top of page
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about osteopathy and facial rejuvenation dry needling at our Belgian Gardens clinic. Can't find what you're after? Call 0477 970 565 or email info@lifeperformanceosteo.com.au.
Osteopathy
About osteopathy
Your first appointment
Costs and claiming
Specific situations
Ongoing care & practical details
Osteopathy is hands-on, AHPRA-regulated allied health care that looks at how your muscles, joints, nerves and connective tissue work together. Rather than treating only the sore spot, an osteopath assesses the whole body, then uses techniques such as soft-tissue work, joint mobilisation, stretching and, where appropriate, manipulation, alongside exercise and practical advice.
In Australia, osteopaths complete a five-year university double degree and must be registered with the Osteopathy Board of Australia to practise.
Most people see us for musculoskeletal problems: low back and neck pain, headaches that come from neck tension, shoulder, hip and knee pain, sports and gym injuries, work-related strain, postural discomfort, and the aches that come with pregnancy.
Healthdirect notes there is good evidence for osteopathy in back and neck pain. For anything else, we'll be upfront about what we can and can't help with, and refer you on if something needs a GP or specialist.
All three are university-trained, AHPRA-registered and treat musculoskeletal problems. The differences are mostly philosophy and technique mix. Osteopaths tend to take a whole-body view and use a broad range of hands-on techniques within a longer consultation; chiropractic has traditionally centred on the spine and adjustments; physiotherapy is often exercise and rehabilitation led.
There's a lot of overlap. The right choice is the practitioner and approach you feel comfortable with.
Osteopaths in Australia may use the courtesy title "Dr", but Phil is an osteopath, not a medical doctor, which is why you'll see him written as Dr Phillip Murray (Osteopath). He can't prescribe medication, but he can refer you to your GP and for certain X-rays.
Osteopathy is a low-risk treatment when provided by a registered practitioner, but no hands-on treatment is entirely without risk. The most common effect is mild soreness or tiredness for 24 to 48 hours afterwards. Before anything is done, Phil will explain what he's planning, why, and any risks, and you can decline any technique at any time.
The sound you sometimes hear during a joint manipulation is gas releasing within the joint fluid, not bone on bone. Manipulation is one tool among many and is never compulsory. If you'd rather avoid it, say so and Phil will use other techniques.
Facial Rejuvenation Dry Needling
Facial Rejuvenation Dry Needling
What to expect
Sessions & results
Safety
Bookings & cost
It's a treatment in which very fine, sterile, single-use needles, around 0.12 to 0.20 mm, are placed superficially into the skin and muscles of the face, with a few points on the body. The aim is to encourage local circulation and the skin's own repair response. It's gradual and non-surgical, and it doesn't relax muscles or add volume the way injectable treatments do.
They use the same kind of fine needle, but come from different frameworks. Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine: needles are placed at points along meridians, and in Australia it's provided by practitioners registered with the Chinese Medicine Board. Dry needling is based on Western anatomy: needles are placed into specific muscles, connective tissue or skin to trigger a local response, and it's provided by osteopaths, physiotherapists and other registered practitioners who have completed training in it.
Facial rejuvenation dry needling applies that anatomical approach to the muscles and skin of the face. If you've had cosmetic acupuncture elsewhere, the experience will feel similar; the difference is the reasoning behind where the needles go and the profession of the person holding them.
No. Phil is a registered osteopath (AHPRA) who has completed additional training in advanced facial dry needling. He is not a registered acupuncturist or Chinese medicine practitioner; "acupuncturist" is a protected title in Australia and only practitioners registered with the Chinese Medicine Board can use it. Facial dry needling is provided within his scope of practice as an osteopath.
People generally come for the appearance of fine lines, dull or uneven skin tone, puffiness and general facial tension. Early research suggests it may help soften the appearance of some lines and improve skin quality, but the evidence base is still small and results vary from person to person. It won't remove deep lines, and it isn't a treatment for medical skin conditions.
Honest answer: the research is limited. A 2018 systematic review found generally positive results across small studies but called for better-quality trials, and a 2025 randomised trial reported improvement in frown lines after a 12-session course. That's encouraging, not conclusive. Phil will talk you through what's realistic for your skin rather than promise an outcome.
They work differently. Injectable treatments either relax specific muscles or add volume, and their effect is relatively fast. Facial needling doesn't do either; it aims to stimulate the skin's own response over a course of sessions, so change is gradual, subtler, and temporary. Some people use it on its own, some alongside other treatments. Neither is "better"; they're different tools for different goals.
bottom of page