It’s beloved by celebs such as Kim Kardashian West and Bar Rafaeli, but the “vampire facial” is one of the more controversial beauty treatments to take Hollywood by storm in recent years.
If you haven’t heard of this bizarre beauty trend by now (seriously, where have you been?), the vampire facial uses platelets from a victim’s – sorry patient’s – blood to encourage faster cell turnover.
Supposedly, the platelets in the PRP (platelet-rich plasma) have a high growth factor, so dermatologists are essentially using a patient’s own blood to encourage healthier skin.
Gruesome? Yes. But that hasn’t lessened demand for the $900 procedure.
But as with any beauty treatment, hygiene is of the utmost importance, and if not done right, there can be consequences.
Two people have contracted HIV after receiving vampire facials at a health spa in New Mexico.
According to the New Mexico Department of Health, the diagnoses are the result of the clinic using dirty needles and syringes to perform the facial.
Both patients were infected with the virus after attending Albuquerque’s VIP Spa, which was shutdown last September due to hygiene concerns.
Over 100 other patients are currently being tested for the disease and other blood-borne conditions.
A spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Health said: “While over 100 VIP Spa clients have already been tested, NMDOH is reaching out to ensure that testing and counseling services are available for individuals who received injection related services at the VIP Spa.
“Testing is important for everyone as there are effective treatments for HIV and many hepatitis infections.”
The treatment involves the patient’s blood been taken from their arm and spun in a centerfuge to seperate the platelet-rich plasma from the red blood cells. The PRP is then injected into the client’s face.
The vampire facial became popular after Kim Kardashian West shared a selfie of her blood-drenched face mid-procedure in 2013. However, she later claimed she regretted the treatment as it was too painful.
0 Comments