Everyone was all the buzz this month when (home porn) reality star Kim Kardashian took to a Miami anti-age clinic and tried a vampire facial on-camera. I saw a clip of her getting this procedure done. {PLEASE do not ask me to watch a full Kar-trash tv show in its entirety. The straw that broke the camel's back was the classy sisters' "vag" smell-off contest, topping off a myriad of other self-serving, over-the-top, disgusting behavior.}
Let's get something straight from www.vampirefacial.com. "The Vampire Facial™ procedure uses the same blood-derived growth factors used in the Vampire Facelift ® procedure. The difference is that with the Vampire Facial™ the physician applies the PRP topically. With the Vampire Facelift ® the physician injects the PRP into the face and combines it with an HA filler (like Juvederm)."
Hmmmm, why would Kim K be howling at the moon in pain saying "ow, it hurts!" if she wasn't being injected? Seems to me like she got the procedure described as a "facelift."
Your physician may choose to use a topical anesthetic to numb the treatment area. I thought the doc said that he did this and then Kim K said something to the effect of "Oh, I never get that."
?? WHY?
Back to the procudre: a small amount of blood will be taken from your arm and placed in a centrifuge to separate the PRP growth platelet components out of the blood. While the growth platelets are being prepared, your Vampire Facelift® professional will inject HA (Hyaluronic Acid) filler to the areas of your face that have lost skin volume, such as wrinkles and folds. Immediately following the placement of HA, your physician will begin placement of the PRP growth platelets.
KUDOS to the PR company for the vampire facial to get this kind of exposure -- surely the company paid BOO-koo bucks to get this exposure and "celebrity" to talk about their service and try it....and surely KK did not pay for this service. I'm sorry...did you think reality shows are REAL?
In my opinion, here's the REALITY about KK's vampire facial.
1) One should not just decide to TRY a procedure because they are a "rebel" or because it sounds like something that will make them feel more "youthful" as a result. Injectable facial procedures are not some fashion accessory you decide to pick up at the last minute because it matches your shoes. Always consult a physician when you are considering a procedure and take the time to find someone with solid credentials and experience.
From the vampirefacial.com website: "Your physician will examine your skin to determine if the Vampire Facelift® is right for you." Remember, although you have a procedure in mind, your doctor can look at your face and recommend something entirely different that will be of better benefit to your overall appearance. Always weigh the pro's and con's of any procedure and have a consultation with a doctor before going through with it. And it's best to see before and after photos of procedures that they've done.
2) Did KK really NEED this procedure? The Vampire Facelift® "is used for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, and improving overall skin texture, laxity, volume and tone." Did you see any moderate to severe wrinkles and folds on this 32 year old? Did she offer up a before and after shot to educate others? Nope, she went with "the money shot," a shot of blood remnants on her face and a big ol' smile....more than likely what she wore all the way to the bank. That's a shame too, because this facelift/facial boasts that you can see results in as little as a few days.
This is what the VF does: The Vampire Facelift® combines the injection of HA fillers and growth platelets to provide volume to facial tissue and restores a smoother youthful appearance to the face.
Do you think KK is in need of any "VOLUME" ANYwhere on her bod? I rest my case.
3) My fave part of her procedure? No, it wasn't that she brought a totally useless, obnoxious on-looker...it was that SHE CRIED! It's no wonder KK's treatment isn't featured on the www.vampirefacial.com site as part of NEWS. Nobody wants you to get their services and then CRY while getting them! And it's a good reminder for everyone to ASK QUESTIONS! Of course, in addition to asking your doctor about potential side effects, it's perfectly acceptable to ask your doc about how painful the procedure is, what you can do to minimize pain (topical numbing treatments, having someone hold your hand, avoiding certain medications before-hand, etc.)...and guess what, you can even ask your doc "What can we do if I don't like the results?" Get ALL the info up front so you are not krying like KK. "Krying like KK - sounds like the title of a hit song to ME."
Possible side effects of this procedure include:
"Most side effects are mild or moderate in nature, and their duration is short lasting (7 days or less). The most common side effects include, but are not limited to, temporary injections site reactions such as redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration. As with all skin injection procedures there is a risk of infection."
I LOVE how her sidekick asked something like, "Is there going to be anymore PAIN, or is this it?" The doc answered that the pain is over, but didn't go into any of the above, which are true common side effects! Perhaps they edited that out for time.
If some of you think I'm being too critical of your cherished reality star, sorry. The whole segment could've been a lot different if they portrayed KK as actually INVESTIGATING the facial/procedure, learning about it, having an on-camera consult and being educated and educating others. Instead, she just went out and did something for fun - she purchased something that most people can't really afford and some perhaps could really benefit from experiencing, when she really didn't exhibit any of the volume loss or lines that this procedure treats. But then again, learning...preparing...educating....YAWN, I guess that's too boring for reality TV.
What REALLY worries me is the "Monkey See Monkey Do" factor involved with "celebrity" actions. I certainly hope that teens are not going to be saving their money for procedures they don't need because one of their idols did it.
Trying anything to “look and feel youthful,” without actually investigating it and learning about it in advance, weighing the pro's and con's and consulting with a doctor is just plain silly and can be dangerous.
Let's remember, that this is a lady who claimed she didn't have any pregnancy cravings and then tweeted a shot of In And Out Burger. I'm ashamed to even admit that I KNOW this, but I do have the TV on from time to time.
One news source says that Kim Kardashian makes $10,000 per tweet.
Makes one question the very "reality" of this vampire procedure at all.
Keepin' it Real,
~The Anti-Aging Analyst
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