PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), often referred to as vampire facelift, is a method where growth factors from the patient’s own blood are injected back into the skin after processing. PRP therapy is an anti-aging method that works entirely without additives and is therefore excellently tolerated and very natural.
With microneedling, you achieve a refreshed and youthful skin appearance and a radiant look without extended downtime.
Important Facts
- Treatment duration: 30 minutes
- Anesthesia: local anesthetic cream if needed
- Aftercare: Sun protection
- Result: Continuous improvement of the skin over weeks to months, multiple sessions necessary
- Pain level: Low, only tiny punctures with very fine cannulas
- Social downtime: Immediate, rarely small bruises possible
- Price: PRP face starting from €300, each additional region (neck, décolletage) €50, PRP tear trough €350, Vampire facelift €330, PRP for hair loss €280
What is PRP Therapy
PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. Other terms for this very effective therapy for skin rejuvenation are autologous plasma treatment, autologous blood therapy, or plasma lifting.
Recently, the procedure has also become known in the media under the somewhat “sensational” name of vampire facelift or Dracula lifting, because Hollywood celebrities like Kim Kardashian rave about the method.
But what exactly is this anti-aging treatment that’s now on everyone’s lips? Well, basically, treatment with autologous plasma is anything but new. Autologous blood has been used in medicine for many years, first in orthopedics, where it was found to lead to better wound healing in cartilage damage in joints when autologous blood is used. Subsequently, it was discovered that the active ingredients in blood plasma are also amazingly effective for facial skin regeneration, scar treatment, or stimulating hair roots in cases of hair loss.
But let’s take it one step at a time, what is plasma anyway? Plasma refers to the part of the blood that no longer contains cells (white or red blood cells). It is a golden-yellow fluid that contains, among other things, many thrombocytes, or platelets in English. And these platelets are responsible for the effect of PRP treatment, because they are full of the body’s own growth factors.
How is blood plasma obtained
To obtain PRP, blood is taken from the patient and this blood is processed using special procedures. After processing, the red and white blood cells can be removed, and what remains is the blood plasma containing all the platelets. The entire process takes only about 10 minutes in the practice, and you get the golden-yellow fluid that Americans even call “liquid gold” because it is so valuable when it comes to regenerating various tissues.
How does PRP work
The platelets in the blood plasma contain numerous growth factors that stimulate, for example, collagen synthesis and cell renewal. This is how the body repairs itself in case of an injury. Thus, the autologous blood treatment can be used in many ways to harness the self-healing powers of plasma.
PRP treatments for skin rejuvenation on face, hands, or décolletage
In PRP treatment for skin rejuvenation, the platelet-rich plasma is specifically introduced into certain problem areas on the face, hands, or décolletage, so that the growth factors are released there. The result is a stimulation of collagen production with a significant improvement in skin texture and stimulation of regeneration. The result of the treatment is skin tightening where small wrinkles are smoothed out.
PRP therapy for dark under-eye circles
The causes of dark circles under the eyes are diverse. On one hand, a lack of subcutaneous fat tissue under the lower eyelid can create a groove that produces a shadow – in this case, an injection with hyaluronic acid is recommended before working with plasma. On the other hand, the cause can also be very thin skin in the area of the lower eyelid. In this case, the eyelid muscle shimmers through the delicate skin, making it appear darker. Then, PRP treatments can be used to firm the skin so that it appears less transparent. I will discuss which therapy is suitable for you in a detailed consultation.
Scar Treatment with PRP
In addition to the classic PRP treatment for skin rejuvenation, the use of plasma has also proven effective for acne scars. However, since acne scars are unfortunately extremely stubborn, 6-10 treatments are needed here, preferably in combination with microneedling, before an improvement in skin texture can be achieved.
Even for hair loss, amazing results can be achieved through targeted injection of plasma into the scalp, as the hair follicles are stimulated again by the growth factors. This plasma treatment is equally popular among men and women. It has proven effective for both androgenetic hair loss and problems following severe infectious diseases (COVID-19) or increased stress levels. Plasma is also very often recommended to help newly transplanted hair grow well after a hair transplant operation.
Advantages of PRP Treatments
No foreign substances - a very natural method for skin rejuvenation
Since PRP is a body’s own product without any additives, the treatment is excellently tolerable. During the PRP lifting, no additional substances are added to the autologous blood. Since everyone tolerates their own blood, allergic reactions or other severe side effects are practically excluded.
PRP is thus an ideal wrinkle treatment for patients who find it particularly important to have no foreign materials in their face, for example, because they have a strong tendency to allergies, or because for various reasons, treatment with hyaluronic acid or Botox is not an option for them.
The most common side effects of a vampire lift are small bruises or slight swelling, which disappear after a few days.
No downtime
The treatment is performed on an outpatient basis in one of the offices in Vienna or Baden, and patients can go home immediately afterwards. They may have minor hematomas (bruises) on their face, or if PRP was combined with needling, the entire face may be reddened, but they can perform normal daily activities without restrictions.
You look absolutely natural afterwards
As aesthetic procedures become more popular, unfortunately, more and more frightening examples of poorly done treatments are also seen. Both in distant Hollywood and in Vienna, we unfortunately often see people who, for example, can no longer move their faces or have strangely altered facial shapes. The reasons for this are often poor facelifts, too much Botox, or fillers that have been poorly used. This cannot happen to you with PRP lifting. The plasma has no volume effect, but only improves skin quality and stimulates regeneration and collagen synthesis. Once any small swellings and hematomas have subsided after the treatment, no one will notice that you’ve ‘had something done’, but many people will notice your fresher appearance.
Combination of PRP Treatment with Other Methods
The PRP treatment can be very well combined with other minimally invasive aesthetic procedures upon request, such as products with hyaluronic acid (fillers, skin boosters, or Profhilo) or Botox. To minimize side effects, however, I recommend dividing these treatments into different sessions that are a few weeks apart.
Another very popular treatment option is the combination of vampire lifting with microneedling. In this form of vampire lifting, the skin of the face is first numbed with a local anesthetic ointment and then needled with the so-called Dermapen. Afterwards, the PRP is applied. Due to the numerous microchannels created in the skin during needling, the active ingredients in the blood plasma can now penetrate even deeper into the skin. The micro-injuries lead to an even stronger stimulation of collagen synthesis, which is why small wrinkles are smoothed out even more effectively. Due to the effect of the body’s own growth factors in the PRP, wound healing occurs faster, so that the skin recovers more quickly after microneedling.
Preferred Areas of Application for PRP
- Fine wrinkles, for example on the upper lip or cheeks
- General skin thinning and sagging skin
- Improvement of skin quality on neck and décolleté
- Scars
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Hereditary hair loss
How Many PRP Treatments Are Needed
Skin Rejuvenation - Vampire Lifting
Even though a significant improvement in the skin is noticeable after just a single treatment with autologous blood, I have had the best experiences with plasma liftings when 3-5 treatments are initially done at intervals of about four weeks, followed by regular refreshers about once or twice a year.
This way, the skin receives a very strong rejuvenation stimulus through the initial treatment course and then regular boosters that further drive regeneration.
PRP for Hair Loss
When the therapy is done to stimulate hair follicles, you should have at least three to four treatments at intervals of about three to four weeks. This is especially recommended after a hair transplant, where the first treatment often takes place immediately after the transplant (often performed abroad) and patients then switch to me for further treatments.
How Long Does It Take to See the Results of PRP Treatment
With the PRP method, you need some patience before you see the results, as the active ingredients in the autologous blood gradually develop their effect in the skin. The success sets in slowly and incrementally, building up over a period of several months.
For Whom Is Vampire Lifting Not Suitable
Even though the treatment is very well tolerated, there are some contraindications.
These include:
- Coagulation disorders
- Existing cancer and ongoing chemotherapy
- Ongoing treatment with so-called platelet aggregation inhibitors
- Therapy with pain medications
- Therapy with cortisone preparations
- Acute infections in the treatment area
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about PRP Therapy - Vampire Lifting
Is PRP Treatment Also Suitable for Allergy Sufferers?
As no additional substances are added to the autologous blood, the treatment with plasma is perfectly suitable for allergy sufferers and overall very well tolerated.
How Much Blood Is Drawn for Vampire Lifting?
About 15ml of blood is drawn for the treatment, which is about the same amount as in a regular blood draw.
How Strong Is the Lifting Effect in a Vampire Lifting?
Vampire lifting results in skin tightening and stimulation of collagen synthesis, which overall has a rejuvenating effect. However, the results are of course not comparable to surgery where excess skin is actually removed. On the other hand, with vampire lifting, you don’t need anesthesia and there are no incision scars. Other surgical risks such as severe infections or longer downtime are also eliminated. However, if you actually want a significant lift of sagging facial areas, surgical lifting is the better treatment, and I recommend you consult an experienced specialist in plastic surgery.
What Should I Consider Before the Autologous Blood Treatment?
To ensure that your blood contains enough functional platelets, you should not have taken any blood-thinning medications, cortisone, or fever-reducing or pain-relieving substances such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or diclofenac in the last ten days before the treatment.