And everything else you need to know about the famous “vampire facial”
When Kim Kardashian posted a selfie of her face covered in blood and the hashtag #VampireFacial back in 2013, this revolutionary facial became a viral sensation and a must-try treatment for the masses.
Ten years later, its popularity is as strong as ever – proving that the Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Facial (as it’s more officially known) wasn’t just a celebrity fad; it’s a genuinely beneficial treatment.
So what exactly is a vampire facial, and is it as scary as it sounds?
The short answers are that a) it’s a skin rejuvenation treatment that results in brighter, more vital, glowing, and younger-looking skin, and b) no, it’s not.
We know that you’re after more than just a short answer though, so read on to find out exactly what this treatment involves, how it works, and the amazing benefits and results you can expect to enjoy from a PRP facial.
What Exactly Is a PRP Facial?
Before you can understand the treatment itself, you need to understand what PRP is.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a sample of your own blood in which the red blood cells and much of the plasma have been removed, leaving only a concentrated sample of what remains: platelets and white blood cells – which happens to be (not uncoincidentally) the part of the blood full of growth and healing properties.
Basically, platelets are chock-full of proteins known as “growth factors”, which are responsible for renewed cell turnover, stimulating collagen, elastin and new skin growth, and a number of other wonderful and useful “healing-related” things.
Because it’s a concentrated version, PRP typically has up to eight times more platelets than normal blood, meaning it's essentially a supercharged version of its usual self.
How is PRP used in Facials?
As the PRP is drawn from a patient’s own blood, it’s effectively a completely organic but remarkably powerful “serum” that can then be used as part of a facial rejuvenation treatment to naturally stimulate collagen production and new cell growth.
A PRP facial is usually done in combination with microneedling (which involves making hundreds of controlled microscopic wounds across the face, to also stimulate the body’s natural healing response). By using PRP as the “serum” that’s delivered into these micro-wounds, the healing response that’s stimulated is far more potent and robust than it could ever be otherwise.
The result? Noticeably and naturally more youthful and radiant skin.
Another common treatment method is injecting PRP directly into the skin, particularly in more delicate areas or for more specific and localized skin concerns. It’s often referred to as a “natural filler” given the similarity in method and results it can produce. And it’s also possible to utilize both methods as part of the same treatment.
The Top 10 Benefits of a PRP Facial
The main and overriding benefit of platelet-rich plasma is that it stimulates new cell growth and boosts production of elastin and collagen (something we naturally produce less of as we get older).
These growth factors are what keep our skin looking full, youthful, and radiant. So by using PRP as a potent topical serum that’s absorbed back into the deeper levels of our skin, it enhances its own effects and makes skin look noticeably tighter, fuller, smoother, and more radiant.
So the main benefit is a pretty great one, but it’s far from the only one…
Here are all the ways PRP can rejuvenate your skin, and the other top benefits of this cutting-edge treatment:
- Smoothens out skin tone and texture
- Enhances skin volume and plumps up sagging skin
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduces deep creases
- Diminishes acne scars, sunspots, and other blemishes
- Leaves the skin with a rejuvenated, dewy glow
- Treats hard-to-reach delicate areas such as under the eyes, reducing dark circles
- Natural yet noticeable and long-lasting results
- A completely safe, organic procedure utilizing your body’s own natural resources
- Non-surgical, minimally invasive, and minimal downtime
How Does a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Facial Work?
A PRP Facial usually involves three main steps:
- Preparation: a small amount of blood will be drawn from your arm and placed into a device called a centrifuge, which spins the blood sample so that the components separate and the platelet-rich portion can be extracted. Your skin will also be treated with a topical numbing cream at this point, to prepare for the next stage.
- Microneedling: your provider will then carry out the microneedling treatment, which usually involves a pen-like device with lots of tiny needles being used to prick the skin. This treatment in itself stimulates collagen growth and encourages cell renewal by triggering the healing process, resulting in rejuvenated, brighter and smoother skin. The small punctures also allow topical serums (in this case, PRP) to penetrate the skin.
- PRP Application: the platelet-rich plasma is then applied to the skin so that it can soak into the micro-wounds and multiply the effects of the treatment – thanks to the increased concentration of its own growth factors and proteins.
Steps two and three can vary depending on your exact skin concerns and needs. Sometimes the PRP is injected directly into the skin much like a (natural version of) dermal fillers. In other cases it will be delivered into the skin at the same time as the microneedling treatment, rather than applied topically after the treatment.
Your practitioner will be able to explain the options and recommend the best version of the treatment depending on your individual needs. But the science behind it always remains the same…
By using your own blood cells to supercharge your body’s natural healing abilities, platelet-rich plasma can rejuvenate your skin from the inside out in a completely organic and natural way.
What to Expect from a Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment
One of the great benefits of a PRP Facial is that it’s a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment. This means treatment time is normally only around one hour in total, you’ll be able to head straight home afterward, and you can carry on with your normal activities the following day.
Side effects and risks are also extremely low because it’s unlikely your body will have an adverse reaction to its own substances. And don’t let the images of faces covered in blood trick your mind into thinking it will be painful – so long as it’s performed in a professional setting and with antiseptic numbing creams, it’s no more painful than other minimally invasive skin rejuvenation treatments.
Recovery time will vary depending on the intensity of your treatment, which will depend on the specific skin concerns you want to address. Temporary redness, inflammation, and bruising is normal, which you should expect to experience for at least 24 hours, while more intensive treatments can take up to a week for your skin and complexion to fully recover, with varying degrees of blotchy skin tone and sometimes dry or peeling skin in the interim period.
However – you’ll also start to notice an incredible new glow within just a few days, and by the end of the week you’ll be enjoying the effects of a brighter, smoother, more radiant, and glowing complexion.
And the really good news? The results keep getting better over time…
The Ever-Improving Results of a PRP Facial
From the first week after treatment you’ll be enjoying your nice new dewy glow. But the effects of the treatment – collagen stimulation and cell renewal which leads to a tightening and remodeling of your skin – is something that happens more gradually. Patients normally enjoy a continued improvement of their skin for up to a six-month period, with the effects then lasting up to 18 months.
Depending on your skin condition and desired results, you may be recommended to start with a series of treatments four to eight weeks apart, and maintenance treatments (at least once a year) are always recommended for the best and most permanent results.
A good way to think of a PRP facial is as an investment towards your future skin – it’s not so much about an instant fix, as prompting your body to continue rejuvenating your skin using its own great natural methods, long after it would normally have slowed down.
Experience the Vampire Facial in Cleveland
Platelet-rich plasma facials, also known as the vampire facial, are one of the most effective ways of rejuvenating your skin using as natural a method as possible. And at BodyTonic med spa in Cleveland, we’re big fans of this revolutionary treatment.
If you live or work in the Cleveland area, pop in to BodyTonic med spa for a totally free no-obligation consultation, and find out what kind of plasma-rich platelet treatment we’d recommend for you, and the incredible results you can expect to enjoy!
Interested in other treatments too? Check out our blog for in-depth explanations about some of our other most popular treatments, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more inspiration.
