Somewhere between receiving the phone call and finding myself lying on Dave Shipsey's table in Dan-Tien health studio, my brain had disassociated the concept of "facial acupuncture" with the reality of having long, spindly needles sticking out of my face and neck.
Thus, I am mildly perturbed as fine needles are sewn in lines along my forehead. I notch up to panic level two as two inch-long needles are placed, quivering, just below my eyes. By the time there are two of the delicate creatures resting either side of my jugular vein, I have fully assessed my sanity, and found it to be lacking.
Shallow breathing and afraid to swallow in case the action somehow sucks the needles below my skin and down my oesophagus, I have time for a reality check while the needles do their work.
I remind myself that I have been in Shipsey's care before and his work as an acupuncturist is among the best I have experienced.
I know that Shipsey has an expert knowledge of the eastern philosophy of acupuncture, and is constantly updating his credentials through study in China. He is also an honours graduate in molecular biology, specialising in women's health and fertility issues, and therefore understands how the body works physically.