Ask the Experts: Vampire Facial

Posted in Ask the Experts, Facials, Microneedling, PRP

Let’s jump right into it; our skin is being damaged every day. Whether it be from the sun, pollution or just the dreaded aging process, it’s happening right before our eyes. In our mid-20s, our body’s collagen starts decreasing, and our skin cell turnover starts to become sluggish. Collagen is what makes us look young, and when we lose it, we begin to notice wrinkles, fine lines, uneven texture, and sagging of the skin. Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, creates a controlled wound on the skin by penetrating needles at various depths, which then triggers wound healing! What does that mean? Your skin’s receptors start working on overload and stimulating MORE COLLAGEN!! YAY!!

Now to PRP. PRP stands for platelet rich plasma. A licensed nurse will take a small amount of your blood and place it into a centrifuge. When the spinning cycle finishes, you are left with PRP. Microneedles then place the PRP into the skin. Because PRP is your own blood, this is where the nickname “vampire facial” comes into play. PRP is full of growth factors that will rev up more collagen production and create more elasticity in the skin. Growth factors are also very healing to the skin, so expect your healing time to be cut in half when you add PRP to your microneedling. I like to think of this procedure as microneedling on steroids!

Microneedling and Microneedling with PRP aren’t just for people who are noticing the aging process; it can help many other things, including acne, scarring, stretch marks, hair restoration on the head, uneven skin tone. We usually recommend at least three to six treatments with about a month in between treatments.

There is no need to take time off after the microneedling procedure. You can expect the after-effects to feel and look like a sunburn. You can experience some redness and swelling during the first two to three days followed by slight peeling, but your skill will soon return to its natural color and develop a more youthful tone, texture, and appearance.

Please see your skin care provider at The Spa at Spring Ridge for any questions you may have about this procedure. Call us at (610) 927-3223 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your appointment. We look forward to seeing you!