There have been some bloody awful beauty trends over the years. Frosted lips? Spider mascara?? SKINNY EYEBROWS , ANYONE?!
Some have been scarier than others, like the vampire facial that Kim Kardashian made famous in 2013. The trend has returned, just in time for Halloween, and we’re not sure how to feel about it.
So, what exactly is the vampire facial?
As it turns out, it’s exactly as it sounds: your blood is drawn and then made into a mask to rejuvenate the skin. The process of this is known as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
The blood is placed into a centrifuge, which isolates the platelets from your red blood cells.
These platelets are known as the “serum potion.” Board-certified dermatologist David Kim told Allure that “they’ve been shown to be effective for wound healing, as well as improving skin elasticity, volume, and texture.”
There are a few ways this gets added to your skin.
There are fillers, which will help stimulate collagen production, or micro needling, which involves pricking the skin with tiny sterilized needles. The small wounds also cause the skin to stimulate collagen production.
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The results are pretty fang-tastic.
Marina Peredo , a board-certified dermatologist and an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, said that the platelets boost collagen and elastin production. This leads to a tighter and smoother complexion.
It’s also great for those with premature wrinkles and lots of sun damage.
However, it’s not for everybody. Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban shared that you should avoid PRP treatments if you have a history of blood diseases, such as clotting or bleeding disorders.
As for minor side effects, you can expect minor bruising on the injection side or on your face from the needles.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of the vampire facial. Back in 2013, Kim Kardashian had the world spooked when she shared this selfie.
She also shared the process on ‘Kourtney & Kim Take Miami.’
Kim has always been intrigued and happy to play guinea pig to unique beauty treatments that keep her looking young and youthful. But years later, Kim shared that she actually regretted the experience.
“A few years ago, I heard about a ‘vampire facial,’ and I was so intrigued,” Kardashian wrote on her website.
“Before I got the procedure, I just found out that I was pregnant, so I couldn’t use numbing cream or a pain killer and both are suggested,” she added.
This meant that the procedure was very painful.
“It was really rough and painful for me. I couldn’t tell anyone about the pregnancy either, but I pulled Jonathan [Cheban] aside and told him.” Since the show was filming, she couldn’t back out.
“It was honestly the most painful thing ever!”
“It’s the one treatment that I’ll never do again.” She did, however, acknowledge some of the benefits: “Even though it wasn’t for me, I know it has so many benefits for your skin. Kourtney is a huge fan and I know a lot of other people that love it, too,” she said.
Kim even went to court over the vampire facial.
That’s because the Alabama doctor, Charles Runels, was using her likeness to promote procedures , such as the infamous vampire facial. Kim won her lawsuit, so she can put the vampire facial behind her!