What is A Vampire Facial?
A vampire facial is a cosmetic and aesthetic procedure, which uses platelet-rich plasma derived from your own blood. The blood is then centrifuged in a centrifugal machine to make platelet-rich plasma. Platelet-rich plasma is essential for normal healing processes as it is rich in growth factors. The procedure combines micro-needles with Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to provide the full benefits of PRP by ensuring full penetration of PRP.
What are the steps?
- Blood is withdrawn from the person undergoing the procedure.
2. Platelets are isolated from the blood with the help of a centrifuge
3. Micro-needling or microdermabrasion is performed on the skin
4. PRP is then applied all over the face
How frequently can this procedure be done?
Vampire facial can be repeated every 4-6 weeks with at least 3 treatments to achieve the desired result. Although visible changes can be seen with increased glow in the skin after the first procedure, 3 treatments are essential to see changes in collagen growth and an improvement in the appearance of scars as well as wrinkles.
Why do people do this?
PRP is rich in growth factors, which stimulates the growth of collagen in the dermal layers of the skin. In addition to this, it also improves the appearance of scars from acne, burns or trauma. It also diminishes the appearance of wrinkles in older adults. Most people who do this procedure are:
1. People seeking to revitalize the skin
2. Older adults with wrinkled and saggy skin
3. People with acne scars seeking correction and improvement
4. Seeking a plumper and glowing skin appearance
What are the risk factors?
Although this procedure is relatively safe, performing this procedure in unsterile clinics can result in the following:
- Infection
Viral, bacterial and fungal skin infections are potential risks after undergoing a vampire facial. According to news site recently, a case of HIV infection acquired in a woman after undergoing the procedure in New Mexico has arisen which has questioned the safety of this procedure. Unsterile conditions and repeated use of needles in different patients can result in the transfer of infections between patients. Additionally, improperly sterilized PRP tools can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria, which can then infect the patients.
- Needle track marks
Performing this procedure under the hands of an unskilled person can result in undesirable track marks all over the face. The track marks are a result of excessive Micro-needling with needle lengths of more than 1.5 mm.
- Bruising
Bruising is a potential risk factor after an aggressive vampire facial. Although the bruising may be severe initially, it is only temporary and will disappear within a few days.
Overall, a vampire facial is an excellent procedure with comparatively lower costs to other facial rejuvenation procedures such as face-lift or lasers. However, ensure the clinic is sterile with skilled and experienced professionals. It is best to have this procedure done by a skilled dermatologist. Although professional treatment may be slightly costlier than in a spa, it is better to be down a few bucks than acquire a deadly infection.
