A Vampire Facial, or PRP facial, combines microneedling (also known as collagen-induction therapy) with topical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from your own blood.

This skin rejuvenation treatment creates an overall improvement to skin texture and tone. It can also reduce scars (including acne scars), correct hyperpigmentation, tighten lax skin, smooth fine lines, and minimize the appearance of large pores.

There’s been a lot of hype about Vampire Facials—Kim Kardashian West famously got one and shared a post-procedure selfie with blood on her face.

The growth factors in the PRP help with faster regeneration of new skin and production of collagen. It can make skin look more refreshed, smoother, and firmer.

1. After cleansing and prepping your skin for the treatment, an esthetician will draw a vial of your blood and place it into the centrifuge to isolate the platelets. “The PRP will then be drawn up in smaller syringes for the application.
2. Next, the professional will apply the PRP to your face as they microneedle your skin. While you can inject PRP back into the skin, that’s a different procedure—with vampire facials, the PRP gets applied topically, then the microneedling enhances penetration thanks to the tiny puncture wounds.
3. “The process is then repeated for a second pass, and whatever remaining PRP is left over is usually applied as a mask. (This is where someone might snap a selfie of their face painted with their own blood.) Your skin will be red and swollen, and you can often see pinpoint bleeding, which is how the procedure received its name in the first place.