THE ‘VAMPIRE’ FACELIFT
AN INCREASINGLY popular way of improving the texture of your skin is with injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) — plasma taken from your own blood.
You may have heard this called a Dracula Facial or the Vampire Facelift.
WHAT IS IT? First, you have a small amount of blood — about 15ml — taken from your arm. Vials containing this blood are put in a centrifuge, which looks like a small medical version of a spin-dryer, and spun for five minutes, until the red blood cells separate away from the clear plasma. This plasma is full of platelets, which can repair any damage in the skin.
PRP is good for improving the texture of skin because, along with that regeneration comes a fresher, smoother top layer.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE: Disconcerting. Olivier Amar, who’s doing my treatment in London, prefers to put the PRP back in the face with a cannula, rather than a needle. A cannula is like a blunt needle, so this seems a bad idea but, once under the skin, it can be steered gently without stabbing through fibrous bands or blood vessels.
PAIN LEVEL: Three. Fine as long as you are OK with needles.
VERDICT: Impressive. A month later, the treated area looks softer, clearer and smoother. COST AND LOCATION: £875, cadogan clinic.com