Acufacial vs Anti-Wrinkle Injections in Singapore: How They Differ
Acufacial is facial acupuncture at RP Clinic in Orchard Road, Singapore, performed by a registered TCM physician using ultra-fine Japanese SEIRIN needles. No product is injected; it works through the needles alone, with the aim of regulating facial muscle tension and improving microcirculation across the face. Anti-wrinkle injections are a prescription medicine administered by a doctor. The medicine temporarily reduces the signal between nerve and muscle, so a line created by repeated movement softens as the overlying skin rests. One works gradually across the whole face; the other acts on specific muscles with a measured dose.
At RP Clinic both are available under one roof. A first Acufacial visit is $88 nett, which includes the registered TCM physician's consultation and your first Acufacial session, with GST included. For anti-wrinkle injections, the doctor assesses you in person first, and dosage and price are confirmed during your consultation, because the dose depends on the area and on your own muscle strength.
How each one works
Acufacial. SEIRIN needles from Japan, 0.10 mm in diameter, single-use and sterile, are placed at specific points on the face. Rather than targeting a single structure, the treatment aims to regulate facial muscle tension, enhance microcirculation, support collagen production and, in TCM terms, harmonise the flow of Qi. The physician considers your skin alongside your overall constitution.
Anti-wrinkle injections. Where a line is created by repeated movement, such as raising the brows, frowning or squinting, reducing that movement allows the line to soften. Where a muscle is bulky rather than active, the same mechanism reduces its size over time, which is the basis for treating a heavy masseter along the jaw. The medicine does not fill anything, and lines that are present when the face is completely still are usually structural and are not addressed by this treatment.
When the effect appears, and how long it lasts
Acufacial works gradually. After a single session, the visible change typically lasts one to two weeks. It is therefore planned as a course of weekly sessions, commonly six, after which the effect tends to hold for longer, and monthly maintenance follows the initial course. The effect tapers off gradually rather than ending on a particular day.
Anti-wrinkle injections typically begin to work within days and settle over about two weeks. The effect is temporary by design, commonly lasting four to six months for expression lines depending on the area and on you, and when it wears off, muscle activity returns to how it was. Upper face and full face are commonly planned as two to three sessions across a year. Jaw and shoulder treatments work by reducing muscle bulk and take months rather than days to show.
Recovery
Acufacial has no downtime. Most people describe the session as relaxing and return to their day afterwards. Anti-wrinkle injections involve minimal downtime; small marks or bruising are possible at the injection points, and anaesthetic is not routinely required.
Who each one is suitable for
Acufacial is suitable for people trying a facial treatment for the first time, people who prefer not to have injections, and skin that looks puffy or tired. The concerns it addresses include fine lines, sagging and lack of firmness, dull or uneven tone, dark circles and eye bags. It suits people who are comfortable with a gradual approach and with weekly sessions during the initial course.
Anti-wrinkle injections are suitable for dynamic lines: forehead lines, frown lines, crow's feet and bunny lines, as well as a heavy masseter, the jawline and the shoulder line. They are not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with certain neuromuscular conditions, or with some medications; this is screened during your consultation. As a prescription medicine, it can only be used after a doctor has assessed you in person, and specific products and doses are not discussed in advance of that.
Can they be combined?
The two are not mutually exclusive. Medical aesthetics and TCM are under one roof at RP Clinic, and some people use Acufacial to support their skin alongside other care. Which approach, or which combination, fits your skin, and in what order, is decided during your consultation with the doctor and the TCM physician.
How each one is priced
A first Acufacial visit is $88 nett, including the registered TCM physician's consultation and your first Acufacial session, with GST included. If a course is recommended, the physician explains the plan and its full cost after your consultation, before anything is done. Anti-wrinkle injections are not priced on a page, because the dose depends on the area, on your muscle strength and on what you want to change. You receive the full cost during your consultation, before anything is agreed.
Next step
To arrange a first visit for either treatment, message us via WhatsApp at +65 8014 8552. We are at Level 4, Tang Plaza, 310 Orchard Road, directly above Orchard MRT, open daily 10:00–20:00.
FAQ
Does Acufacial relax muscles the way anti-wrinkle injections do?
No. Anti-wrinkle injections reduce the nerve signal to a specific muscle with a measured dose of medicine. Acufacial does not inject anything; it works on muscle tension and circulation through the placement of fine needles, and it does not add volume.
Is Acufacial uncomfortable?
The needles are 0.10 mm in diameter, and most people describe the session as gentle and relaxing. There is no downtime afterwards.
Who performs each treatment at RP Clinic?
Acufacial is performed by our registered TCM physician. Anti-wrinkle injections are administered by our doctor after an in-person assessment.
Which one should I start with?
It depends on what you want to change. A line caused by repeated movement is the territory of anti-wrinkle injections; puffiness, dullness and overall tone are where Acufacial is usually considered. Your consultation will determine this, and if a treatment is not suitable for you, you will be informed.
