Is a vampire facial actually effective since the PRP is just rubbed on the top layer of the skin after used with the dermapen?

I use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) matrix to help stimulate collagen production for gradual facial and skin rejuvenation. This vampire facial refreshes appearance for a more youthful look without surgery or extensive downtime. 

Thank you for your question. You’re asking an excellent question about the Vampire Facial® — if it is truly effective in inducing collagen and elastin even when the platelet=rich plasma is only rubbed on the skin and not injected.

I can certainly give you my perspective on this. To first give you a little information about myself — I am a Board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a Fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, practicing in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years. A large part of my practice revolves around skin rejuvenation and helping patients address issues of facial aging. I am a member of the Vampire Facelift® Network of doctors, and have been an information resource for the media, particularly when a well-known celebrity posted photos after receiving a Vampire Facial® which spurred many questions about the treatment.

The first step is identifying the intended problem you want to treat, and whether there is more benefit in creating openings in the skin via microneedling versus injecting. Naturally, we want the most benefit with the least amount of downtime.

Microneedling and injecting have different purposes. If you’re talking about increasing the fat and volume under the skin and improving its quality, it is beneficial to inject platelet-rich plasma. It improves skin quality, and when it is injected in the dermis, it helps build collagen which is the foundation of the skin. Microneedling, on the other hand, is comparable to fractional lasering - it addresses fine lines and wrinkles by creating narrow channels through the epidermis and into the dermis to get the dual benefit of stimulation of the dermis through trauma, as well as a certain degree of re-epithelialization, which improves overall skin quality. The depth and frequency of microneedling can be set, much like it is done with the fractional laser, and has to be executed carefully. Ultimately, it is important to define what the desired outcome is.

With regard to your question about whether platelet rich plasma is effective if it is just rubbed on top of the skin, I can tell you that it certainly does improve the rate of healing. When platelet-rich plasma is applied on the skin in the context of the Vampire Facial®, it does enter into those channels and stimulates collagen production under the skin. In fact, I routinely use platelet-rich plasma to facilitate healing when we do skin resurfacing or fractional laser treatment. In other cases, I’ll also inject it into the skin.

We have to consider the question of what is right for your situation. In the absence of photo and physical examination, it is more difficult for me to determine this. In my practice, many people will come to me for the Vampire Facial®, and when I explained to them what the procedure entails and what kind of downtime they’re looking at, they’ll opt for platelet-rich plasma injection or platelet-rich fiber matrix injection instead. So I suggest that you meet with experienced physicians who specialize in these types of treatments, and learn more about these options. I also recommend that you meet with someone who is part of the Vampire Facelift® Network who has a lot of experience with this type of treatment so you can be better informed.

I hope that was helpful and I wish you the best of luck!