Thai beauty treatment sees therapists hit your face to erase wrinkles

A Thai natural health practitioner claims she can turn back the clock simply by 'face-slapping.'

The traditional technique is said to erase wrinkles, shrink pores, and tighten the skin without surgery, instead using slapping, kneading and massaging of the area.

Tata Sombuntham, who was trained in Thailand, says she is the first face-slapping beauty therapist in the western hemisphere, and charges $350 for each 15 minute session at her San Francisco salon.

While there is no medical evidence to prove the slapping works as an anti-aging treatment, doctors concede it could 'improve circulation and bring on a healthy flush'.

However Tata and her husband, Mawan, who co-owns the salon, both claim you can see results immediately.

Good Morning America asked Hank Schob, an acting coach from Penny Templeton studios, if it was possible to forgo the $350 fee and carry out the procedure safely at home.

'It's very simple,' he said. 'The trick is to make sure you have no jewellery on, keep your elbow relaxed, your wrists relaxed. Keep your fingers together and cupped, and come up and hit right in here,' he explained while pointing to the flesh of his cheek.

Also popular in Thailand is 'butt punching', to firm the rear, and 'breast slapping', to enlarge the size of the chest.

A 44-year-old woman, known as Khunying Tobnom, made a career out of this 'ancient wisdom', cornering the Bangkok market; her skills in high demand.

According to the Independent, a study by the Thai Health Ministry found vigorous massage left volunteers' breasts measurably bigger.

The Ministry even sponsored a programme that saw women learning to slap their own breasts to enhance their size as an alternative to surgery.

And, while it may be surgery-free, the popular treatment is not without its discomfort factor. Clients say the treatment is painful, but that they can cope.

And learning the tricks of the trade doesn't come cheap. Training courses for body-slapping, breast-slapping and face-slapping come at the eye-watering price of $330,000, $263,000 and $164,000 respectively.

一位泰国自然疗法医师称，她可以通过“扇耳光”让青春倒流。

这项传统技艺据说能消除皱纹、收缩毛孔、紧致肌肤，不需开刀，只需拍打、揉捏和按摩脸部。

在泰国接受培训的塔塔•松班坦姆说，她是西半球第一位打脸美容理疗师，在她的旧金山美容院，每做15分钟打脸美容就要收取350美元。

尽管并无医学根据能证明打脸疗法可以抗衰老，但医生们也不得不承认打脸可以“改善血液循环，呈现健康红润肤色”。

不过，塔塔和共同拥有该美容院的丈夫马丸都坚称，你可以瞬间看到效果。

《早安美国》节目问彭妮邓普顿工作室的表演指导汉克•朔布说，是否有可能不花这350美元，自己在家安全地做打脸美容。

朔布说：“这非常简单。诀窍在于你要确保自己不戴任何首饰，保持肘部和腕关节放松，把手指并拢成碗状，然后往上直接拍打在这里。”他指着自己脸颊上的肉解释道。

在泰国很流行的还有“打屁股”，目的是为了让臀部紧实，还有“拍打乳房”，目的是为了丰胸。

一位名叫Khunying Tobnom的44岁的妇女利用这种“古老智慧”成就了一番事业，垄断了曼谷市场，人们对她的手艺需求旺盛。

根据《独立报》，泰国卫生部的一项研究发现，强有力的按摩确实会让实验者的乳房显著变大。

卫生部甚至还出资赞助了一个项目，鼓励女性学会自扇乳房来丰胸，以替代隆胸手术。

然而，这种流行疗法也许不用开刀，但是也免不了受些苦。客户说这种疗法挺疼的，不过还是可以承受的范围之内。

而且，掌握这门手艺也是价格不菲。人体拍打术、乳房拍打术和打脸美容术的培训课程的学费都贵得离谱，分别为33万美元、26.3万美元和16.4万美元。

Vocabulary:

knead: 揉捏

forgo: 弃绝，放弃，作罢

corner: 垄断