FAQs

Your first acupuncture appointment is a chance for us to get to know you, understand your concerns, and discuss what you hope treatment will help you do or feel more comfortably. At Fingertips, this visit takes about 90 minutes and includes a conversation, assessment, acupuncture treatment, and a plan for your care. Fine, sterile needles are placed at selected points and gently manipulated as appropriate, then usually remain in place for 20–30 minutes.

Read the full answer: Your First Acupuncture Appointment: What Happens and What to Expect →

Acupuncture often causes little discomfort, although you may feel a brief pinch when a needle goes in. Once it is in place, you may notice a dull ache, pressure, heaviness, warmth, or tingling. We ask what you feel and adjust the needling accordingly, and a needle can be adjusted or removed at any time.

Read the full answer: Does Acupuncture Hurt? What the Needles Actually Feel Like →

Yes, when it is done by a trained, licensed practitioner using sterile, single-use needles. Large studies show that about 1 in 10 people has a mild, short-lived side effect such as a small bruise or brief soreness, and that serious problems are rare, around 1 in 10,000 people treated. A few situations, such as pregnancy, blood thinners or cancer treatment, call for extra care.

Read the full answer: Is Acupuncture Safe? Side Effects and Rare Risks →

The number of visits depends on your concern, how long you have had it, and how you respond to treatment. For example, one acute low-back-pain trial used 5 sessions over two weeks, while chronic low-back-pain studies have used 6-15 sessions over 6-12 weeks. These are examples of treatment courses studied, rather than a fixed schedule for everyone. We discuss a starting plan at your first visit and review your progress regularly to decide whether further treatment makes sense.

Fingertips is currently out of network and does not bill insurance or submit prior authorizations directly. We email a detailed receipt after each visit for you to submit for potential reimbursement. Services are generally HSA and FSA eligible, but patients should confirm their plan’s rules.

Read the full answer: Why Fingertips Acupuncture Is Out of Network →

Taking prescription medication does not automatically mean you cannot take Chinese herbs. It depends on the medicines you take, the herbs being considered, their doses and your health history. We review every formula against our drug–herb interaction checklist.

Read the full answer: Chinese Herbs and Prescription Medications: Checking for Interactions →

Many people tolerate prescribed Chinese herbal medicine well. What matters is the formula, its preparation and dose, the quality of the ingredients, and your health history and medications. At Fingertips, every formula is customized for you, with clear instructions and follow-up, and checked against our drug–herb interaction reference list.

Read the full answer: Is Chinese Herbal Medicine Safe? How Formulas Are Chosen and Checked →

Acupuncture may help with pregnancy rates, anxiety, and discomfort during IVF, but it has not been shown consistently to increase live births. Some findings are encouraging, especially during ovarian stimulation and before frozen embryo transfer, although the evidence remains uncertain. At Fingertips, care is tailored to your Chinese medicine pattern and planned alongside your fertility clinic’s instructions.

Read the full answer: Does Acupuncture Improve IVF Success? An Honest Look at the Research →

Payment is collected at the time of your appointment. If you have out-of-network benefits, we can provide a superbill. Coverage and reimbursement decisions are made by your insurance plan.

We accept major credit and debit cards, as well as HSA and FSA cards. A card is securely stored in the patient portal for seamless checkout.

Please provide at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations and missed appointments are charged the full appointment fee.

Usually not. Many common points are on the arms, lower legs, hands, feet, ears and scalp, and we can reach them by rolling up your sleeves or pant legs. Loose, comfortable clothing makes this easy.

If your treatment needs points on your back, shoulders or abdomen, you’ll have privacy to change. We’ll give you a gown or sheet, and only the area being treated is uncovered. We’ll always explain where we plan to place needles before we begin. You’re welcome to tell us what you’re comfortable with.

No. You can book directly with us, and no referral from a doctor is needed to start acupuncture.

If you plan to submit receipts to your insurance, check your plan first, because some insurers ask for a doctor’s referral before they reimburse. We also encourage you to keep your doctor informed about your care, especially if you’re managing an ongoing condition or taking medicines.

As Virginia requires, we’ll ask whether you’ve seen a doctor about your concern recently, and if not, we’ll recommend that you do (Board of Medicine, 18VAC90-30, and Code of Virginia § 54.1-2956.9).

Yes. The clinic is in an office park on Gallows Road in Tysons, a short drive from Route 7, Route 123 and I-495.

• Parking: Parking is free in the office park’s surface lot. Drive in from any entrance on Gallows Road.
• Metro: The nearest Silver Line station is Tysons. It’s about a 30-minute walk, so most patients take a rideshare, which is about 5 minutes.
• Finding us:
  • Unit 2106 is at the end of a side road inside the office park.
  • The entrance is on the south side of the building, marked 2106 D&E.
  • Use the last door on the left of the building, then go straight through the office door on your left. There’s no need to go up the stairs.

Yes. Many patients combine acupuncture with physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage or treatment from their doctor, and it can be a helpful part of a broader plan. Acupuncture is meant to complement medical care, not replace it.

So that your care fits together well:

• Tell us about your other treatments, including any medicines and supplements. This matters most if you’re considering Chinese herbs, so we can check for interactions.
• Keep your doctor informed, especially if you’re pregnant, take blood thinners, or are managing a chronic condition.
• Space out intensive sessions where you can. For example, try not to schedule deep-tissue massage or a hard PT session right before acupuncture on the same day. We’re happy to suggest a schedule.
• Please don’t stop or change any medicine or prescribed treatment without talking to the doctor who prescribed it.

Both use the same kind of fine, sterile needles, but they come from different training and serve different purposes.

Acupuncture is a complete system of care based on Chinese medicine. A licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) completes a three- to four-year graduate program, with thousands of hours of study and supervised clinical training, and passes national board exams. Treatment looks at your health as a whole and can address pain, stress, sleep, digestion, women’s health and more. Points are chosen for your overall pattern, not only where it hurts.

Dry needling is a technique, usually used by physical therapists or chiropractors, that inserts needles into tight muscle “trigger points” to release tension. Training is often a short course of a few days. It focuses only on muscles and musculoskeletal pain.

In short, dry needling targets a sore muscle, while acupuncture treats the whole person, including that sore muscle. If you’ve had dry needling and found it helpful, acupuncture may offer similar relief along with broader benefits.

A visit at Fingertips Acupuncture & Wellness typically costs $200 to $250. That price covers:

• Unhurried, one-on-one time with your practitioner.
• A full assessment, so your treatment is built around you and not a standard routine.
• Added therapies such as ear seeds, when they suit your needs.
• A clear plan, including an honest estimate of how many visits you’ll need.

Prices for each service are listed on the booking app page. If cost is a concern, call us and we’ll talk through your options.

Yes. We see everyone as equal, and everyone is welcome at Fingertips Acupuncture & Wellness. This is a safe place for you to heal, and you’ll be treated with respect and care. Your health history stays private, and you’re free to share only what you’re comfortable with. If you’d like us to use a particular name or pronouns, just tell us at your visit or in your booking note.

If you have questions or concerns before you come in, call us anytime.