The Vampire Face Lift (platlet rich plasma for a liquid face lift)

Submitted by Dr Gail Humble on June 10, 2011

The area of cosmetic medicine is constantly changing and offering new techniques to help us turn back the clock. The term Vampire face lift is used by the media to describe a liquid face lift using Platlete Rich Plasma (PRP) instead of better known synthetic filler such as Sculptra or Radiesse. The benefits of using PRP are that it is entirely natural, and no nodules or granulomas can form as they can with other fillers. There is no potential for an allergic reaction and it is very cost effective.  We first started hearing of PRP being used in Cosmetic medicine almost 2 years ago, but it was used in orthopedics, oral surgery and other medical specialties long before that.  Plasma Rich Protein has also been known as the Poor man’s Stem cell face lift. PRP is the abbreviation for platelet rich plasma.  PRP is derived from the patient’s own blood. Platelets are not true cells but really part of a larger cell. Their job is to be a first line of defense in the area of an injury and release growth factors. They also act as a beacon of sorts notifying local stem cells to come to the area and help with the repair of  tissue. In the instance where no injury has occurred these platelets need to be activated to release their growth factor. They will significantly help with rejuvenation and or revolumization and or healing depending on how the PRP is used. How it works: A simple blood draw is done and then the blood sample centrifuged in a special tube filled with anticoagulants. Once the layers have separated the plasma portion contains the platelets. The plasma portion is drawn off and an activator is added. This is then injected in the face to revolumize the same as with any other filler. Once the plasma is mixed with the activator the product must be injected with in ten minutes, since after ten minutes it changes from a liquid to a gel. The benefits, according to some companies, last up to 19 months. The procedure has been receiving a lot of interest and the treatment is attractive to patients in that it takes something completely natural from the patient, and repurposes it. If the PRP is being used to revolumize the face the treatment is done in much the same way as other fillers. Usually if 8ccs of blood is drawn. This will  yield about 4ccs of plasma. The product can be placed deep in some areas, to lift or augment the cheeks, or very superficially in other areas just to improve the skins texture and tone. The entire procedure takes no more than 45 minutes. And no matter what level of depth the product is placed at, there will be a noticeable increase in luminosity of the skin in most patients. People that are on anticoagulation or aspirin therapy may not be good candidates for the vampire face lift. Moreover, a patient must have a reasonable number of platelets in their blood in order for the filler to be effective. In other words, if you have thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets), this injectable filler is probably not the right dermal filler for you. To learn more about the Vampire Face Lift  contact Dr. Humble today or call 310-379-4838.