THE VAMPIRE FACIAL
Sometimes things are just too good not to share. As the new year gets underway, most of us have made resolutions or set goals for ourselves, and I am no different. Among other things, I want to be the best version of myself (inside and out) so after many hours of research I embarked on a little experiment myself. I am frequently asked about my skin and skincare routine so now is the time to come clean. I am not a product junkie. I use three products on my skin for maintenance and that’s all (more about that in a future post). However, I have found a non-invasive procedure with little downtime that I have fallen in love with and I want to share all the details with you. I, unlike millions of others, have read all the hype about Kim K’s vampire facial experience. I was hesitant at first but was looking to up my skincare game so I decided on the vampire facial (or microneedling). I know this part sounds a little scary, but hopefully after you hear my experience you will be at ease. I have had a series of five procedures, each approximately one month apart. I wanted to completely finish the series before writing this post so I could comment on the procedure and my personal results.
First and foremost, I found a qualified provider in my area with the state-of-the-art equipment. After meeting with Kara (my provider) at Sculpt Medi Spa, we decided on this treatment. The day of the procedure I was greeted by friendly and comforting office staff who was reassuring and answered all my of my last-minute questions.
My first question was, “Why is this called the Vampire Facial?” The explanation was as follows: You can have your blood drawn. After which, your blood is placed in a centrifuge where it is spun and the machine separates the red blood cells, white blood cells and plasma. The Platelet-Rich Plasma is the extracted and applied to your face before microneedling.
I was lead back to the relaxing treatment room where my face was thoroughly cleansed and a numbing gel was applied. At this point, your blood is drawn if that is the option you choose.
Application of the numbing gel.
After the numbing gel has done its magic, your face is again cleansed and the plasma (or similar gel) is applied. The microneedling “pen” has an interchangeable sterile head with approximately 11 to 30 tiny needles. The needles vary in length so you can control how aggressive you want to be with each procedure. The nurse or esthetician then makes multiple passes over your entire face and neck with the pen. The needles make micro punctures (or injury) to your skin, thus causing our skin to go in repair mode. This is where the magic happens. While our body is trying to repair itself it creates collagen in the process (the heavens open up and all the angels sing “hallelujah). One of the up sides of this procedure is this pen can get in tight around the stubborn eye/crow’s feet area, whereas a laser cannot get this close due to damaging light.
Kara makes several passes with the pen over my face and neck.
After the passes are complete, if you were to look in a mirror your face will be covered in a small amount of blood (hence the name Vampire Facial). Your face is again cleansed and a cooling gel or gel pack is then applied.
If you look closely you can see the tiny dots of blood made by the pen.
And this, my friends, is why it’s called the Vampire Facial, but notice I am smiling. It really is a relatively painless procedure.
My face is again thoroughly cleansed before I leave the office. This procedure takes approximately an hour to an hour and a half from start to finish.
When you leave the office you will look like you have a sunburn or windburn. No worries!! The redness will dissipate over the next 12 to 24 hours and you can apply your regular skincare products and makeup and return to work. After a day or two you will experience a slight sloughing of the skin, revealing fresh new skin, which is the goal.
After approximately six months I have seen an overall rejuvenation of my skin to include texture, tightening, disappearing acne scars and decreased pore size, but the most telling is the area around my eyes, which seems smoother and more taut. Over the holidays I ran in to several friends who asked me what was I doing, so I thought I would share my experience and outcome because growing old gracefully doesn’t mean we have to sit back and watch the clock tick. There are maintenance procedures, like microneedling, or other such procedures that keep us looking like the best version of ourselves.
If you are in the Tidewater, greater Hampton Roads area and are looking to be more experimental with your beauty routine in 2019, give Sculpt Medi Spa a call at (757) 481-2000 and use code SHANNON20 for 20% off your Vampire Facial/microneedling procedure. I would be glad to answer any questions. Just comment in the section below.
My skin after the completion of just four treatments.
