The vampire facial, also known as micro-needling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), is a medical procedure that improves skin tone and texture. The PRP facial involves drawing blood from an arm, separating the platelets from the red blood cells and applying them back onto our 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 is plasma with a platelet concentration of at least 100,000 platelets/UL in 5 milliliters of plasma and is associated with the enhancement of healing. Optimum PRP contains a three-to-five-fold increase in growth factor concentrations.

Additionally, 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, the skin is first cleansed, and a numbing agent is applied. Next, blood is drawn and spun down several times to extract the rich platelet-rich plasma. A trained nurse practitioner will then use a micro-needling pen to create micro perforations in the skin which will allow greater permeability of the PRP. Aside from stimulating collagen growth, PRP also acts as a natural dermal filler.

Contributed by Cate Blaire, NP-C of BioSymmetry Wilmington located at 265 Racine Dr., Ste. 102. For more information about the PRP facial or to schedule an appointment, call 910-399-6661 or visit BioSymmetryWilmington.com. See ad, page 24.