HOUSTON – People from Hollywood to Houston are trying the newest cosmetic craze called the Vampire Facelift.
"I want to look like myself and get rid of some of the fine lines and wrinkles," said Judy Barnes, who underwent the procedure after celebrating a big birthday.
Recommended Videos
The Vampire Facelift is sold as a procedure to smooth out fine lines without surgery.
"I want to look like I use to look. I don't want to look like someone else. That is what got me thinking this might be good versus a facelift," said the school counselor.
The Vampire Facelift uses the patient's own blood that is drawn from the arm. The blood is then put in a centrifuge to separate the platelet and platelet plasma from the red blood cells.
The patient is numbed up for a laser treatment, followed by injections of platelet rich plasma into the wrinkles.
"This is actually just your own stuff," Dr. Joseph Perlman--with Advanced Plastic Surgery Centre--told Barnes as he was performing the procedure. "This increased concentration contains a lot of growth factors that are
important in healing as well as increasing collagen production, which is the building block of your skin," added Dr. Perlman.
"It hurt a little bit, maybe 1 or 2 times," said Barnes after the
procedure.
She took pictures every 2 days for the next 2 weeks to track her results.
"It was like a very severe sunburn. It was probably a little more intense than I was prepared for. Not pain wise, but just appearance-wise," added Barnes.
Two weeks after the procedure, she was back wearing makeup and said she noticed a difference.
"I have noticed a change, especially under my eyes and on my cheekbones," said Barnes.
"People that I work with and my family all say my skin looks smoother with fewer lines. Just in the past 3 to 4 days I have noticed a big improvement, and so I think every day is still bringing a big improvement," said Barnes.
Doctor Perlman said the treatment would last 9-12 months.
Vampire Facelifts can cost anywhere from $1500-3500, depending on the fillers and laser treatments used.