PRP / Vampire Facial is a treatment where your own blood is drawn, processed in a centrifuge, and then reintroduced into your skin as a serum packed with growth factors to trigger collagen production and skin renewal.
What almost nobody mentions is that “Vampire Facial” isn’t actually a generic industry term – it’s a registered trademark owned by American physician Dr. Charles Runels, who developed and patented this specific combination of PRP and microneedling back in 2010. That means many providers using the name “Vampire Facial” are technically performing a similar PRP microneedling treatment without the protected name, not the original licensed procedure. Below, I’ll explain how PRP / Vampire Facial actually works scientifically, where the famous name really comes from, and what you absolutely need to check before booking one.
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How PRP / Vampire Facial works scientifically
The name sounds dramatic, but the science behind it is fairly simple: your blood contains platelets that release growth factors whenever there’s an injury, kickstarting the healing process. During PRP / Vampire Facial, your blood is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate these platelets, often to 3 to 5 times their normal levels, before the resulting “platelet-rich plasma” is reapplied to the skin.
One detail rarely explained anywhere else: growth factors start releasing as early as about 10 minutes after application, with roughly 95% of them released within the first hour. However, the platelets keep producing additional growth factors for up to seven days afterward, which explains why skin keeps noticeably working on regeneration for days after the treatment, not just immediately following it.
Where the name PRP / Vampire Facial really comes from
PRP / Vampire Facial only became truly famous after a well-known American reality TV personality posted a blood-covered selfie right after the treatment in 2013, sparking worldwide attention and popularizing the bloody nickname. But the underlying method had already existed for years in medical wound care and orthopedic applications, long before it became a beauty treatment.
What most beauty blogs don’t mention is that “Vampire Facial” is legally trademarked, meaning only licensed providers who’ve completed official training are technically allowed to call the treatment by that name. Everyone else is offering what’s technically a “PRP microneedling treatment,” even if they colloquially use the same branded name.
What results PRP / Vampire Facial actually shows scientifically
Clinical studies on PRP / Vampire Facial show positive effects on skin elasticity, hydration, fine lines and overall skin texture, especially when combined with microneedling, which delivers the growth factors deeper into the skin. Results develop gradually over several weeks, since the body needs time to respond to the released growth factors with new collagen production.
It’s important to know that PRP / Vampire Facial doesn’t create an instant, dramatic transformation the way filtered or edited social media photos sometimes suggest. The effect is real but more subtle and cumulative, which is why a series of 2 to 3 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart is typically recommended to achieve visible improvement.
What risks actually exist with PRP / Vampire Facial
Here’s something many commercial articles on this topic deliberately avoid mentioning: in 2024, the US CDC published a report on the first documented case of HIV transmission worldwide linked to a cosmetic injection procedure, caused by unsterile practices at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico that offered PRP / Vampire Facial. Several people were infected between 2018 and 2023 because blood samples weren’t properly labeled and instruments weren’t handled with proper sterility.
This case clearly shows why PRP / Vampire Facial should only ever be performed by licensed, medically trained professionals following strict hygiene standards, since this treatment involves drawing blood and reinjecting it. Because drawing blood is classified as a medical procedure in most countries, genuine PRP / Vampire Facial is performed exclusively by doctors, not by beauty or skincare studios.
How to meaningfully complement PRP / Vampire Facial
Since the actual PRP component requires drawing blood and is therefore reserved for doctors, the microneedling foundation of PRP / Vampire Facial can also be used on its own to achieve similar collagen stimulation, without any blood draw involved. A professional Microneedling treatment uses the same micro-injury technique found in PRP / Vampire Facial to prompt the skin to produce its own collagen and elastin.
For anyone wanting to support results long-term, this pairs well with treatments from the Anti-Aging program, which specifically target natural, age-related collagen loss and help maintain skin structure between microneedling sessions.
FAQ: Most Common Questions About PRP / Vampire Facial
Is PRP / Vampire Facial the same as regular microneedling?
No, regular microneedling only creates the micro-injuries, while PRP / Vampire Facial additionally introduces your own processed blood plasma packed with concentrated growth factors into the skin.
How painful is PRP / Vampire Facial?
With a topical numbing cream, PRP / Vampire Facial is well tolerated by most people, with a mild tingling or pressure sensation during the treatment being normal.
How long do PRP / Vampire Facial results last?
Results develop over several weeks and typically last 6 to 12 months depending on individual skin aging, before a touch-up treatment is recommended.
Can any beauty studio offer PRP / Vampire Facial?
No, since drawing blood is a medical procedure, genuine PRP / Vampire Facial can only be legally performed by doctors, not by beauty or skincare studios.
Is PRP / Vampire Facial safe?
When performed correctly and sterilely by licensed medical professionals, PRP / Vampire Facial is considered safe; documented risks arose exclusively from unhygienic practices at unlicensed facilities.
