Slap happy: New wrinkle treatment sounds painful

November 8, 2012

Slap happy: New wrinkle treatment sounds painful
Slap happy: New wrinkle treatment sounds painful

There seems to be an endless stream of new, bizarre treatments for wrinkles. Recently, we discussed the trend of "facial yoga," but a Thai beauty technique may seem even more bizarre. It's the "ancient Thai art of face slapping," and practitioners say it can help treat facial puffiness and age lines, according to Seattle PI.

Steve Rubenstein wrote about his recent experience with the treatment at a beauty parlor in San Francisco. When he arrived, the woman who would provide the slaps said, "You have wrinkles," he writes in the article. "And your left cheek is larger than your right cheek. It's puffier."

It may sound painful, and it's also costly - treatments cost $350 a pop. During the session, the practitioner sat on a stool, listening to music, and slapped Rubenstein's face several times. He writes that it wasn't all that painful, "but it didn't tickle, either."

In addition to slapping, the woman pinched his cheeks, ran her hands over his facial skin, and pushed the skin around on his face. This went on for about 10 minutes, with the slaps getting harder toward the end of the session.

When it was over, the practitioner showed Rubenstein before and after photos of his own face. Unfortunately, he reports, he couldn't see any difference between the two. Judging by his experience, you may want to think twice before you shell out big bucks for face slapping.

If you want sound results, some cosmetic treatments, like Botox injections, are proven to reduce lines that appear with age. And while Botox may have been expensive in years past, it is now much more affordable. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the average cost for injections of Botulinum Toxin Type A, which includes both Botox and Dysport, is $328 - slightly less than it would cost to have an experience like Rubenstein's.


The mission of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) includes medical education, public education and patient advocacy. Plastic Surgery News Briefs are summaries of current stories found through various news and magazine outlets that relate to or mention plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures. The views expressed in these news articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ASAPS, but are merely published as an educational service to our members and the general public. For additional information on these subjects and other plastic surgery related topics, please go to www.surgery.org

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About ASAPS
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), is recognized as the world’s leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body.  ASAPS is comprised of over 2,600 Plastic Surgeons; active members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (USA) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. International active members are certified by equivalent boards of their respective countries. All members worldwide adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and must meet stringent membership requirements.

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