Why Some Women Are Turning To Vampire Facelifts And Vampire Facials To Combat Aging

When it comes to aging, you better trust and believe that Black does crack.

I know when you read that sentence you probably laughed. Hard. Because Taraji Henson, Gabrielle Union, Nia Long, and Sanaa Lathan don’t look a day over 30. It’s true, each of the women I have just named, and more, are very gorgeous women of color who have aged beautifully. But when they are out of the spotlight, they’ve at the least thought about what their aging skin would look like.

Most all women struggle with trying to maintain a youthful look no matter what their race is. It’s not even shocking anymore when women in Hollywood talk about the cosmetic procedures they’ve undergone. And now, many women who aren’t in the limelight are looking to get a little nip and tuck as well as a few fillers to maintain their youthful appearance.

I've heard of my fair share of procedures, but when I discovered Vampire Facials and Vampire Facelifts --two different cosmetic procedures that entails taking blood from one’s own body and injecting or brushing it on their faces --I just knew that cosmetic surgery had gone to Hell wearing gasoline panties.

But I was curious, and wanted to know if this was some kind of farce, or if it was a legitimate means of maintaining younger, healthier looking skin.

I started my research by Googling “WTF is a Vampire Facial or Vampire Facelift,” and saw a lot of scientific mumbo jumbo that makes the procedure sound scarier than what it actually is. Fortunately, I was able to speak with Dr. Robert Bowen, a West Virginia-based doctor who specializes in cosmetic medicine and body contouring. He confirmed that the procedure isn’t as bad as it sounds.

The differences between a Vampire Facial and the Vampire Facelift are many, but they share one main similarity--they’re both anti-aging cosmetic procedures.

When you get a Vampire Facial, the doctor will take about four tablespoons of your blood - sort of like what happens when you get lab test - and will then put it in a machine for about 10 minutes. That machine’s job is to isolate the Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) from your blood for about 10 minutes.

PRP is as important as nectar is in a mango. Among other uses, medical doctors have been using PRP for years as a clinical tool to treat nerve injury, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, bone repair, alopecia, and sports injuries.

Dr. Bowen says that after the PRP is separated, a micro-needle device is used to create thousands of tiny micro-punctures in the skin, driving the isolated PRP growth factors into the skin, and creating stimulus for tightening and rejuvenating collagen in the face. After that, the doctor paints something on your face. But that’s the kicker--it’s the part of your blood that regenerates new cellular growth.

Dr. Bowen says that what the doctor is doing is painting growth factors onto the micro-punctures, so the growth factors soak into the tissue for further stimulation of tightening and skin rejuvenation.

It doesn't seem that bad, and it’s actually the same procedure that Kim Kardashian had done in one episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Yes, she ugly cried when she got her procedure done, which is weird to me because one of the first steps in the process involves numbing your face.

What I can tell you is that the results are astounding, and the reviews for it are very positive. From what I can tell, women with grayish looking skin have improved color, natural rosy cheeks, and the best part is that they don't have to wear foundation if they don't want to, because their skin looks almost flawless.

ReallyRee, a Beauty Vlogger from the UK, said that she was impressed with the results, but it should be noted that this is not a permanent solution. She also said that doctors suggest two to three treatments per year, and then annually to maintain your look.

"I really loved the results of the PRP - it really improved the texture of my skin, I think my pores were less visible and my skin seemed firmer. It was also really clear and radiant – especially after about 4-6 weeks post treatment."

With the Vampire Facelift, your blood is drawn like you’re about to get a lab test, and then the doctor spins it in a machine called a centrifuge that separates the PRP. Afterward, the doctor injects it into parts of your face. It’s like kind of a natural version of Botox.

It may sound a little gimmicky, especially because of the name, but Dr. Bowen says there’s no gimmicks about the procedure, and the results speaks for itself.

“This is a technique that we use for wound healing,” Dr. Bowen said. “Those tissues are no different than the ones on our skin. The only thing gimmicky thing about it is the name, but not the procedure itself.”

Knowing this made me think that this is a procedure that Black women would never do, because we age so gracefully, however, Dr. Bowen said that a lot of Black women got the procedure done.

“The Vampire Facelift is something that could benefit everybody, from fair skin to dark skin.”

The bomb had been dropped when he said that.

I immediately wanted to know why a Black woman would put her blood back into their face. When I searched for some proof, I found a video of a Black woman who swears by them. Her name is Khanyi Mbau, and she is a South African television personality, actress and socialite, who took South African entertainment show Star Gist behind the scenes during her procedure.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

Dr. Charles Runels, who has been credited as the father of Vampire Facelifts, says he's studied this procedure for years, and that he's committed to creating better ways to improve the procedure. He said in a blog post,

I’ve conducted many research trials and worked as a research chemist before medical school—my job is to find the best materials and the best methods and keep working to make the service better.

If you're sold on the procedures, the Vampire Facial will set you back about $500 to $600 dollars, and the Vampire Facelift will run you between $1600 and $1800 dollars (depending on where you live). In comparison, Botox is a little cheaper, and averages about $250-$500 per treatment, depending on the physician, location, units purchased, promotions, etc.

In the end, people will always be searching for a fountain of youth. Until then, Vampire Facelifts or Facials are definitely natural alternatives for a more youthful look, and the procedures are sure to evolve in the years ahead.

Have you ever had a Vampire Facelift or Facial, and what did you think about it? If not, would you get one?