The Vampire Facial Treatment

What Is It? And How Does It Work?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, also known as the ‘Vampire Facelift’ or ‘Dracula Therapy’, works on the basis that the body’s own natural healing powers may slow and even reverse the ageing process – it’s a revolutionary repair system that places growth factors in the exact location where we want the skin to repair and rejuvenate itself.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is cutting edge therapy in the field of cosmetic enhancements. Although the procedure is relatively new in aesthetics medicine, PRP has been recognized as an effective treatment in sports injury, diabetic ulcer treatment, and orthopaedics.

Plasma Facelift Use

Now patients who wish to use their own body’s regenerative power can do so without the concerns for infection, foreign material, or surgical interventions. Studies are now showing promise for patients looking for that younger renewed look. It is also beneficial for those wishing to have a fuller facial feature without the use of dermal fillers.

This new addition in cosmetic enhancements has many possibilities such as reducing skin wrinkles, rejuvenating the skin, improve the appearance in those with acne scarring, and hastening the healing process after a facial peel.

Platelets contain a high content of “growth factors” – proteins that help to heal injured tissue or damaged skin. Upon re-injection the platelets release their growth factors which trigger surrounding cells to proliferate, in turn stimulating repair, increasing volume and rejuvenating the skin.

Blood (a small amount) is taken from the patient during the treatment, then treated (in a centrifuge) to harvest the platelet rich plasma which will be activated and re-injected into the desired area. The therapy is said to plump skin, fill out fine lines and wrinkles, and give an overall more radiant appearance.

A patient’s own blood cells and plasma have regenerative properties, and can be used as a treatment for anti-aging. These cells can rejuvenate skin, tendons, and bones, and when injected into the face, stimulate firmer and younger looking skin.

This non-surgical procedure is effective for prolonging a more youthful appearance into middle age. As the procedure uses the patient’s own blood, it is metaphorically referred to as the “Vampire Facelift”.

How Does Plasma Facelift Work?

PRP therapy involves harvesting platelets from the patient’s own blood in order to inject them into problem skin areas, giving it the nicknames Vampire Facelift and Dracula Therapy. Before the procedure, a small amount of blood is taken from the patient and put into a centrifuge, where the blood is spun in order to separate the red blood cells from the platelet plasma.

The platelet plasma, which is the component of the blood that is known for being highly effective in treating burns and skin injuries, is then activated and injected into the chosen area, where it plumps up the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

When the platelet plasma is injected into the skin, the platelets release their growth factors. The growth factors stimulate other cells surrounding the injection site, plumping them up and causing them to increase in volume.

The platelet plasma sends out signals to other cells in the body when it is injected, telling them to rush forward to the injection site.

One cell that is stimulated during the process is the fibroblast cell, which is the cell type that creates collagen. Collagen is what gives skin a youthful appearance.

As we age, collagen is produced less and less, causing wrinkles and fine lines in the skin, and therapies such as PRP therapy that stimulate collagen production can counteract this.

Another cell stimulated during the process is the pre-adipocyte cell, which is a cell type that can convert into a fat cell, which is especially important in the face to fill out lines and to contour the face.

Blood contains erythrocytes, lymphocytes, platelets and plasma. Platelets are cells responsible for clotting. They do this by adhering to each other and preventing haemorrhages, when blood clots, tissues around it will retract due to protein fibrin produced by platelet adherence.

Micro-injuries produced by a needle will trigger a similar initial reaction, and thanks to the injection of active platelets, the contraction effect is significantly augmented.

In isolating activated platelets suspended in liquid plasma (PRP), the doctor is also able to extract mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors in genetically predetermined ratios.

Injecting this PRP extract into skin, the platelets form a bioactive platform of fibrin clot, allowing the release of numerous active growth factors that promote tissue repair, new blood vessel formation and collagen synthesis.