You may have seen on social media or most famously on TV with celebrities like Kim Kardashian a treatment dubbed the ‘Vampire Facial’. In this blog, I will explain what this treatment is and how it works.
The Vampire Facial refers to a treatment called Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy.
What is PRP?
PRP is a completely natural way to rejuvenate your skin. Using your own blood we are able to harness your body’s natural self-renewal function to treat a variety of skin issues.
We take a small sample of your blood and using a machine called a centrifuge, we spin the blood for approximately 5 minutes to separate out the 3 different components of the blood into plasma at the top, platelets in the middle and red blood cells at the bottom.
Platelets as you may know are highly effective for wound healing. They have also been shown to improve skin volume and elasticity, both of which diminish as we age.
Therefore by taking the platelet rich component of our blood and reintroducing it into the skin we can increase collagen and elastin production creating fuller, tighter and smoother skin.
Why and where would I have PRP treatment?
As mentioned PRP helps volumise, tighten and rejuvenate skin. It can be used all over the face. Under eye PRP treatment has proven effective as it can help treat tear trough volume loss and shadowing under the eye. It is also much safer than using fillers in this area.
Another increasingly popular use of PRP is for hair loss and thinning. PRP has been shown to increase thickness of existing hair and also stimulate hair growth in both men and women. At BTX London in Clapham Dr Raman will be offering PRP for hair loss. A detailed consultation will be required prior to a procedure to assess suitability for this treatment.
How does my appointment work?
When you attend for PRP at BTX London in Clapham South, Dr Raman will take a sample of your blood from a vein in your arm, much like having blood taken at your local GP. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge for approximately 5 minutes. You will be able to have a drink of coffee or tea during this time.
The platelet-rich component of the blood is then removed in a second syringe and this can then be re-injected into the area being treated.
If we are treating your hair we may request that you come in 30 minutes earlier to apply topical anaesthetic cream to the scalp.
How will I look immediately after the treatment?
There is a misconception that after the vampire facial your face will be covered in red blood. This is incorrect and may stem from reality TV’s depiction of the procedure. There will be minimal redness to the skin. You may have slight swelling at the site of injection, but in the majority of cases, you will be fine to go straight back to work.
When will it start to work?
It usually takes a few weeks before the effects become visible. We generally recommend 3 treatments for maximal benefit on the face. For treatment of hair loss, 3-5 sessions are recommended.
Following a course of 3 sessions, for optimal results we would recommend a top-up session at approximately 9 months.
What can go wrong?
The beauty of PRP is that it is a safe procedure. As we have mentioned we are using your own blood therefore it is 100% natural.
The main risks post-treatment will be mild swelling and bruising – both of which will resolve fairly quickly.
At BTX London in Clapham, Dr Raman is excited to offer this innovative and natural treatment for skin and hair rejuvenation. Dr Raman has over 20 years of experience working in the NHS as a doctor and is therefore extremely comfortable performing PRP treatments.
Feel free to book a no-obligation consultation with Dr Raman at BTX London in Clapham South if you have any further questions or concerns.