Is the Vampire Facelift for Real?
With Halloween nearly here, most of us are thinking about pumpkins, candy, and costumes. But, lately there has been a lot of buzz about a ghoulish sounding cosmetic surgery procedure called the Vampire Facelift. No, it wasn’t developed in Transylvania, nor is it even a bona fide facelift. And, it has nothing to do with Lindsay Lohan’s spooky makeup she sported in court last week.
So what exactly is the Vampire Facelift?
The VF, as reported in an ABC News story earlier this year, is a procedure that uses a patient’s own blood as a filler injected under the skin to plump up areas where there are signs of aging. Proponents of the VF believe that by using blood as a filler, instead of cosmetic fillers such as Juvederm, Sculptra, and Restylane, the results are more permanent.
Of course, blood extracted from a vein isn’t exactly injected directly into the face. It is spun down in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. Then, the platelet-rich fraction of the blood is extracted for use as a filler. This procedure has been commonly used for years in many other types of cosmetic surgery procedures as the platelet-rich plasma is utilized to help weld tissues and speed healing. However, using it as a facial filler is a fairly new technique.
Unlike cosmetic fillers which have been long-proven to effectively correct wrinkles and other signs of aging, there is yet to be a valid study to support the advantage of the Vampire Facelift. Some believe that it does encourage the growth of new fibrous tissue to plump up sagging skin, yet others believe that it is simply not effective.
Is the Vampire Facelift worth your while? We believe that the jury is still out, and that until there have been valid studies that show long-term results, it can’t be considered a mainstream treatment worth considering. If you would like to learn more about facial fillers, facelifts, or other anti-aging treatments and procedures, give the office of Dr. Shapiro a call today.
