Kim Kardashian made the vampire facial famous on Instagram. But what exactly is it?

It might sound wild, but when you know that the average American woman spends $8 per day on her face, it might not sound as crazy when you break it down.

A vampire facial is a nickname for a PRP or platelet-rich plasma facial, and it’s much less dramatic than you might think.

To be upfront, it still isn’t for the faint of heart.

Read on if you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of blood and a small amount of dignity to keep your skin looking youthful.

What Exactly is a Vampire Facial?

It’s a combination of microdermabrasion and PRP done at a plastic surgeon or doctor’s office–not a crypt or 10th-century castle.

You use your own blood to help stimulate your face to create newer and younger looking skin.

So yeah, there is an element of needles. And that blood you see smeared on celebrity faces? It’s their own blood. The doctor uses the serum portion of the blood, which contains platelets, to create cell turnover on the face. What results is the unveiling of beautiful and youthful skin.

What’s Involved?

It starts to sound a little scary when you break down the process. In reality, it’s not worse than having your blood drawn at your yearly physical. If you can do that, you can have the vampire facial without problems.

First, you’ll have your blood drawn. This is like any other blood draw you’ve had in your life. It’ll come from somewhere in your arm like it usually does.

Your blood will then run through a centrifuge, a machine that can isolate the platelets from the rest of your blood. They collect your platelets to use on you for the next part of the procedure. This should take about ten minutes.

Next, you’ll have micro-needling or microdermabrasion on your face. This is to essentially trick your body into thinking you’ve been injured.

Once the micro-needling finishes, you’ll have your separated blood placed on your face.

After your body believes you’re injured, it will use the platelets from your blood to help restore the tissue on your face. This will help you emerge with more youthful looking skin.

Learn more about PRP facials here.

Does It Hurt?

It depends on who you ask and your pain tolerance level. For some people, it’s a walk in the park. Others might find the blood draw and micro-needling to be painful.

Your doctor will do the micro needling after he or she has numbed your face. Most people say they do not feel that part of the procedure, except for where the needle hits an area that may not have been completely numbed.

And even when it does hit those areas, it isn’t much more than a tiny pinprick.

Pain level will vary from person to person, but the vampire facial should never be too painful.

How Long Does It Take to Heal?

Healing time varies from person to person. This will depend on how sensitive your skin is. You cannot have an allergic reaction to it, as the only thing used on your face is your own blood.

Most people say that they start to see results within one to two days. Some people report that their faces are still red and discolored the day after the procedure. Others report itching, swelling, and general discomfort.

Doctors generally advise that you keep the swelling at bay with an anti-inflammatory oral medication. You should also use either prescription lotion the doctor gives you after the procedure or scent-free lotion you can buy from a drugstore.

You can usually apply make-up in a couple of days.

Who Can Have a Vampire Facial?

Despite its gory appearance and tough reputation, almost anyone is a candidate for a vampire facial. The only people that shouldn’t seek one are those who have clotting or other blood disorders. Otherwise, anyone seeking a more youthful complexion is fine to have the facial done.

As mentioned previously, the only real complication is bruising. While bruising is common, it will go away on its own. As you’re using your own blood, you cannot have an allergic reaction.

How Much Does It Cost?

It varies from doctor to doctor and city to city. On average, you’re looking at around $1,000 per treatment. It may be more or less depending on where you live. For example, a vampire facial in New York or Beverly Hills would likely cost more than a vampire facial in Tuscon.

How Often Can I Have It?

This gory facial might sound appealing enough for you to have not just once, but multiple times. If you’re the type of person who would love to have this treatment, you can only have it done one time per month. You cannot have the treatment done more than that, as it could cause bruising and other issues.

Your doctor may give you creams to buy that can keep your skin baby soft in the interim.

Is a Vampire Facial for Me?

A vampire facial has relatively few risks, so it is a great procedure to try if you’re interested. Don’t freak yourself out when you look in the mirror and have blood all over your face. Remember, pain is beauty, and beauty can come in the most bizarre of forms!

For more information on beauty tips and tricks, visit us here.