From Botox to “vampire facials,” “adjustments” and the medical spas that offer them are everywhere you look. The number of these types of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increased by more than 70% between 2019 and 2022, according to the latest data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. But recently, vampire facials have made headlines due to their link to three cases of HIV, while health authorities warn that Counterfeit Botox is originally botulismraising concerns about the safety of these popular treatments.
Here’s what you need to know about outbreaks and how to stay safe if you’re having a facial procedure.
What’s up with vampire facials?
Three women contracted HIV after receiving so-called vampire facials at a spa in Albuquerque, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. report confirmed Thursday. This is the first time the procedure has led to HIV transmission and raised concerns about the safety of vampire facials, also known as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) microneedling procedures that aim to rejuvenate the skin.
The first case came to light in 2018, when a woman who had a vampire facial at VIP Spa, an unlicensed medical spa in Albuquerque, and had no other likely sources of exposure, was tested positive for HIV. The New Mexico Department of Health then offered free HIV testing to 59 guests who had visited the spa and whom officials considered at risk. Two other women who received vampire facials tested positive for HIV.
Health officials also identified a former patron of the spa opened in 2017, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2012. The CDC has not said whether this person was the source of the HIV outbreak, but his viral sample was genetically very similar to that of the spa. those of other spa-related cases.
In fall 2018, an investigation at VIP Spa “revealed unsafe infection control practices,” including unlabeled tubes of blood and injectables, such as Botox and lidocaine, according to the CDC report.
Should you avoid vampire facials?
You don’t need to avoid vampire facials altogether, but you should make sure you go to a licensed, reputable provider to get one, experts warn. “In general, these procedures can be performed safely” Dr. Jeanette Blackdermatologist and cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Union Derm in New York, told Yahoo Life.
The vampire facial procedure itself is not particularly dangerous and is considered minimally invasive. The treatment has earned the nickname “vampire facial” because during a PRP microneedling procedure, the patient’s blood is drawn from their forearm, then spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma and injected into the patient’s face using an equipped microneedling device. with a dozen or more small needles, depending on the American Academy of Dermatology.
“All types of needles carry risks, even if you’re injecting Botox or injectable fillers or using microneedling,” says Black….
