get your glow on
Microneedling and Vampire Facials
Acne Scars? What Acne Scars?
Effective. FDA-Cleared. Affordable. Put SkinPen® to work for you.
Skinpen® by bellus medical is the only microneedling device in the world cleared by the u.S. Food and drug administration, clinically proven to safely and effectively treat facial acne scars for ages 22 and up.
With as few as three non-invasive and affordable treatments spaced 30 days apart, you can improve your appearance for six months after your last treatment – and step out with confidence.
How it Works:
The SkinPen® microneedling device causes controlled micro-injuries that stimulate the body’s natural wound healing process, while minimizing cellular damage. The micro-injuries trigger the release of cytokines and growth factors that lead to remodeling of collagen and elastin. The result is effective remodeling of scar tissue, while keeping the overall structure of the skin intact.
There are three phases to the wound repair process:
1. Inflammation
Piercing the skin triggers your immune system to disinfect the wounds, remove debris, increase blood flow and begin to create new tissue.
2. Proliferation
The wound is re-built with new granulation cells, as well as a temporary (type III) collagen and elastin, which are part of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, a new network of blood vessels develops.
3. Remodeling
The wound has been replaced with new dermal tissues and blood vessels. The type III collagen in the newly formed tissue is replaced with stronger type I collagen, which can contract to create a tightening or “shrink wrap” effect on the skin.
Microneedling + PRP
Combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with microneedling allows us to take this treatment one step further. PRP is an advanced technique which utilizes the body’s own blood cells to actually boost the production of collagen, thus enhancing efficacy and the overall success of the treatment. Microneedling with PRP can significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin tone, and help with the treatment of acne scars, surgical scars, and even stretch marks. It sometimes called a Vampire® Facial because the PRP and growth factors are obtained from your blood.
A Vampire Facial (Platelet Rich Plasma Facial Treatment) is a combination of two steps:
1. Microneedling
2. Soaking the skin with growth factor enriched with Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet Rich Plasma Facial Treatment is nearly identical to the Blood Facial that Kim Kardashian promoted on her social media.
What to Expect:
• Plan For Optimal Results. Your physician may recommend a course of procedures based on your individual goals. Maintenance of your procedure might require multiple treatments.
• Short Procedure Time. The treatment will likely take 30 minutes to one hour.
• Comfortable Procedure. Based on your needs, your physician will likely apply a topical numbing agent to the treatment area.
• Mild Sensation. Most patients report feeling only the slight vibration of SkinPen® during the procedure.
• Effective Post-Procedure Protocol. Your provider might recommend an aftercare regimen. Ask about Skinfuse, Bellus Medical’s 90-day protocol specifically formulated to support your skin following microneedling.
• Soothing Aftercare. Your clinician will provide Skinfuse® LIFT, a clean, non-cytotoxic hydrogel used to prevent the skin from drying out post-treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are platelets?
Platelets are the cells in the blood that help tissue to heal and grow new cells, and many growth factors are present in PRP. The PRP promotes your own collagen to grow, regenerates tissue, and thus acts as to naturally smooth and tighten the skin. In this way, PRP softens wrinkles and creating smoother skin texture and tone.
What happens during the PRP facial procedure?
During a short office visit a small amount of a patient’s own blood is drawn into a 10 mL vacuum collection tube containing a proprietary separator gel.
The tube is placed into a centrifuge and spun to isolate the PRP (platelet rich plasma).
The contaminating red and white blood cells are displaced and located below the separator gel.
The PRP is ready for use according to the clinical use requirements. Yielding about 6 mL’s of autologous platelet-rich plasma (A-PRP).
What’s the science behind PRP facial treatment with SkinPen®?
As part of the body’s healing ability, platelets and other components in human blood migrate to the point of care. Platelets are well known to release numerous growth factors that respond to tissue injury and initiate and promote the conditions for healing.
How long does it last?
Normally about seven months. The amount of time that you benefit from PRP depends largely how you treat your skin. If you stay out of the sun, wear sunblock, get enough sleep, drink lots of water, and use medical grade skin products, you can expect the longest benefit from any skin treatment.
Can I do it more than once?
You should give the treatment some time to reach its maximum effect. Most patients will just need one treatment every six months to achieve and keep the maximum benefit. Some patients with severe skin damage can benefit from a series of treatments. Ask your specialist at The Spa at West Ashley Wellness about packages with reduced pricing if you need multiple treatment sessions of PRP and micro needling.
I was told I’m not a good candidate for laser treatments. Can I do this?
Micro needling and PRP can be used on all skin types, including patients with darker skin that are not candidates for laser therapy, such as those of African American, Asian, and Latino descent for example.
Is the vampire facial with platelet rich plasma safe?
Yes. This system has been safely used in hundreds of thousands of procedures worldwide. Because this procedure only uses the platelets from your own body there is no chance for an allergic reaction. It uses your body’s natural healing response system to improve your skin. The SkinPen® by Bellus Medical is a FDA cleared medical device. SkinPen® is intended for the safe and rapid preparation of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from a small sample of blood at the patient point of care.
