It’s months beyond Halloween, and the world’s love affair with vampires has finally abated slightly since Twilight etc., so what’s all this talk about “vampire facials”? Vampire Facial is the term used to describe microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Your skin is rejuvenated by using the body’s own growth factors to:
- Aid in the production of collagen and elastin
- Hydrate skin
- Create smooth and even skin tone and texture
- Brighten complexion and increase skin’s elasticity
Microneedling is a popular treatment process where your provider uses a device to resurface your skin, stimulating your body’s natural growth factors to assist in creating new collagen and elastin. Add your own platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and the result is compounded and the recovery time is decreased. Some of the many areas microneedling with PRP can improve are:
- Acne scars, surgical scars
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Stretch marks
- Uneven pigmentation
- Texture, glow and radiance
Amanda’s patient, Kristi O. (age 43), kindly shares her recent experience and some photos with us. Kristi has had two treatments, approximately 4 months apart.
Amanda Rose Esthetics (ARE): “Why did you decide to try Vampire Facial (VF)?”
Kristi: “My skin was in need of resurfacing to minimize small facial scars and to treat uneven skin tone (due to sun damage), to thicken the skin, especially around eyes, and to smooth fine lines and wrinkles by promoting collagen production.”
ARE: “Was the treatment process painful (on a scale of 1-10…)? How long did it take?”
Kristi: “The first treatment was at a pain level of 2. Felt like sandpaper rubbing against skin, no real pain. The second treatment was a little more aggressive because Amanda was able to go deeper with the microneedling since my skin was thicker after the first treatment. But the pain level increased to a 5…it felt worse at the beginning and a lot more tolerable at the end.
ARE: “What was recovery like? How long before you felt like your face appeared normal? Any complications such as skin irritation or discomfort in the days following the procedure?”
Kristi: “After the first treatment on a Thursday afternoon, I looked completely normal and could wear make-up by the fourth day (Monday). My skin felt tight immediately after the treatment and the next day. Felt and looked like a sunburn on day 1 and 2, but redness gone by day 3. After the most recent treatment, my skin was tight and noticeably red the next two days, and scaly/dry days 3-5. Fully recovered and looking completely normal by day 6.”
ARE: “What results have you noticed? How long did it take for these results to appear?”
Kristi: “Immediately following the treatment, my skin was tighter and felt lifted. A week after, my skin tone is more even and radiant. Skin is thicker and clearer, and 4-6 weeks later, I notice the depth of the wrinkles has lessened and my skin feels smoother.
ARE: “Any additional info you think might be useful to someone contemplating VF?”
Kristi: “I purchased a recovery cream called ALTAR by Vampire Skin Therapy and used it religiously the first few days to keep my skin moist. After a week, I went back to my regular moisturizer. I also did the red light therapy [at Amanda’s] immediately following the procedure as well as the next day (about 24 hours later) each time I had the VF to speed up the recovery process.”
