I am 50 and am curious about the vampire facial. What exactly does it do? Wrinkles? Acne scars? Sagging skin?

A vampire Facial is a trademarked procedure that involves two processes: First, a microneedling pen is used to create controlled a injury to the surface of the skin. The tiny perforations in the skin cause pin point bleeding and activates the local platelets to release their growth factors which attract stem cells that create new skin and blood vessels. The second part is the extraction of extra platelets from your blood. A sample of blood is drawn from your arm and processed through a centrifuge to form a concentrated solution of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). The concentrated platelets are applied topically to the surface of the skin. The platelets are absorbed through the little channels created by the needles. PRP can also be injected into the skin. When the platelets sense the injury created by the microneedling, they release their growth factors and because additional platelets were introduced, the healing response is amplified. This is a great procedure for rejuvenating the skin, reducing pore size, fine lines and pigmentation. The results are visible after a couple of weeks and multiple treatments are needed for the best results. Prices will vary but typically run between $600 to $1200 depending on where you have it done and whether is is performed by a physician or a technician. The Vampire Facial should not be confused with a Vampire Facelift which is a different treatment that combines fillers with PRP.

Vampire Facials work great for improving texture and fine lines. It gives an overall healthy and vibrant glow to the skin. We often combine this treatment with other procedures to give patients more enhanced rejuvenating results. A series of 3 is best yearly and the price will vary depending on the type of centrifuge device used. We use the Magellan TruPRP Device, which give a higher concentration of plasma for better results.Best of luck!

Hi Q:I appreciate your question. There are 3 components to a vampire facial lift and these include injections of platelet rich plasma (PRP) into your face, followed by microneedling of the entire face, and then this is bathed in platelet poor plasma with some red blood cells (the vampire part). Microneedling seems to work better with PRP  and PPP to improve acne scars, wrinkles and discoloration from sun exposure. It also leads to temporary facial volume improvements and mild skin tightening. For better results, I like to combine with sculptra for extra collagen building and other fillers for better long term facial rejuvenation.Best wishes. Dr. ALDO