Customise Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Home/Blog / Live Snails as a Skin Care Treatment?

Live Snails as a Skin Care Treatment?

snail on a blade of grass hanging over the waterA new beauty fad has become popular in Japan. A salon offers its customers facial treatments using live snails to promote healing to damaged skin, with the goal of a healthier and more youthful complexion. Snails are placed on the client’s face and allowed to roam freely. A worker remains present to reposition any snails that come too close to the client’s mouth or eyes.

Once the snails have completed their meanderings, a facial massage is given to rub in the slime trails left behind by the snails. Treatment is completed with application of masks and creams that also contain snail mucus.

Japan isn’t the only country to consider the skin care benefits of snail mucus. A snail farmer in France extracts snail mucus to sell to manufacturers of beauty products. He has contracts with several cosmetics labs and a major cosmetics company to provide certain amounts of snail mucus to be used for skincare products. Several beauty products available on the market already contain snails and snail mucus and are targeted to relieve certain skin problems.

Snail mucus is rich in antioxidants and contains an ingredient called hyaluronic acid, which is present in many sought-after beauty treatment products. Hyaluronic acid can help the skin retain moisture, plump up the skin to create a fuller appearance, and reduce the appearance of scarring.

The drawbacks are that this procedure is only available in a handful of areas around the world and can cost clients hundreds of dollars for a one-hour session. Although snail mucus does contain beneficial ingredients, is there evidence that enough hyaluronic acid is available in these treatments to give any noticeable benefits to the client?

Rather than travel halfway around the world for what may be unproven methods, there are many more conventional treatments for more youthful skin available much closer to home. Med spas and cosmetic surgeons offer an array of non-surgical cosmetic treatments that have been found to be extremely effective in dealing with a variety of skin issues. Chemical peels and laser peels can be performed to remove damaged surface layers of skin and help reduce the appearance of any fine lines or scarring that may be present. Other treatments – including cosmetic injections and laser skin resurfacing – have also proven to give patients ways to improve skin firmness, enhance tone and complexion, and achieve a more youthful appearance.

We offer a comprehensive selection of non-surgical cosmetic treatments here at Gardens Plastic Surgery. If you have questions about your options, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, please contact us today.