Everything You Should Know Before Getting A Vampire Facial

A vampire facial sounds gruesome, but the actual procedure is nothing spooky at all. Its less eyebrow-raising name is PRP facial or microneedling with PRP (platelet-rich plasma). And yes, it does involve blood — your own — but just a few tablespoons of it. Okay, maybe it does seem a tiny bit creepy.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy has actually been used for decades in orthopedics and sports medicine to accelerate healing in muscles, joints, and tendons, as well as in dermatology for stimulating hair growth, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The patient's blood is placed in a centrifuge to separate out the plasma and platelets, producing the "liquid gold" or platelet-rich plasma, then injected into the skin to fast-track the recovery period.

In aesthetics, the vampire facial uses a microneedling device (such as a micropen or a dermaroller) which has short, fine needles to "injure" the skin and induce collagen production. The PRP is injected or spread topically over the face to stimulate new cell growth and bring about a more glowy, smoother, and youthful appearance (via Healthline).

"[PRP] triggers collagen production by stimulating the body's natural wound-healing response," says Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal. "Collagen is the latticework of the face, so a PRP microneedling treatment helps improve skin texture and tone."

The vampire facial isn't a substitute for a surgical facelift, which will provide dramatic, long-lasting results for sagging or deeply lined skin. But for more superficial issues like fine lines, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, or changes in the skin's surface texture or pore size, a PRP treatment with microneedling can be effective for turning back the clock and achieving a healthier glow. 

A review of 24 studies published in the Archives of Dermatological Research concluded that satisfaction was high after patients received PRP treatment. Reported outcomes were modest improvement in "facial skin appearance, texture, and lines." It was noted the results are not permanent though, and it's not known exactly how long they may last. Typically, multiple treatments are also needed. 

"Almost anyone with some degree of sun damage or other skin aging is an excellent candidate [for vampire facials]. That can mean starting in your 20s and going up," Dr. Cameron Chesnut, a dermatologic surgeon in Spokane, Washington, told Realself. 

Getting the blood's healing properties into the skin to generate cell turnover and a collagen boost is the aim of the vampire facial, resulting in skin that's smoother, more radiant, and firmer. "The plasma's the growth factor of blood — so basically that's like the fertilizer for the lawn," explains Genevieve Vielbig, a registered nurse and licensed aesthetician in New York (via Well+Good). "It's the best part of your blood. So you're microneedling your face and making all of these micro-channels by digging holes into the skin, that way the PRP can penetrate into the skin and help to heal."

The experts say there's little downside for a healthy person to get a vampire facial, except that sometimes it may not produce the desired results. "Practitioners often publicize using platelet-rich plasma immediately after microneedling, in a treatment trademarked the vampire facial," says dermatologic surgeon Dr. Suneel Chilukuri to the Dermatology Times. "We have not seen any benefit from applying PRP topically post microneedling." 

For improvement of acne scars, vampire facials have shown effectiveness in getting good results. "I love microneedling for acne scars," New York-based dermatologist Dr. Lilly-Rose Paraskevas told Men's Journal. "With every treatment, the scars are shallower and less noticeable. Even the redness within the scars can be improved. Unlike some laser treatments, there's no risk of burns or discoloration from microneedling."

And it's not just hearsay. In a 2016 study, a group of participants with acne scars received microneedling, but with only half of the face injected with PRP (the other half was treated with distilled water). Overwhelmingly, the patients gave two thumbs up for the better results on the PRP side, noting that the scars were less visible and the skin's texture was improved as well.

"[PRP with microneedling] is one of the most popular treatments at my practice," says Dr. Gary Goldenberg, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital (via Women's Health). "We use it to treat acne, acne scarring, melasma, surgical scars, and fine wrinkles and lines."

With the success of the vampire facial in boosting collagen and elastin, many physicians have jumped on this therapy and routinely combine it with other aesthetic services (including lasers, dermal fillers, and fat grafting) for quicker tissue healing and shortened recovery periods. "The CO2 laser alone works great at introducing controlled tissue injury to stimulate wound healing. The addition of PRP to this injured site, either topically or injected, significantly enhances the end result," says Dr. Vincent McGinniss, a board-certified cosmetic and reconstructive facial plastic surgeon in Ohio (via The Aesthetic Guide).

A study on autologous fat grafting combined with PRP concluded that the grouping of the two treatments have promising results, as it's "biocompatible, inexpensive, readily available, [and] non-migratory with long-term results."

Other popular combos with PRP are erbium light therapy for pigmentation issues and fine lines, and radio-frequency microneedling for rosacea, stretch marks, and sagging skin. "PRP therapy is minimally invasive, and when paired with other procedures can produce faster, longer-lasting results," declares Levy Dermatology in Memphis, Tennessee.

The American Academy of Dermatology warns that if you have certain conditions (such as hepatitis C, HIV or AIDS, or blood cancer) or if you're taking blood thinners for a heart condition, then the vampire facial is not for you, because those medical conditions negatively affect your platelets and you won't have success with the treatment. 

If you don't have those conditions and are interested in PRP treatments, make sure you go to a licensed medical professional in an office that follows all safety protocols. Just because a facility calls itself a "med spa" doesn't mean you shouldn't do your own research to verify it. In 2020, the Las-Vegas Review Journal reported that a Nevada facility was shut down by the state for conducting medical aesthetic treatments such as vampire facials and surgeries like liposuction and penile enhancements performed by people purporting to be licensed and certified, but weren't. No medical license nor supervision by a doctor, not even anyone certified in any procedure — truly a nightmare scenario for their patients.

"When performed using proper technique and precautions, [the vampire facial] is a safe procedure," says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a New York City board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center (per Women's Health). "Whenever you are performing a procedure in which there is exposure to blood, sterile technique must be used to prevent infections and avoid spreading of infectious diseases."

When you're looking for more immediate gratification, a vampire facelift goes a step beyond the facial. It's still nonsurgical, but it combines a filler with the PRP. Both the facial and the facelift use a patient's own blood and includes microneedling, but the addition of hyaluronic acid filler will provide an immediate plump to the skin and an instant firmer, smoother appearance (per Healthline). "Essentially, the dermal filler will deliver the volume, and the growth factors build collagen over time to support that new volume," says Hessler Plastic Surgery in Palo Alto, California.

So instead of waiting weeks or months for the platelet-rich plasma to do its job, you can admire your brighter, tighter skin in just a few days. "The hyaluronic acid 'lifts' collapsed areas, which helps restore a more youthful and natural structure to the face. But it's the addition of PRP that starts the magic," Connecticut-based Dr. Ellen Mahony, a board-certified plastic surgeon, told Realself.

So maybe the thought of needles digging micro-channels into your face or having your blood drawn and re-injected into you isn't your cup of tea. Okay, then what other types of treatments can you get that will have similar results? 

For the squeamish, many really good anti-aging options are at the ready that don't involve your blood. "Chemical peels, laser treatments, and microdermabrasion are other common treatments that are an alternative to PRP," according to Vanguard Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

To target hyperpigmentation, peels, lasers and dermabrasion will improve texture by removing dead skin cells through a series of treatments, typically with minimal downtime. "Chemical peels can combine different brightening agents that lighten brown spots and age spots," says Dr. Binh Ngo, a dermatologist in Los Angeles at Keck Medicine of USC. 

If it's plumping and more volume you want, then dermal fillers will do the job, while neuromodulators such as Botox will get rid of your scowling forehead lines and crow's feet. "There used to be few options for turning back the clock without going under the knife," reports WebMD, "But today, you can soften the effects of time on your face with many nonsurgical cosmetic procedures."