POSTED UNDER Vampire Facial Reviews REVIEWS
Microneedling with PRP Made Skin Texture Much Worse - Palo Alto, CA
ORIGINAL POST
I had microneedling with PRP rubbed over my face...
lissak27February 9, 2018
$1,000
I had microneedling with PRP rubbed over my face (vampire facial) to combat damage from an IPL session I had 15 years ago (at the age of 21). I was so hoping that this would be the answer to my prayers and that the wrinkles, uneven orange peel texture that I've had for 15 years would improve and my skin would have a glow and be a little thicker.
Sorry to say, my skin is worse now. My face looks acne scarred with a bumpy texture to it and little holes here and there (different from the orange peel texture from IPL on my cheeks). Some of my pores are connecting in a line now. My skin was certain not great to begin with, but it's like all the holes just made things worse.
They say it takes up to a month or two to see results, but I see absolutely no reason why my skin should look like this in the meantime. Since PRP gives temporary improvement, then even if I'm still waiting for these amazing PRP results, what will happen when the PRP is gone? Seems like my skin will go back to the state it's in now.
I've read many doctors on here say that microneedling cannot do this, but it is there plain as day for me. 15 years ago doctors told me that orange peel texture was impossible from IPL. Funny thing is that when I got the vampire facial, I mentioned my IPL experience and the nurse agreed that IPL can create orange peel texture. Guess it only took 15 years for them to admit that, maybe in another 15, docs will talk about the dangers of microneedling.
I'm PRAYING that this is the extent of the damage and things won't get worse (like they do with laser damage, the gift that keeps giving over months and months). And in order to combat the damage, I will have filler to my temples and maybe a little botox to smooth me out.
I will not continue to poke and prod at my face to try to fix this. As far as I'm concerned, any procedure that does damage to the skin in order for it to "rebuild" or "grow collagen" is total BS. I will never do anything to the surface of my skin again.
For the skeptics thinking things will look better with time, I pray you are right. I will post follow up photos in a month.
Sorry to say, my skin is worse now. My face looks acne scarred with a bumpy texture to it and little holes here and there (different from the orange peel texture from IPL on my cheeks). Some of my pores are connecting in a line now. My skin was certain not great to begin with, but it's like all the holes just made things worse.
They say it takes up to a month or two to see results, but I see absolutely no reason why my skin should look like this in the meantime. Since PRP gives temporary improvement, then even if I'm still waiting for these amazing PRP results, what will happen when the PRP is gone? Seems like my skin will go back to the state it's in now.
I've read many doctors on here say that microneedling cannot do this, but it is there plain as day for me. 15 years ago doctors told me that orange peel texture was impossible from IPL. Funny thing is that when I got the vampire facial, I mentioned my IPL experience and the nurse agreed that IPL can create orange peel texture. Guess it only took 15 years for them to admit that, maybe in another 15, docs will talk about the dangers of microneedling.
I'm PRAYING that this is the extent of the damage and things won't get worse (like they do with laser damage, the gift that keeps giving over months and months). And in order to combat the damage, I will have filler to my temples and maybe a little botox to smooth me out.
I will not continue to poke and prod at my face to try to fix this. As far as I'm concerned, any procedure that does damage to the skin in order for it to "rebuild" or "grow collagen" is total BS. I will never do anything to the surface of my skin again.
For the skeptics thinking things will look better with time, I pray you are right. I will post follow up photos in a month.
UPDATED FROM lissak27
20 days post
Skin remains the same, hopefully not worse
lissak27February 16, 2018
Skin hasn't improved and I'm going back to the doctor tomorrow to show her the damage (she didn't do it, it was the office's esthetician). They've already said they don't see damage from my photos (hilarious because they didn't even take before photos and likely don't even remember what I looked like so how could they know?). So I expect a bit of a fight, but I am so a fighter now after my experience with IPL 15 years ago. None of it really matters though, I know that my skin has been made irreparably worse and nothing can really be done for it. I could care less about the $1,000, at this point, it's just the principle that doctors continue to do these procedures and harm our skin and then completely avoid any consequences by saying the damage is natural aging or couldn't possibly be cause by this laser/microneedle/etc. Ugh so over it, thinking about becoming a doctor or esthetician so that someone finally has our back...
Replies (12)
February 19, 2018
I've suffered from the same damage after a treatment in August of last year. Absolutely devastating & horrifying to watch your skin deteriorate. Also the fact that the damage is permanent! Nothing I can do to heal it or repair the damage. I'm so sorry that this happened to you too. This treatment should be banned.
February 21, 2018
I'm sorry this happened to you too. It's horrific to watch your skin shrivel on you. My saving grace (if you can call it that!) was that I already had my skin all messed up 15 years ago, so while this additional damage sucks, it already was hard to look into the mirror and I had already grieved for my virgin skin. Still sad though. I wish you the best finding help and getting through this.
May 10, 2018
I also had scarring from an IPL laser treatment. They tried to tell me this type of laser doesn't scar. They don't have a clue or they are lying.
April 28, 2018
So sorry to hear this. I can’t imagine how awful this has felt for you. Wondering if you have tried face yoga? It’s all natural, non-invasive, no chemicals. It’s simply the working out of facial muscles. Best of luck in your healing
June 21, 2018
I haven’t but I don’t think it would help since my problem is the surface of skin and fat loss. But thanks for the rec and I may take a look out of curiosity. :)
June 18, 2018
I am heart sick a year and a half later whenever I inspect the damage one session of microneedling did to my skin. I can see the pinholes and lines all over my face from the needling device on what was a pretty smooth surface before. I also lost volume which I've never been able to recover from. At 49 years old, I didn't look my age as I had good skin smoothness and volume but it all changed after one session of microneedling. I was talked into this because I had large pores on a small area of my cheeks that I wanted to fix. Before pictures also were not taken, and the dermatologist attributed these issues to weight loss and aging. He didn't perform the procedure, his esthetician did. I long for my old great skin before this nightmare procedure ruined it. After a year of a cleansing my skin religiously and applying vitamin C serum, and truthfully too many moisturizers to name as I was obsessed with finding the best one to heal my skin back, I can see the improvements. But it will always have the pinhole marks. I feel like these doctors will convince you of procedures you don't need to fatten their pockets.
June 21, 2018
I’m so sorry this happened to you as well. I’m glad you’re seeing at last some small improvements. My heart goes out to you! It’s infuriating when doctors won’t admit to the harm they’ve done.
July 11, 2018
I'm sorry for your experience as well. If I had to look at the glass half full, I have never been so religious about my skin routine. I took my good skin for granted with the idea that it can always be improved on. Now I know better and accept myself a lot more with less critical eyes.
March 11, 2019
I'm glad you are seeing improvements now. It is scary when we have a treatment done and experience often times permanent damage. What vitamin C serum are you using? What is your skin routine now?
June 21, 2018
IPL is awful, so awful. I do not trust any lasers/light devices whatsoever, I’ve seen so many bad outcomes like mine... it nearly destroyed me, I was so young when it happened and I couldn’t tell anyone because I was too embarrassed. Sorry to hear of your scarring, hang in there.
October 27, 2018
I have to share that I’ve religiously had microbeedling done alternating with another procedure called clear and brilliant and never had a problem. It is VERY important you go to someone that knows how to do it as it can create damages instead of good. I pay a bit more but it’s worth it to protect my investment. I love Micro-needling and how it’s kept my pores small, skin firmer and radiant. I suggest ladies always checking the reviews of the place you go to and their experience. Good luck.
October 28, 2018
Many times the poor outcomes are blamed on the provider, but this is often not the problem. The problem is that some skin types simply cannot handle “micro damage” and instead of healing, the skin is permanently damaged. I have 15 years experience dealing with people who have had damage from IPL and lasers, some of whom have gone to the top docs in the country. Just because one procedure works for you doesn’t mean that everyone with bad experiences went to bad providers or didn’t do their research.
UPDATED FROM lissak27
5 months post
Months later, skin hasn’t gotten worse
lissak27June 21, 2018
Not much of an update but my skin hasn’t gotten worse at least. For a while there I felt like the prp had made a difference, the surface irregularities were still there but my skin had a healthier look to it... now it basically looks the same as when I first noticed the microneedling damage. I’m probably totally insane for trying this but I’m probably going to try the PRP injections without microneedling to see if it helps. Will update if I end up doing it.
Replies (11)
July 22, 2018
Very sorry to hear about your results. Just wondering. What was the device? An electric pen or a derma roller? Done by an aesthetician? Did you by any chance take a before photo?
August 14, 2018
I'm so sorry!!! I know exactly what you're going through. I had so many things done in the past that I was talked into at the time & directly afterwards completely regretted. We are never happy with our appearances until we look back years later at our pictures and realize we were perfect all along and didn't need to "fix" anything. So we continue to try and "fix" the damage that was done after the first procedure or treatment and each time it gets worse, not better. It's a perpetual vicious cycle. There should be staple things we can do to maintain our youth that nurture and heal, not harm. We need to keep up on maintenance on everything else - home, car...so it makes sense that we should do the same for our outer shell. But, the only secret to staying young is to stay out of the sun, wear toxin/chemical free sunscreen, eat healthy/organic, exercise (to sweat and get rid of toxins built up) and basically BE HAPPY. I wish you the best in getting the help and results you are looking for!
October 28, 2018
I absolutely 100% agree. When I really thought about it I realized how much time and energy has been wasted obsessing about fixing this. There’s no way to make my skin perfect anyway and I’ll always be fighting aging, so it’s a losing battle. Better to work on being a happy and strong person. Easier said than done sometimes but I’m so glad I’ve kind of seen the light. Thanks for your great comment and best of luck to you.
October 13, 2020
What procedures do you regret the most? I'm before mine so I want to be warned before it's too late!
September 6, 2018
Any update on the PRP injections without the micro needling?
October 28, 2018
I did have the injections without microneedling and unfortunately I didn’t see much change. The doc had to inject about 20-30 times and during the procedure I just kept thinking - “why am I putting even more holes in my skin? This is crazy.” I’m really taking a huge step away from worrying about my appearance. It’s just stressing me out and wasting my time and money. :( Just trying to get on with life now.
April 9, 2019
How are you doing now? And do you mind sharing when you had this done so others can avoid this clinic?
November 24, 2019
I have no affiliation with the facility you visited. Just offering my own knowledge of the skin remodeling process. The microneedling is really the most important portion of a good PRP treatment. It creates the inflammation on a much broader scale. Our bodies identify that as trauma and begin to restructure the lower layers. Try just microneedling between any PRP treatments and continue to alternate as often as you can. The Vampire options are pricey, but you've taken the first step toward great skin health. Don't give up on the treatment, you've made the right decision. I live in Florida. I would love to provide any information without solicitation if you choose. Here to help.
Replies (5)
Of course you have to go into these things with a positive attitude and really nothing lasts forever, but you can get lots of mileage out of things but do check the qualifications of anyone touching your face better to pay for the best and get great results. I do hope things work out for you.