Celebrity Trends: The Vampire Facial

A recent episode of Kourtney & Kim Take Miami featured Kim Kardashian getting a Vampire Facial. Renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Marc Malek gives us the details on the procedure, why it's become popular and how it really works.

What is the Vampire Facial?

The Vampire Facial, also referred to as the Blood Facial, is essentially taking blood from one part of your body and putting it into another. About two teaspoons of blood are taken from a patient’s arm and then chemicals are added to spin it down and separate the blood so that it can be injected into your face. It is injected using tiny needles into parts of the face where wrinkles have formed and are prone to form. The growth factors that are found in one’s own blood stimulate collagen production revealing plumped, more youthful looking skin. However, there is no scientific evidence proving that this procedure is effective.

How long does it take?

It can take anywhere from a half hour to an hour.

Why is this procedure so popular with celebrities?

This procedure has become popular with celebrities like Kim Kardashian who are always looking for the latest and greatest new treatments in beauty. It comes with a hefty price tag, and is usually about $1,000 a facial. The average person usually cannot afford this, which is why it is more common with celebrities.

What are the risks?

Besides the procedure being painful there are risks of infection.  

Do you recommend this procedure, and if so for who?

There is no proof that this procedure works or has long lasting effects. The effects are similar to fillers such as Restylane and Juvaderm, but it is not FDA approved. If I were to recommend this to a patient, it would be someone who would like to go a more organic route and does not want to inject foreign substances into their body. However, the results will not be comparable.

[Images: Kim Kardashian by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Entertainment; Dr. Malek courtesy of Fox Greenberg Public Relations]

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