A cosmetic procedure known as a “vampire facial” is considered a more affordable and less invasive option than a facelift, but the procedure can pose a serious health hazard if performed in unsanitary conditions, according to a new report.
This turned out to be the case for three women who likely contracted HIV after receiving vampire facials at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico, marking the first known cases of virus transmission during a cosmetic injection procedure, according to the results released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During a vampire facial, a person’s blood is drawn from their arm, then the platelets are separated and applied to the patient’s face using microneedles, according to at a skin clinic. The procedure, also called platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is touted by its proponents as helping to reduce pore size and fine lines as well as rejuvenate the skin.
But several people with no known risk factors for HIV likely became infected with the virus through vampire facials at the facility, which has since been closed, according to the CDC report.
“This investigation is the first to link HIV transmission to non-sterile cosmetic injection services,” the statement said.
The facility came to the attention of state health officials after a spa guest tested positive for HIV while traveling abroad in 2018. Another tested positive for HIV while routine tests for life insurance in 2018, while a third only discovered she was HIV positive a year later. a few days ago, during a hospitalization for an AIDS-related illness, the CDC report said.
Unlabeled blood tubes
The incidents described by the CDC indicate the risks of visiting unlicensed spa facilities.
Although the CDC report did not name the unlicensed spa, the New Mexico Department of Health had in 2018 close VIP Spa in Albuquerque after state inspectors found practices that could spread blood-borne infections, including HIV, to customers. This included tubes of unlabeled blood on a kitchen counter as well as other injectables stored with food in the kitchen refrigerator.
Former owner of the VIP Spa Maria Ramos de Ruiz pleaded guilty in June 2022 to five counts of practicing medicine without a license, CBS affiliate KRQE reported. She was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
Among those who have undergone the cosmetic procedure are Kim Kardashian, who posted an image of his bloodied face after undergoing the procedure in 2013. She has since spoken out against the procedure.
People considering injections for medical or cosmetic reasons are advised to ask whether a provider, clinic or spa is licensed and trained, and whether the products involved are FDA approved and purchased from a reputable source. Some states have a lookup tool that can be used to check licenses, according to the CDC.
Requiring proper infection control practices in spa facilities offering cosmetic injection services can help prevent…
