泰國新式美容法：打臉去皺紋

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.

(Read by Brian Salter. Brian Salter is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

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(Agencies)