‘Vampire facial’, or medically known as Platelet Rich Plasma (aka PRP) injections are a recent technology that uses ingredients from your own blood to regenerate your skin and rejuvenate skin proteins resulting in vibrant, fresh, younger, looking skin. PRP therapy is a non-surgical treatment that causes controlled trauma to the skin, in which, stimulates targeted healing. It works by stimulating the body’s own healing mechanisms to repair injured musculoskeletal tissues. Platelet rich plasma taken from your blood is made up of platelets, stem cells and growth factors. By injecting PRP into your skin, these substances will accelerate the normal healing process by the formation of new skin proteins at the treated area. As nothing artificial is being used, this treatment is very safe and the most natural way of rejuvenating the skin.
What is Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ used for?
Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ is used for the following:
- To improve the texture of the skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- To thicken and improve the quality of thinning skin or the crepiness of ageing skin
- Especially helpful in treating difficult to treat lines around and under the eyes and on the neck
- Facial rejuvenation including nasolabial lines, marionette lines, forehead lines
- Neck ageing and rejuvenation
- Chest and décolletage rejuvenation
- Mild to moderate acne scarring and other scarring
- Back of hands
- Stretchmark improvement
- Platelet Rich Plasma can be used in multiple areas for dermal rejuvenation.
What can I expect after my Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ treatment?
After your treatment you will experience some swelling where the fluid has been injected under the skin. This will persist for approximately two days, occasionally longer.
Bruising is possible and this risk is increased after any blood thinning agents such as ibuprofen, aspirin, fish or krill oil or multivitamins are taken in the preceding two weeks.
How long will the results from my Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ take?
Collagen stimulation is a process that usually takes about three months to begin. Occasionally, results begin a bit sooner at 6 weeks but often the results are only becoming noticeable by three months. Very little occurs before then.
The improvement in skin texture and tone continues for about 9 months to a year after the procedure.
The effects are long-lasting as it is your own collagen that is stimulated and not a bio-degradable dermal filler which will disappear over time.
Can I combine my Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ with other treatments?
Platelet Rich Plasma therapy can be combined with virtually any other cosmetic treatment, including:
- Dermal Fillers and Muscle Relaxant injections
- Laser and light therapies
- Fat reduction systems such as CoolSculpting® and BodyFX™
- Skin chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
Platelet Rich Plasma therapy acts to accelerate and improve the results of these other therapies by first improving the quality of the skin being treated.
How is Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ performed?
A blood test is performed by one of our experienced clinical aesthetic team and your own blood sample is used to harvest the platelets which are rich in collagen stimulating factors. The amount of blood needed is between 6 to 60 mls, depending on the number of areas being treated. Your blood sample is spun down in the office’s centrifuge while you have numbing cream on the areas which are being treated.
This process of centrifuging your blood sample separates your plasma into different layers. The platelet rich layer is extracted and then injected just under your skin’s surface with a needle. The complete process takes approximately one hour.
How many treatments of Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ is required?
It is recommended to have three treatments one month apart. An annual or two yearly maintenance treatments may further enhance results and slow down the natural ongoing ageing process.
Is Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ painful?
Numbing cream is applied approximately half an hour prior to the procedure. The small injections are quite comfortable. The needle is smaller than that commonly used by diabetics to inject their insulin.
Who cannot have Platelet Rich Plasma or ‘Vampire Facial’ therapy?
People with blood disorders or infectious blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis cannot have Platelet Rich Plasma therapy.
Book an appointment with our Cosmetic Nurse Specialist on 9370 1997 to see why this treatment is The Kardashian’s favourite skin treatment.
