Kim Kardashian made the vampire facial famous when she posted a selfie of her bloodied face on Instagram in 2013. Even though everyone on social media has seen the photos of celebrities who look like they just stepped off the set of a slasher flick, not many people know how the treatment works. It is important to know that it is not a facial; it is medical treatment that must be done by a licensed medical professional.
Recently, I’ve seen an uptick in interest in the vampire facial which is called platelet-rich plasma treatment or PRP. It can be done in conjunction with a microneedling pen treatment which yields amplified results.
I am passionate about educating my clients and correcting misconceptions about procedures, so I have put together an FAQ.
Q: What is a PRP treatment?
A:The gist is that we use your own blood to stimulate cell growth and rejuvenation. There are three steps to the treatment: blood collection, blood separation (running blood through a centrifuge to separate the red, white and platelet cells) and platelet-rich plasma reinjection.
The reinjection of the PRP can be done two ways: by using a needle and injecting it directly into the area or by performing a diffuse microneedling treatment and applying the plasma topically, where the plasma is absorbed into the tiny micro channels.
The concentrated plasma contains high levels of growth factors that help stimulate cell turnover. The combination of your plasma and the microinjections (needling) result in a cascade of healing growth factors. The treatment takes about 30-45 minutes. Because we use your own blood, an adverse reaction is highly unlikely. It is one of the safest treatments we offer!
Q: What happens after a PRP treatment?
A: The treatment stimulates regenerative growth, resulting in smoother, tighter and even-toned skin. The treatment wakes up the skin at a cellular level, boosting collagen and elastin production. Most people see results 30 days after treatment.
Q: Is a PRP treatment right for me?
A: The treatment is right for most adults who want to improve skin quality for a fresher appearance. PRP creates the right conditions so your skin can rejuvenate itself from the inside-out. The treatment is suitable for you unless you have a history of blood diseases, particularly blood-clotting disorders.
Q: Is there any downtime?
A: As a result of the microinjections, your skin may appear a little “raw” for a few days, but your platelets expedite the healing.
Q: Is the treatment expensive? How often should I get it done?
A: A combination treatment costs around $700. Most practitioners will add simple PRP injection to any service for around $400-$500. For some clients, a treatment every six months keeps their skin looking fresh and dewy. Other clients require multiple treatments done at least a month apart. PRP is used to treat everything from acne scarring to melasma to wrinkles, which is why the number of treatments varies from client to client.
As you can see from the photo, I am a fan of the treatment. I am here to answer your questions. I look forward to seeing you soon!
