Vampire Facial
\Fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss can all develop as the aging process causes our skin to lose collagen, elasticity, and hydration. Fortunately, a powerful rejuvenation treatment known as the vampire facial can dramatically restore the skin to refresh the appearance. This treatment combines microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to trigger natural skin tissue repair and remodeling.
What is a Vampire Facial?
The vampire facial, also known as a PRP facial, utilizes your body’s own healing and growth factors to achieve transformative facial rejuvenation without surgery or downtime. This is done by combining microneedling with PRP. Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a technique that involves inflicting micro injuries to the treatment area using tiny needles. These small injuries trigger a healing response in the body, resulting in a dramatic increase in collagen production. The collagen is then used to repair the skin, rejuvenating the appearance. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, therapy, is another rejuvenative technique that uses the growth factors in the blood to stimulate healing and tissue repair. It naturally stimulates collagen and elastin production to diminish signs of aging. Together, microneedling and PRP offer impressive skin rejuvenation benefits, making the vampire facial a great option for patients who are struggling with the following skin concerns:
- Uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation
- Wrinkles and lines
- Volume loss
- Stretch marks
- Acne scars
- Loose or sagging skin
Frequently asked questions
How Does Microneedling with PRP Work?
PRP and microneedling treatments work hand-in-hand to boost the benefits that each treatment provides. Both of these treatments enhance the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin, helping the skin naturally repair itself. Microneedling does this by creating small wounds in the skin to trigger the body’s healing response. PRP does this by introducing growth factors into the desired treatment area. By combining these techniques, patients can achieve greater skin health benefits than would be possible with either of these treatments alone.
Furthermore, RSMD Medical Aesthetics offers radiofrequency (RF) microneedling to provide even greater results with the vampire facial. Like traditional microneedling, the RF microneedling treatment inflicts micro injuries to trigger the body’s healing response. However, the RF microneedling treatment also gently heats the skin tissue via radiofrequency energy. This gentle heating further boosts collagen production, while also causing the skin tissue to contract for skin tightening benefits. This enhances the benefits of treatment when compared to traditional microneedling, and when combined with PRP, these results become even greater.
Vampire Facial vs. Vampire Facelift
The vampire facial can be easily confused with the vampire facelift, as both treatments use PRP to offer facial rejuvenation benefits. However, each treatment combines PRP with distinctly different techniques. The vampire facial uses microneedling to create tiny channels in the skin, then PRP is massaged over the treatment area. This allows the growth factors to penetrate the skin at the surface level, smoothing fine lines, improving tone/texture, and restoring an overall glow. The vampire facelift uses injectable dermal fillers like hyaluronic acid along with deeper PRP injections to replace lost volume and lift sagging facial features. The PRP stimulates collagen production in the treatment area to maintain the effects of the dermal fillers over time. So while both treatments use PRP for rejuvenation, the vampire facelift focuses more on contouring and restoring volume to specific regions of the face, while the vampire facial provides an all-over glow to brighten the skin.
Is a Vampire Facial Right for Me?
If you are seeking a safe and natural skin rejuvenation solution, you may be a good candidate for a vampire facial. The use of PRP means that your skin rejuvenation occurs naturally, without the use of any synthetic or foreign substances. This may be preferred to patients who have experienced allergic reactions to dermal fillers or other cosmetic products. At RSMD Medical Aesthetics, Dr. Small will evaluate your skin health during a consultation, during which time you can discuss your treatment goals and determine if the vampire facial is right for you. With Dr. Small’s expertise, she can develop a customized treatment plan to produce your desired results.
What is a Vampire Facial Treatment Like?
The vampire facial begins with taking a sample of blood, typically from your arm. The blood will be spun in a centrifuge device to separate the unnecessary ingredients, creating platelet-rich plasma. Next, as we prepare to perform the microneedling technique, we’ll apply a topical numbing cream to the skin to minimize any discomfort that may occur. To administer treatment, we’ll use a handheld microneedling device to inflict tiny injuries in the skin’s surface. As the needles pierce the skin, the device will emit radiofrequency energy to gently heat and contract the skin tissue. PRP is also injected at this point, delivering the growth factors into the deeper skin tissue. The vampire facial treatment can take up to one hour from start to finish.
How Long is the Vampire Facial Recovery Time?
After a vampire facial, you can expect some redness, swelling, and sensitivity in the skin. Most of these side effects should resolve within a few days and should not interfere with your daily routine or normal activities. However, the skin will continue to be sensitive in the days following your treatment, so you’ll need to apply sunscreen, avoid excessive sun exposure, and potentially abstain from certain cosmetic products until the skin heals. Your skin should look back to normal within a week.
How Long Do Vampire Facial Results Last?
The results from your vampire facelift will develop gradually over the weeks and months following your treatment. While the vampire facial immediately triggers collagen and elastin production in the skin, it can take several weeks for the body to begin implementing these new proteins into the skin and repairing skin tissue. Most patients notice the benefits of their vampire facial 1-2 months after their treatment, with continued improvements as long as 6 months after treatment. For the average patient, these results last 18-24 months and can be easily prolonged with repeated treatment sessions.
How Much Does a Vampire Facial Cost?
At RSMD Medical Aesthetics, the cost of vampire facial treatments may vary depending on how we customize the treatment approach to your unique skin qualities and cosmetic goals. During your consultation, Dr. Small will develop a customized treatment plan based on your cosmetic goals. At this point, we establish the procedure costs so you can receive upfront pricing before you begin your treatment.
Why Choose RSMD for Your Vampire Facial?
Dr. Rebecca Small is an industry leader in facial aesthetics with extensive experience customizing vampire facelift treatments to help patients refresh and rejuvenate the appearance. Her artistic vision and technical skill with skin rejuvenation techniques means she can develop a tailored approach to target your unique skin concerns and goals for rejuvenation. From your initial consultation through maintaining your optimal results long-term, Dr. Small oversees every part of your vampire facial experience at RSMD to ensure your satisfaction.
If you’re interested in the PRP facial technique, Call us today to take the first step towards achieving your cosmetic goals and discover why patients trust Dr. Rebecca Small and her team at RSMD Medical Aesthetics for their medical spa services.
Dr. Small has the experience and expertise to treat individual facial anatomy because there is no one else exactly like you. We are serving the communities of Santa Cruz, Aptos, Watsonville, Capitola, Soquel, Scotts Valley. Call 831-475-1077 to book your appointment today. Your skin will thank you.