You’ve in all probability heard of the vampire facial, however what a couple of vampire breast elevate? Celebrities like Kim Kardashian popularized the facial, a beauty process that makes use of plasma from a affected person’s personal blood to supposedly stimulate collagen and enhance pores and skin texture. However you won’t remember that the method can also be utilized in different physique areas, together with the scalp (for thinning hair) and the bust line (to boost pores and skin within the décolletage space). So, the vampire breast “elevate” is a little bit of a misnomer. Nonetheless, is it simply one other Hollywood magnificence gimmick, or can it ship actual outcomes? And, uh, is it painful?
We talked to a board-certified plastic surgeon in regards to the process, which can also be referred to as a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) breast elevate, to search out out the dangers, advantages, and if it’s definitely worth the hefty price ticket of $1,200-$4,500.
What’s a vampire breast elevate?
The vampire nickname comes from the process itself, through which an individual’s blood is drawn, put right into a centrifuge (a machine that spins the blood at excessive velocity), after which re-injected into the low neckline/higher breast space. (So I suppose you change into your personal vampire?)
The blood is separated into three elements by the centrifuge: purple blood cells, white blood cells, and platelet-rich plasma, which is the a part of the blood that’s then injected into the cleavage space to assist enhance elastin and collagen development, per the Cleveland Clinic. The process typically takes lower than an hour, which implies Hollywood celebs can match it into their lunch break.
“It makes the pores and skin within the décolletage space significantly better and offers a slight, non permanent plumping impact,” says Roy Kim, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in California. The outcomes can final two to 6 months, “however you at all times return all the way down to baseline,” he says.
Who is an efficient candidate for the process?
A affected person in good well being who doesn’t need a surgical breast elevate, however who want to look younger within the neckline and cleavage space may gain advantage from the process, Dr. Kim says. He notes that it is perhaps useful if somebody has numerous solar harm, growing old, or wrinkling in that space.
Nevertheless, the in-office process, which isn’t thought-about surgical procedure, doesn’t truly elevate the breasts. Your breasts could look fuller for a time, however it primarily improves the tone and texture of the pores and skin in that space because the excessive focus of platelets stimulates tissue regeneration and cell copy.
A PRP breast elevate is a low-risk process so long as the affected person is in good well being, however some swelling, bruising, or gentle ache on the injection website is feasible. People who find themselves anemic, have a blood dysfunction, or who’re on blood thinners mustn’t get the process, Dr. Kim says.
Does a vampire breast elevate damage?
It may damage, however in all probability just a bit. The supplier ought to administer numbing treatment (both cream or injection) previous to the PRP injections and microneedling, Dr. Kim says. “Microneedling pokes tiny holes into the pores and skin, and then you definately drive the PRP into the tiny holes.”
In case you get a numbing injection, it ought to ease the ache of the microneedling. However then once more, ache varies, and it might really feel uncomfortable for some. Kim Kardashian, who was unable to make use of the numbing cream since she was pregnant, stated her vampire facial in 2018 was “tough and painful” in consequence. So maintain that in thoughts!
Do it’s important to go to a plastic surgeon?
You would possibly really feel extra comfy going to a plastic surgeon for this process, however it’s not totally crucial because it’s not surgical procedure, Dr. Kim says. “An excellent medspa can ship good outcomes,” he says. (Emphasis on good right here.) “You simply need an skilled supplier who takes it critically.”
Make certain the medspa has credentialed and licensed practitioners, an excellent session course of, and stable opinions on-line. Per the CDC, there are very uncommon circumstances of sufferers getting hepatitis or HIV after a PRP injection. “These circumstances are at medspa factories the place the centrifuge isn’t fastidiously monitored and isn’t within the affected person’s room, however in a again room the place they put in a number of sufferers’ blood after which every little thing will get combined up, they usually’re injecting the fallacious sufferers’ blood,” Dr. Kim says, reiterating that this state of affairs is extremely unlikely.
Because the process (when executed correctly) makes use of solely your personal blood, the danger of issues is minimal, Dr. Kim says.
With no downtime and minimal threat and ache, the vampire breast elevate would possibly curiosity you if you wish to enhance solar harm, fantastic traces, and uneven tone within the décolletage space. It may additionally supply fast outcomes in comparison with a cheaper however slower choice, like retinol. Nevertheless, in order for you an precise breast elevate, the “vampire” model is not going to do the trick. As you seemingly guessed, lifting the breasts would require surgical procedure—and the prices and dangers that associate with it.
