Acute Communicable Disease Control

Acute Communicable
Disease Control

ACDC Main Page Diseases & Conditions

Guidelines/Manuals

Reporting a Disease

Materials for Health Professionals

Los Angeles Health Alert Network (LAHAN)

Skilled Nursing Facilities

Public Health Resources

Report a Problem

Health Advisories

Health Ed Materials

Disease Reports and Special Studies Frequently Used Links

Contact Information

County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, #212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
Email:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov

Acute Communicable Disease Control

Vampire Facial or Vampire Facelift

Key Points:

This procedure cannot be performed by an aesthetician
Ask how ALL equipment is cleaned between clients
Confirm that all needles, syringes, and dermarollers are new and sterile
Confirm that your own blood is used

What is it?
A vampire facial (otherwise known as a vampire facelift or a platelet-rich plasma(PRP) facial) involves taking a sample of your own blood, extracting the plasma (the liquid part of your blood), and then injecting it with needles back in your face. Injections can be done using a single needle placed in various areas of the face (similar to the process used for filler injections) or with microneedling, a procedure that involves a pen-like device (dermaroller) that has a small needle-filled tip.

Why plasma? It's rich in platelets, growth factors, and other nutrients that reportedly stimulate the growth of collagen and healthy skin cells.

Who can perform it?
This is best done by a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. In California, aestheticians cannot penetrate the skin and should not perform microneedling or vampire facials.

SAFETY TIPS:
When performed using proper technique and precautions, it is a safe procedure; however, whenever you are performing a procedure in which there is exposure to blood, sterile technique must be used to prevent infections and avoid spreading of infectious diseases. Areas of concern are if needles are re-used, equipment isn't being cleaned properly, or another patient’s blood was used for your vampire facial. These lapses put you at risk of getting an infection. Ask you provider how the instruments were cleaned before your treatment and whenever possible, ask them to open new needles, syringes, and dermarollers in front of you to ensure they are new and/or sterile.

Note: In New Mexico, multiple patients contracted HIV after receiving vampire facials due to improper infection control. For more information, see New Mexico Department of Health HEALTH ALERT.

Home |

Careers |

DPH Programs |

Email: Webmaster |

Notice of Privacy Practices |

Website Privacy Policy |

Accessibility |

Disclaimer |

Employee

Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.