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Celebrities are signing up for FACIAL acupuncture — so we take a stab at the prickly beauty treatment

BOTOX is no longer the go-to treatment for A-listers wanting to stop ageing – now they’re trying cosmetic acupuncture.

Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston are said to be fans of the ancient Chinese practice – and now Brit stars are having a stab too.

 Fabulous writer Lynsey Clarke had 95 needles placed in her face
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Fabulous writer Lynsey Clarke had 95 needles placed in her faceCredit: Oliver Dixon

Millie Mackintosh, who is only 28, swears by the cosmetic procedure, saying: “My skin is smoother afterwards, it really does work on fine lines.”

Here, 32-year-old Fabulous Daily writer LYNSEY CLARKE tries out the prickly procedure:

I'll be honest, my face and I have a love-hate relationship – most of the time I hate it and it loves to p*ss me off.

Once a blank canvas, it is not only showing signs of wear and tear from 15 years of boozing and frowning at screens, but it has also been ravaged by a bout of adult acne.

 Millie Mackintosh, 28, swears by the ancient Chinese treatment for reducing fine lines and smoothing out the skin
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Millie Mackintosh, 28, swears by the ancient Chinese treatment for reducing fine lines and smoothing out the skin

My formerly smooth and supple cheeks are pockmarked, my skin is red and blotchy and my forehead is starting to look like an Ordnance Survey map.

So I jumped at the chance to try out a new wonder treatment to restore my youth — even if it did involve sticking needles in my face.

I booked in to the John Tsagaris clinic in Chelsea, West London, to meet the main man, who pioneered cosmetic acupuncture in this country and has been pricking the faces of celebrities, royalty and high society for years.

At first glance, John tells me I’ve got burst capillaries and wide pores, not to mention hormonal and digestive issues, and high cortisol levels caused by stress.

 The prickly procedure includes red LED light treatment during the process
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The prickly procedure includes red LED light treatment during the processCredit: Oliver Dixon
 Lynsey Clarke after facial puncture at the John Tsagaris clinic in Chelsea
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Lynsey Clarke after facial puncture at the John Tsagaris clinic in ChelseaCredit: Oliver Dixon

“Let’s hope it works then,” I laugh nervously, as I lay down on the bed and cover my hair with a shower cap.

Before John sets to work on my face, he goes for my feet and hands. These punctures, he explains, will boost blood flow which increases the amount of oxygen getting to my skin. It should also target my hormonal and digestive imbalances.

I’ve seen the photo Millie Mackintosh shared of her acupuncture and was expecting several pins in the face — but that’s just child’s play for John.

He prodded and poked for a good 20 minutes, inserting needles in my forehead, cheeks, chin and around my nose, concentrating on fine lines or blemished areas.

 Josh Tsagaris spent 20 minutes individually placing needles across Lynsey's forehead, chin and cheeks
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Josh Tsagaris spent 20 minutes individually placing needles across Lynsey's forehead, chin and cheeksCredit: Oliver Dixon

John has a gentle touch but I couldn’t help flinching when some of the needles popped my skin — especially where I have a few pimples.

But once they were in, my body eased into relaxation mode and I felt the blood rush to the surface of my skin, gradually warming it up.

I could quite easily have dozed off if photographer Ollie wasn’t distracting me with flashing lights, clicks and the odd giggle at how ridiculous I looked.

I was shocked when John told me he had inserted 95 needles. I looked like a human pin cushion and nothing like the acupunctured celebs I’ve seen photos of. But John says a handful of needles won’t have much effect.

 Facial acupuncture is supposed to stimulate healing, improve circulation, produce collagen and improve elasticity
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Facial acupuncture is supposed to stimulate healing, improve circulation, produce collagen and improve elasticityCredit: Oliver Dixon

He adds: “As the skin ages, collagen fibres become loose and relaxed. The needle breaks the collagen and causes a trauma. The more traumas, the greater the effect.

“The purpose is to stimulate healing, which increases micro-circulation and produces new collagen to improve elasticity, thus restructuring the skin.

“Unlike Botox, which freezes skin, acupuncture encourages the skin’s own repairing mechanisms so it can bounce back, like a baby’s skin.”

To accelerate the healing, John places a red LED light over my face and leaves me to chill out in a pair of nifty black goggles for 15 minutes before removing the needles.

 The final step of the procedure includes a sheet mask full of nutrients for the skin
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The final step of the procedure includes a sheet mask full of nutrients for the skinCredit: Oliver Dixon

He then swipes them away with the precision and pizzazz of a casino croupier. I don’t feel a thing.

The final touch is a sheet mask from John’s own range which he places on my face and a derma-roller to encourage nutrients in my skin.

I really don’t want this to end.

 John Tsagaris uses a micro-roller to encourage the nutrients to soak into the skin
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John Tsagaris uses a micro-roller to encourage the nutrients to soak into the skinCredit: Oliver Dixon

Afterwards, my face is flushed and I feel like Waynetta Slob as I cram on to a Tube home with my hair scraped back and, more importantly, without my usual camouflage of foundation.

But the next morning when I grumpily peer at my sleepy face in the mirror, I actually smile.

To the untrained eye I look exactly the same, but having spent hours over the past couple of years examining my lines and creases, I can see they have faded a bit. The pores around my nose look tighter and my spot-scarred cheeks are less fiery.

At £245 a pop, I can’t afford another session — never mind the monthly visits John’s clients make — but I would definitely book in for another treatment if it had less of a dent on my bank balance.

Demonstration of facial acupuncture procedure which celebrities are signing up for in droves