Auricular Acupuncture for Facial Aesthetics: A Preliminary Retrospective Clinical Study of 217 Cases

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, acupuncture has gained attention as a safe and natural method in cosmetic medicine. Auricular acupuncture has been insufficiently studied in the field of facial aesthetics. Our previous clinical observations were associated with rapid facial tightening, lifting, and slimming following auricular acupuncture, which is characterized by its simplicity, safety, and convenience. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we collected data from 242 participants who received auricular acupuncture for facial cosmetic treatment. Participants received weekly treatments, with facial photographs taken before and after each session. Outcome measures included the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS), Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and FACE-Q score. Evaluations were performed at three time points: before the first treatment, immediately after the first treatment, and following 3 months of continuous treatment. The safety assessment monitored adverse reactions during the trial period. RESULTS: A total of 217 participants were included in the statistical analysis as valid cases, of which 131 were assessed for immediate response and 86 for intermediate-term response. Immediate results showed a statistically significant decrease in WSRS scores (from 2.49 ± 0.69 to 1.86 ± 0.87, p < 0.05) and a 77.10% improvement in GAIS. Efficacy observation at 3 months showed WSRS score decreased from 2.53 ± 0.66 to 1.67 ± 0.73 (p < 0.05) and GAIS improvement of 95.35%. Participants reported high overall satisfaction with their facial appearance. After immediate treatment, the improvement in nasolabial folds was the most effective, with a score of 3.59 ± 0.62 (out of 5.00); after intermediate-term treatment, the improvement of the cheeks was the most effective, with a score of 3.78 ± 0.64 (out of 5.00). In both immediate and intermediate-term treatments, improvements were observed in the lower face and jawline, with relatively high satisfaction. Minimal pain was noted, with 64.98% reporting slight discomfort and 35.02% reporting no pain. No severe events were observed, affirming the treatment's safety and comfort. CONCLUSIONS: Auricular acupuncture was associated with improvements in both immediate and intermediate-term evaluations. The immediate effects include facial slimming, lifting, reduction of nasolabial folds, and improvement of nasolabial lines. Intermediate-term effects include tightening of the face, promotion of facial rejuvenation, overall facial enhancement, and an increase in participant satisfaction. Nonetheless, in view of multiple inherent limitations as a retrospective study, the findings should be regarded as preliminary and interpreted with caution, and future studies should employ prospective, adequately powered multicenter designs with longer follow-up, validated patient-reported outcomes, standardized image acquisition, and integration of objective imaging and biomechanical metrics.