Have you ever heard of the Vampire Facelift facial? Kim Ok made it well-known when she posted a selfie together with her blood masking her face. Seems to be extra like a Halloween costume than a magnificence therapy, when you ask me. And one I’m unsure I’ll ever get on board with. Name me a wimp, however the sight of blood makes me queasy.
As soon as, after I was about 12, it additionally made me faint. I prefer to assume that now that I’m all grown-up, I’m stronger and fewer impressionable, however the reality is that I’ll at all times be a wimp who recoils on the sight of blood. Even pretend blood! I’ve to observe most True Blood and Recreation Of Thrones episodes by my fingers…
So, I can’t for the lifetime of me work out why anybody could be prepared to take a few of their blood out and reinject it again (after it’s been separated with a centrifuge) into their face within the title of magnificence (except Eric Northman performs the process, ahem. 😉 )
This creepy therapy is known as Selphyl, platelet-rich plasma injections, or PRP facial. However everyone knows it as vampire facelift. In keeping with the Vampire Facelift web site, it’s supposed to advertise “collagen development and long-term pores and skin rejuvenation.” That’s scientific jargon for “treating wrinkles and making pores and skin smoother.” However, does the vampire facelift actually work?
What’s Blood?
I’ve to get a bit scientific right here, however I’ll attempt to make it enjoyable. Human blood is made up of 4 elements: pink cells, white cells, platelets and plasma.
- Plasma is the liquid portion of blood the place blood cells float. It additionally incorporates a lot of different vital stuff, reminiscent of proteins, hormones, vitamins and waste supplies.
- Pink blood cells transport oxygen round your physique.
- White blood cells are the guardians of the physique and defend it from ailments.
- Cell platelets assist the blood clot. In addition they comprise development components and proteins that assist restore and regenerate tissue.
How does all this enable you do away with wrinkles? Let’s discover out…
Need assistance creating an anti-aging routine that actually works? Signal as much as the publication under to obtain the “Anti-Getting older Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it consists of product suggestions, too!).
What’s The Vampire Facelift?
The vampire facelift is a beauty therapy that makes use of your personal blood to rejuvenate your pores and skin. When you’re the adventurous sort who thinks getting pricked by a needle within the title of magnificence isn’t any huge deal, right here’s what to anticipate:
Step 1: The physician will first draw blood out of your arm (nonetheless positive you wish to give it a go? I’m outta right here already!). Often, they acquire between 10 and 15ml of blood (the equal of 1 tablespoon).
Step 2: Your blood goes right into a centrifuge (a machine that separates blood elements by density).
Step 3: The pink blood cells are the densest, so that they sink to the underside. They’re all faraway from the answer. You don’t want them for this.
Step 4: The platelet-rich plasma answer is prepared. It has solely two layers: a small layer of white blood cells and platelets and a much bigger considered one of plasma.
Step 5: Calcium chloride or thrombin are added to the platelet-rich plasma answer to activate the expansion issue earlier than injection.
Step 6: Blood is injected again into your face.
The complete process takes between
FUN FACT: Bear in mind these creepy pix of Kim Ok all slathered in blood? That’s nonsense. It’s the pink blood cells that give blood their color they usually take away all of these from the ultimate answer. However hey, that makes for an intriguing story, doesn’t it?
Vampire Facelift Advantages
Why undergo this ordeal (sure, being pricked by a needle IS an ordeal, when you’re a wimp) within the first place? The reasoning behind it’s this: the platelet-rich plasma incorporates loads of development components, so it ought to promote the expansion of cells and velocity up the therapeutic course of.
- It helps deal with wrinkles: Platelet-rich plasma triggers mobile turnover (the pores and skin’s pure exfoliating course of) and boosts the manufacturing of collagen and elastin, the proteins that preserve pores and skin agency and elastic. The extra collagen and elastin your pores and skin has, the slower wrinkles develop and the much less deep they’re. In keeping with a 2010 research, it does enhance the looks of nasolabial folds (the deep wrinkles that type from the underside of your nostril to the corners of your mouth).
- It fades away darkish spots: A 2021 research exhibits that PRP remedy is efficient at treating melasma – though it really works higher when mixed with different therapies, like micro needling. I wouldn’t depend on a Vampire Facelift for this, however you probably have darkish spots, this’ll enable you fade them away sooner, too.
- It helps with scarring: A Vampire Facelift accelerates the pores and skin’s pure exfoliating course of, which in turns results in a visual enchancment within the look of zits scars. The catch? This too works higher when PRP remedy is paired with micro needling than by itself. Collectively, they’re more practical than Vitamin C (which isn’t the stronger therapy to start with) at this.
Does The Vampire Facelift Work?
The Vampire Facelift does one thing. It reduces wrinkles and may even assist deal with melasma and scarring. The catch? It really works higher when paired with different (costly!) therapies, like micro needling. “Throughout a conventional microneedling therapy, needles create tiny insults within the pores and skin, stimulating the pores and skin to restore itself with new collagen and elastin,” explains board-certified dermatologist Melissa Doft. A Vampire Facelift incorporates development components to assist stimulate restore that, when paired with micro needling, can penetrate deeper into your pores and skin and provide you with higher and sooner outcomes.
Vampire Facelift Aspect Results
A Vampire Facelift is a non-surgical process that requires solely topical anesthesia and minimal downtime. After the facial, your pores and skin might look pink for as much as 12 to 24 hours. You might also expertise a slight swelling and itching (no ache!). Some individuals additionally expertise peeling. If that’s you, don’t use make-up till that’s over.
How Many Periods Do You Want?
Though you sill see an enchancment after only one session, board-certified dermatologist Kim Nichols says you want “a collection of at the very least six PRP injection therapies, spaced about 4 weeks aside,” to attain greatest outcomes. She continues: “You’ll be able to see a visual discount in redness, diminished zits scarring, and improved general pores and skin texture.” The worth modifications relying on the world you reside and who’s performing it, however it normally ranges between $250 and $1000 (and that’s normally for one session!). Outcomes final for a couple of yr.
Who Ought to Get A Vampire Facelift?
In concept, anybody can get a Vampire Facelift, however you’ll get essentially the most advantages you probably have superb strains, wrinkles, or a lot of solar injury.
Who Ought to NOT Get A Vampire Facelift?
Though a Vampire Facelift doesn’t have any critical uncomfortable side effects for most individuals, you must keep away from it when you historical past of blood ailments, together with clotting or bleeding problems. It’s additionally not appropriate for individuals with Hepatitis C, HIV or AIDS, and pores and skin most cancers within the space to be handled.
Vampire Facelift VS Vampire Facial
Vampire facelifts and vampire facials are simple to confuse. You’ll be forgiven for considering they’re the identical factor. They’re comparable, however not an identical. A vampire facelift combines a filler, like hyaluronic acid, with PRP. These fillers have plumping and smoothing results, so your pores and skin will instantly look youthful. This mixture is greatest appropriate for individuals who wish to agency pores and skin.
Vampire facials mix PRP with micro needling, which makes use of tiny needles to make tiny pricks in your pores and skin. This permit the blood to penetrate deeper into your pores and skin and provide you with higher outcomes. This mixture is greatest appropriate for individuals who wish to cut back the looks of zits scars.
The Backside Line
The vampire facelift, not like an encounter with an actual vampire, is protected. However I’m nonetheless not satisfied it’s as efficient as different therapies, particularly as you want to pair it with different fillers or therapies to get essentially the most out of it. I’ll simply skip the needle and follow a retinoid serum for now, thanks very a lot.
About Gio
Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – day-after-day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that can assist you work out what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that can assist you create the very best skincare routine to your distinctive wants.
