As with everything Kim Kardashian-West does, skin needling treatments known as ‘Vampire Facials’ have gained a cult following since Kim told us they were the latest and greatest in beauty back in 2013.
But if the name ‘Vampire Facial’ isn’t enough to freak you out, how the treatment actually works might be.
Officially titled Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), the treatment extracts blood from a patient’s arm and injects it into their face. Yes you read correctly, injects blood into face… weird, right?!
How Do Vampire Facials Work?
The treatment claims to harness the body’s natural healing abilities to rejuvenate and regenerate skin tissue, and is used to treat conditions relating to ageing, scarring and acne.
Despite being considered a very non-traditional facial product, blood contains concentrated plasma that is rich in proteins (or platelets) that can assist with the skin’s cell function. A needling process is then used to create hundreds of teeny-tiny holes in the patient’s face where the protein rich goodness is injected back into the skin.
Although some dermatologists have hailed this is the new holy grail of skin treatments, is this just another weird beauty fad made famous by celebrities? Well, the answer is complicated.
While the treatment is certainly not the most glamorous of facials and won’t bestow any form of vampire immortality, the needling can boost your natural collagen production to stimulate a youthful glow, lead to a more even skin tone and texture and improve fine lines and wrinkles.
All you have to do is look a little crazy with a face covered in blood. But what happens in the beauty salon, stays in the beauty salon… right?
Alternative Treatments
Like the sound of skin needling but not quite ready to go full vampire? We don’t blame you. Luckily there are other, less whacky, more affordable treatments which can offer even better results – such as Fractioal Radio Frequency with micro-needling.
Fractional RF stimulates the production of collagen and elastin and is used to tighten and firm facial contours which become lax and sag as you age. Skin becomes firmer around the jawline, chin and cheeks while lines around the eyes, mouth and forehead are reduced. The result is a more youthful appearance with greater skin elasticity and lift to the face.
Kim’s older sister Kourtney Kardashian was the latest celeb to boast about her micro-needling treatment, documenting her experience on Snapchat for her millions of followers to see firsthand. It’s not nearly as scary as getting your vampire on and the results are just as effective.
To find out more, visit your local Australian Skin Clinics for a free skin consultation
