In a star-studded night of glamor, what more could the great and good of Hollywood expect in their swag bags than… cosmetic surgery vouchers?
It turns out that the procedure on offer – the trendy Vampire Facelift – is derived from something called Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, previously used to fix tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves, and often combined with products such as Juvederm.
The icing on the cake is that Perez Hilton previously reported in December that Kim Kardashian may well have undergone the procedure, with a source labeling it simply as ‘needling’ and ‘gross’.
The reality is that PRP for facial rejuvenation is somewhat experimental and relatively unproven. It does work, and remarkably well in many cases, but it won’t necessarily work for everyone.
So, before jumping on the bandwagon, run through the procedure with your surgeon and ask specifically what the chances of success are and what the expectations might be.
If you’ve already had injection fillers or Botox, you’ll know about the light bruising and the fact that this isn’t a permanent solution. You’ll also be familiar with the whole treatment to recovery cycle, which, as with many non-invasive procedures is mercifully short.
But what does the Vampire Facelift actually do?
In essence, blood is removed, the amount of platelets boosted, and the resulting platelet rich plasma is injected back into the face in areas where wrinkles are apparent. In that respect, it’s similar to Juvederm, Botox or other fillers, with one special difference – it’s derived from the patient’s own blood.
The technology used to derive this mixture comes at a price – anywhere around the $1000 mark, and up – and the lucky recipients of the Academy Awards swag bag allegedly received vouchers for $5,000 worth of treatment. Not that they need it.
So, is it just a red carpet fad? The jury seems to be out on that, but many surgeons have signed up with the company behind the Vampire Facelift and they stand by their results. It wouldn’t be the first time that commercial applications are slightly ahead of clinical proof, and it certainly won’t be the last!
Our advice? Check with your surgeon, explore the alternatives, and choose the treatment with the best chance of success and most reliable results for your particular case. Trends are not for everyone, but the role of the surgeon is to give the best advice they can, and that never goes out of fashion.
For more information about facial rejuvenation in and around Houston, Texas, contact renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Vitenas at (281) 484-0088.
