Why A Vampire Facial is All the Rage

A vampire facial sounds like something out of a horror movie. It invokes visions of a long-fanged monster attaching themselves to your face. But fear not, that is NOT what it is. Vampire facial is actually a trendy nickname for a variation of the procedure known as micro needling. Sometimes micro needling is also referred to as skin needling or collagen induction therapy (CIT). It is a minimally invasive procedure meant to rejuvenate the skin, which was made popular by fashionista Kim Kardashian.

How It Works

A machine outfitted with ultra-fine needles creates tiny punctures in the top layer of your skin. This is called controlled injury and prompts your skin to create new collagen and elastin to heal itself.

These two things are vital in healthy skin and tend to reduce as we age. The idea behind a vampire facial is that it boosts your skin’s natural healing powers, thus allowing it to not only look better but get stronger starting from the inside and working its way out.

Why the Trendy Nickname?

You are probably wondering now why the procedure was given the trendy (and kind of scary) moniker ‘vampire facial.’ This is due to how the optional PRP treatment is performed.

When you come in for your appointment your own blood is drawn and then is spun in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the PRP and PPP.

In this part of the procedure you have your own Platelet Rich Plasma, also known as PRP, used as a serum. This is not red like you would expect. Instead, it is a gooey yellowish color. The practitioner will take a small vial or two of your plasma so it can be used immediately with the needing.

The reason this is done is because Platelet Rich Plasma contains extremely high concentrations of your body’s growth factors. This stimulates a healing response which ensures that the healing process is not only optimal, but faster too.

Does It Work?

Thus far everyone is swearing by the procedure, stating the results are far beyond any other facial treatment.  It is also Scientifically proven to create the most layers of collagen than any other procedures on the market including laser. It improves the complexion, texture, and – especially – the firmness of your skin. It is also said to assist in reducing the appearance of scars and stretch marks, as well as shrinking the size of pores.

A Few Quick Notes

• Most people do not feel any pain during the procedure.
• Patients may feel a little pressure while micro needling is underway.
• Redness and mild bruising is normal. It will disappear within a few hours to a few days after the treatment’s conclusion.
• The process takes about 2 hours from start to finish.
• The skin may feel slightly hot and tight immediately following.
• You can not wear makeup or sunscreen for 24 hours following.
• It is advised you plan ahead and avoid sun for a week or so, sun is not your friend after a treatment.