What does acupuncture feel like? Each person is different. During the insertion of needles, some people feel nothing, while others experience a quick twinge, which may be followed by tingling, numbness, heaviness or warmth. Unlike hypodermic needles that are used for injections, acupuncture needles are solid and remarkably thin so they cause very little pain. Needles generally remain in place for 15-60 minutes. During an acupuncture session, patients tell me that they feel calm and relaxed. At the end of the session, I remove the needles quickly. This is painless. Symptom relief often occurs immediately but again, each person is different, and some patients report greater benefits in the days that follow. For complex, longstanding complaints, a series of treatments is required. Generally, the longer the problem has persisted, the more treatment is needed to get long lasting results.