This article is contributed by Catie Blair, NP-C

The vampire facial, also known as microneedling with platelet rich plasma (PRP), is a medical procedure that improves skin tone and texture. The PRP facial involves drawing blood from your arm, separating the platelets from the red blood cells, and applying them back onto your face. This type of facial has gained popularity because of the tremendous amount of growth factors found in our blood that can be utilized to stimulate collagen and elastin in our skin. 

PRP contains proteins and factors that imitate and regulate all aspects of wound healing. Plasma is the fluid portion of blood. Platelet-rich plasma, by true definition, is plasma with a platelet concentration of at least 100,000 platelets/UL in 5 ml of plasma and is associated with the enhancement of healing. True “PRP” contains a 3-5 fold increase in growth factor concentrations. 

PRP has been used in medicine for the healing of tissues commonly in orthopedic surgery, dentistry, wound management, and many other specialties. 

During a PRP facial, your skin is cleansed and a numbing agent is applied. Next, your blood is drawn and spun down several times to extract the rich platelet rich plasma. A trained nurse practitioner will then use a microneedling pen to create microperforations in the skin which will allow greater permeability of the PRP. 

The PRP facial uses your own blood to help promote the healthy activity of your skin cells and regenerate collagen. PRP can also be injected into the skin to act as a natural dermal filler. 

PRP is safe because it comes from your own blood. Growth factors are normal body proteins. 

For more information about the PRP Facial or to schedule an appointment, call Biosymmetry Wilmington at 910-399-6661 or go to biosymmetrywilmington.com