the body into a more relaxed, organic state and offering a positive change on your overall health. It is completely natural, is not painful (always the first question we’re asked!) and can literally change the shape of your face. It is great for lessening the appearance of fine lines, improving skin tone and elasticity. No matter where you are applying your needles, acupuncture affects hormones, works with fatigue and stress which are familiar reactions to many going through IVF and pregnancy. As it smooths out skin, stimulates collagen and maintains hydration, it will keep skin blossoming satisfying facial beauty and body health.
There are a multitude of benefits of acupuncture in general and is very common for it to be combined with IVF treatments. There is a strong emerging field of quality research being developed continually. Studies are showing the combination of acupuncture with IVF is very effective in improving the clinical pregnancy rate*. It can play a large role in conceiving a healthy child for any parent. Acupuncture is a beautiful wholistic adjunct to fertility treatments as it takes care of the nutrition, lifestyle, stress, pain, habits etc to compliment an often emotional and physical program. It provides special attention to you as an individual, is safe, gentle, and enhancing for the mind and body. Both face and body acupuncture address the difficulties of imbalance in the body and allows the brilliance of your skin to show through Cosmetic Acupuncture. It has a very effective opportunistic way of working with side effects of IVF – bloating, fatigue, nausea, mood swings, discomfort, flushing and emotional stress. Being able to relax a tight nervous system, encouraging blood flow in and around the reproductive system, balancing hormones and offsetting the reactions of the drugs used throughout the program makes for a positive mind and a sense of control. Also consider the maladies that can come with pregnancy. There are many that can impact the skin and for some women it can make for a hard time if you’re suffering from hair loss, acne, poor skin integrity, melasma, rosacea, dermatitis, skin tags, nausea, constipation, sinus, mouth ulcers, headaches, and more.
Cosmetic Acupuncture transforms your face and skin. The variety of benefits of this non-invasive procedure for any woman moving through IVF and/or pregnancy is the perfect opportunity for maintaining a radiant complexion. Where there is stress, hormonal imbalance, body discomfort or fatigue, it will show up on all areas of the face as tightness, tension, and skin changes. It is encouraging for any women to
*Yi Qian, Xin-Ru Xia, Humphrey Ochin, Cun Huang, Chao Gao, Li Gao, Yu-Gui Cui, Jia-Yin Liu, Yan Meng. Therapeutic effect of acupuncture on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27995371/
Karin Gillerman, LAc, BSc (Hons), MBAcC, lead author of a ground-breaking new study, “The Impact of Acupuncture on IVF Success Rates,” conducted at Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Fertility Centre, London, UK. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/04/acupuncture-doubles-chance-of-having-a-baby-with-ivf-study-sugge/