What Is a Vampire Facial? Meet PRP Blood Facials, the New It Girl Skincare!
How far would you go to achieve youthful, glowing skin? Some women will go to extreme lengths in the name of beauty!
Thanks to Kim Kardashian West's viral Instagram post about it, you've probably heard of the vampire facial. And if not, well, we're here to tell you all about it.
Despite sounding like something straight out of a Halloween movie, a vampire facial is actually a popular beauty treatment designed to improve skin tone and texture, supposedly going one step further than even the best skin care products. Its spooky name isn't totally unfounded though, as this treatment involves using extracts from your own blood to plump up and rejuvenate your skin.
So if you're the type to faint at the sight of blood, this may not be the cosmetic procedure for you! But if you're not spooked just yet, you're probably wondering how does it work, what happens during the procedure, what are the risks, and is it really worth it? We've got the low-down on everything you need to know about the vampire facial.
What Is a Vampire Facial?
The vampire facial is a professionally administered facial that combines microneedling with an extract from your blood called platelet-rich plasma. This is why this bloodsucking facial is otherwise known as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment.
Microneedling alone involves rolling tiny needles over the surface of your skin, making pin-prick wounds that trigger collagen production, resulting in an expedited healing process that gives you plumper, smoother skin. A vampire facial combines this method with platelet-rich plasma, an extract from your own blood that contains cells and platelets that are rich in nutrients to make the benefits of your microneedling treatment go even further.
So yes, put simply, a vampire facial punctures your skin and infuses it with your own blood. Although it's not the weirdest beauty treatment out there (leech therapies and bee sting facials exist, FYI), a vampire facial certainly isn't for everyone. But if you can look past the blood and needles to the many people who swear by this treatment, you might just find some positive results for your skin!
Step-by-Step: What to Expect
So, before you book yourself in for an appointment, you probably want to know how this treatment works. Here's what to expect when you step into the dermatologist's office:
1. Drawing Blood
First up, your (ideally board-certified) dermatologist will sit you down and prep you for having your blood drawn. They will use a syringe to draw a small amount of blood from your arm (about 2 teaspoons), which is going to be used for your facial. But before anything goes near your face, the blood needs to be processed.
2. Extracting the PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
Your board-certified dermatologist will take the blood they have just drawn from your arm, and place it in a centrifuge. Here, it is separated into three layers: platelet-poor plasma, platelet-rich plasma, and red blood cells.
The top layer of plasma and the lower layer of red blood cells are discarded. The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) a.k.a. the good stuff comes from the middle layer of platelets, which is rich in proteins that promote healing processes for the body. Within about 15 minutes, these platelets are extracted from your blood and ready to use in the facial part of the process.
3. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Microneedling
Although they say "beauty is pain," it really doesn't have to be, and thankfully this is a relatively non-invasive procedure. Before you get started, your dermatologist will clean your skin then apply a topical numbing cream to minimize any pain you might experience during the procedure. You may have to wait half an hour for the numbing cream to take effect before proceeding with the treatments.
They will then glide a microneedle roller over the surface of your skin, creating tiny pin-prick wounds around 2 mm deep that stimulate collagen production.
Now for the signature bloody part. The PRP serum will be applied to your skin, after which your dermatologist will repeat the microneedle rolling process to needle the blood extract back into your dermis. Here, it will promote collagen production and rejuvenation, activating the skin-plumping results that you're there for.
4 Benefits of a Vampire Facial
So why does anyone do this to themself? Well, these PRP treatments activate tissue repair in your dermis, offering a wide array of beauty benefits that may make the whole process worth it. Let's take a look:
1. Promotes Collagen Production with Natural Growth Factors
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and it forms an integral part of your skin. In fact, this protein makes up approximately 80% of your dermis, the layer responsible for the structure, strength, and elasticity of your skin.
Put simply, collagen is the essence of good skin. This is the concept at the heart of the vampire facial.
The platelet-rich plasma in your blood is rich in growth factors, which are natural substances that stimulate tissue healing and growth in living cells (e.g. your skin cells). In PRP, you'll find epidermal growth factors and fibroblast growth factors, which promote the production of collagen and elastin in your skin. 1
By encouraging your body to create more collagen with PRP and microneedling, vampire facials can seriously strengthen and plump up your skin.
2. Stimulates Healing
The collagen boost that a vampire facial provides has a big impact on your skin's healing processes. By promoting skin cell turnover and the production of new collagen, PRP treatments promote a buildup of new, healthy skin that has an impact on a number of conditions.
For example, anyone suffering from acne scars may find that a collagen treatment can reduce their appearance and promote a more even skin tone. Similarly, if you've spent a little too much time in the sun over the years and are struggling with pesky pigmentation, a boost of collagen will help your skin to heal, fade pigmentation, and achieve a more even complexion.
3. Improves Skin Tone & Texture
By promoting the growth of new, healthy skin cells, a vampire facial can help reduce uneven skin tone and texture.
This may help reduce the appearance of pigmentation such as hormonal melasma or age spots and lend your complexion a more radiant, dewy glow.
By strengthening your dermis, vampire facials can also make your skin softer and more supple. The boost of protein also improves the health of your skin by making it less prone to damage, so you can enjoy softer skin for the long term.
4. Reduces the Appearance of Fine Lines & Wrinkles
Last but certainly not least, vampire facials are effective at fighting the tell-tale signs of aging!
PRP treatments promote elastin production, which can improve skin elasticity and help prevent the formation of wrinkles and sagging.
By promoting collagen production and increasing skin cell turnover, vampire facials tighten and tone your skin. A vampire facial can also improve the appearance of existing fine lines and wrinkles, plumping up your skin for a more youthful complexion.
Vamp Up Your Collagen Without the Needles!
If all of these beauty benefits are tempting but you're not quite convinced by the vampire facial process, you'll be glad to hear that there are plenty of other ways to boost your skin's collagen.
With a supplement like Taut Liquid Collagen, you can effectively nourish and rejuvenate your skin from the inside out. Our premium advanced formula is packed with a potent 13,000 mg of hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides, expertly processed to be digested quickly and effectively for maximum absorption by your body.
If you're wondering if these beauty supplements really work, you don't have to take our word for it! Recent research has shown that hydrolyzed collagen supplements can significantly improve skin hydration, elasticity, texture, and density within a 12 week period. 2
What makes Taut so special is that each bottle also contains elastin peptides, hyaluronic acid, grape seed extract, vitamin C, vitamin B6, ceramide, and salmon DNA – a team of skincare heroes that work synergistically to hydrate, protect, and repair your complexion.
For maximum results, combine three boxes of Taut Liquid Collagen in our Intense Transformation Program for a three-week intensive treatment that will leave your skin radiant and refreshed.
Follow it up with our monthly maintenance kits to maintain your amazing results!
Your Vampire Facial Questions Answered
If you're still thinking about testing out the vampire facial for yourself, there are a few more things you should be aware of. Our beauty experts weigh in on the most frequently asked questions about this treatment:
What is the Recovery Time?
The most important thing to remember before going in for a vampire facial is that you won't achieve instantly glowing skin from this treatment. In fact, your face will look a lot worse for wear for a few days after your appointment, and you will need to rest. This is certainly not a treatment to get the night before a big event!
Results may take up to a week to show up, and in the meantime, you can expect redness, tenderness, dryness, a slight burning sensation (like a sunburn), and maybe some pain, swelling, and bruising. You may also see some slight bruising where your blood was drawn.
In the days after your treatment, doctors recommend that you avoid sun exposure at all costs, and stay away from harsh ingredients like exfoliating acids or retinol. Stick to hydrating, fragrance-free beauty products for a few days.
If your skin needs a little TLC after a facial, you can speed up your recovery time with Taut Collagen Mask. It's our most luxurious sheet mask infused with hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and botanical squalene that works in just 15 minutes.
With its combination of collagen, hydrating humectants, and potent antioxidants, this mask tones, hydrates, and protects your complexion. It can also specifically speed up healing, making it the perfect cooling and soothing remedy for painful, sensitive skin post-vampire facial.
How Long Do Results Last?
After going through the discomfort of a vampire facial and its slightly painful recovery process, you are probably hoping that the results will last a long time! Luckily, a vampire facial can have positive effects on your complexion for six months to a year after your treatment.
In the first few weeks, you should see a dewy glow in your skin that will have you feeling fresh and revitalized. However, a lot of the changes will come from the longer-term effects of increased collagen production in your dermis. The toning, tightening, and wrinkle-reducing impacts will kick in gradually as a sign of your body speeding up its natural regeneration processes.
How Much Does a Vampire Facial Cost?
Although the beauty benefits of this cosmetic procedure may leave your skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated, you should know that your bank account won't be so happy about it.
Costs for a vampire facial will vary depending on your provider and your locality, but in the U.S. these beauty treatments will typically set you back between $1100 and $1400. 3
Are Vampire Facials Safe?
Although the vampire facial is a common and widely used facial that many women swear by, the procedure has not been FDA approved. As with any injection-related procedures, there are some risks involved.
First of all, because vampire facials involve blood infusion, you have to consider a potential risk of HIV. In fact, the New Mexico health department ordered the closure of a local spa after two cases of HIV were suspected to be linked to vampire facial procedures. 4
On the other hand, you should know that this risk of infection is very low. So while this procedure does come with some element of risk, it should be perfectly safe in the hands of a qualified and experienced board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Any board-certified dermatologist will treat you in a properly sterilized environment, using gloves and clean equipment to make sure your procedure is hazard-free.
Secondly, the procedure may not be suitable for everyone. Doctors advise that anyone with a history of clotting or bleeding disorders should avoid PRP treatments.
What Are the Alternatives?
The term 'vampire facial' most commonly refers to the combination of PRP extraction with microneedling. There are, however, other types of PRP treatments which include:
- PRP microdermabrasion – This has the same principles as the vampire facial, but instead of using microneedling it uses microdermabrasion to remove the top layer of your skin before applying PRP.
- PRP face fillers (the Vampire Facelift) – This treatment uses your platelets in combination with traditional fillers like hyaluronic acid in injections that plump and smooth your skin.
- PRP injections – These treatments may be used to treat athletes with injuries in muscles, joints, tendons, or ligaments.
Alternatively, if you want to avoid painful injections and having your blood drawn altogether, you can try other forms of treatments. One of the best ways to get more collagen into your skin is with collagen supplements, which are a non-invasive, easy, and safe way to rejuvenate your complexion from the inside out.
A Holistic Approach to Skin Rejuvenation That Really Works
Here at Taut, we truly believe that healthy skin starts from within. This requires a whole-body approach, tackling skincare and beauty from the inside out and the outside in. With a combination of healthy habits, good quality supplements, and topical skincare, you can achieve the most effective and noticeable skin rejuvenation.
If your complexion needs a helping hand, our Ultimate Transformation Program is the perfect place to start. Whether you're struggling with acne scars, dull skin, pigmentation, sagging, or unwanted fine lines and wrinkles, this program has the right ingredients and a holistic approach to improving your skin's health and radiance.
The program combines a three-week supply of our signature Taut Liquid Collagen with Taut Hydrate and Taut Collagen Masks. Our collagen supplement strengthens and supports your skin from within with hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides, for a firmer, fuller, and healthier complexion.
Taut Hydrate is our premium hyaluronic acid supplement with grape seed extract, combining the hydrating powers of hyaluronic acid with antioxidant support to give you skin that is plumper, softer, and more radiant.
Support this daily nourishment with a topical treatment that soothes your skin and supercharges your glow factor. Our Collagen Masks deliver more collagen directly to your dermis, alongside a powerful hit of vitamin C that heals, protects, and brightens your complexion.
Together, the three powerful products in our Ultimate Transformation Program can help you improve skin elasticity, even out your skin tone, reduce wrinkles, and look years younger!
So, if you are considering a vampire facial to amp up your beauty, this program is the perfect skincare solution to help heal and recover from the treatment. If vampire facial treatments (understandably) sound too painful and scary for you, the Ultimate Transformation Program can be your alternative solution to achieving healthy, glowing skin!
See the results for yourself from customer reviews and real before and after photos here.
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