Why are Young Adults Getting Vampire Facials? It’s Time We Hear from One!

As a teenager, I have suffered from acne scars and hyperpigmentation around my face. I tried multiple specialized facials and peels to reduce the scars and hyperpigmentation to see long-lasting results. Unfortunately, such treatments only provided me with temporary results that lasted a few weeks, and my face would go back to the pre-treatment condition.

Desperate to see results, I recently tried a Vampire Facial, also known as Microneedling with PRP (platelet-rich plasma). This procedure involves drawing blood from your arm, separating the plasma from the blood, and injecting it back into the skin. A Vampire Facial increases cell turnover and influences new skin to come out more rapidly. For optimal results, the recommendation is to have the treatment performed three to four times in a four to six-week period. Results are expected to last a year to two years. 

Benefits: 

Along with reducing blemishes, Microneedling with PRP has many other benefits. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, PRP treatments improve: 

• Wrinkles 
• Sagging Skin 
• Deep Creases 
• Complexion 

This treatment option may seem viable to many because of its short downtime and long-lasting results. 

I have experienced Microneedling with PRP two times in six weeks. The results after one session were phenomenal and influenced me to continue with the treatment. This procedure was done by a RN (registered nurse) and not a regular aesthetician.

First Procedure:

The first step for the Microneedling was to numb my face with a topical anesthetic, a BLT (Benzocaine /Lidocaine /Tetracaine) cream. The RN left it on my face for about twenty minutes to reduce the pain felt when injecting the plasma. Next, the nurse drew about three tablespoons of blood from my right arm and used a centrifuge to separate the blood cells from the plasma. She then used a syringe and targeted the more noticeable blemishes. Finally, the RN took the micro-needling pen and injected plasma all around my face.

Throughout this process, I felt a bit of a sting all over my face, but it was endurable. When the procedure was complete, the RN suggested that I don’t wipe the blood off my face or wash my face for at least 18 hours for optimal results. For those 18 hours, she provided me with my plasma, referred to it as “Liquid Gold,” and told me to apply it as my skin started to become rough and stiff. The RN also instructed me to avoid adding any harsh lotions or serums to my face and provided me with a cream by Skinfuse to apply for at least three days to reduce the swelling. 

The following morning, I washed my face with a gentle cleanser. Not all the blood came off and my face was very red, rough, stiff, and swollen. I then applied the cream by Skinfuse and sunscreen with an SPF of 50 for the next two days. On the third day post-treatment, I noticed my skin looking very scaly. After a hot shower, my skin started to peel a lot, to the extent my clothes were filled with skin peels. I noticed that the peeling was my dead skin full of acne scars and blemishes. As the skin peeled, the new skin coming out was red. After a couple of weeks, I started to notice a difference in my overall skin. The scars began to disappear or reduce in appearance and improve my overall complexion. 

Second Procedure: 

When I went for my second treatment, it was a different process. The initial steps of numbing my face, drawing my blood, and injecting plasma into my face with the syringe and microneedle were the same. But this time, the RN wiped the blood off my face after micro-needling. This led to my face becoming visibly less red. It almost seemed like I had a minor sunburn. The aftercare was the same as the first procedure, but on the third day, my skin did not peel as intensely but the acne scars and blemishes. were being removed. As the weeks went by, my face started to clear up even more, and it brightened up my complexion. 

Is it worth the hassle?

Based on the results that were obtained after just one session, the vampire facial is worth the hassle! It will certainly suck your wallet dry (between $600-$1000 per treatment session), but based on my personal experience, I would recommend this facial to anyone who is facing acne scars and hyperpigmentation and wants to see quick and long-lasting results. Besides, it is never too early or too late to start taking care of your skin!

References: 

1. Featured image – Getty images
2. American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2022). Is platelet-rich plasma the secret to younger-looking skin? [Link]

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