Bewitchingly Boo-Tiful This Halloween Season: The "Blood Facial"

You may have heard of the “Blood Facial” … it’s a non-invasive treatment becoming increasingly popular. Kim Kardashian, Gisele Bündchen and Anna Friel have tried it – would you?  

With Halloween so close I wanted to share info on the “Blood Facial” – also called the Plasma Facial – given at Esthetica MD by Dr. Rabkin who is the medical spa’s director, as well as the Director of Minimally Invasive Facial Rejuvenation at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Below are the why’s, how’s and benefits of this skincare treatment that reduces fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars, and stimulates collagen production, making skin visibly more supple and youthful looking.

How it Works:

The procedure is relatively simple. The blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to separate platelet rich plasma from the rest of the blood cells. The plasma is then activated using a patented system and is applied topically to the skin. The Dermapen device is then used to create micro-injuries (i.e., micro needling) to the skin, to drive the plasma into the skin.  The difference between a PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) procedure and Plasma or Blood Facial, is that instead of injecting platelet rich plasma into the face as a natural filler, we rejuvenate the entire face superficially.  The procedure takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour.  For best results, it is recommended to repeat this procedure every 3-4 months.
 
Why do it?
The platelets enable the body to heal itself and migrate to the site of injury.  Platelets are known to release a variety of factors in response to the injury and initiate and promote tissue healing.  The PRP has been used for years in orthopedic surgical procedures to speed up recovery and promote healing of injured joints.
 
Dr. Rabkin is a huge believer in the use of platelets and has personally been involved in platelet research since the '80s in the Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
 
Benefits:

1.  Our own blood is autologous, not foreign to the body.
2.  There is little or no down time involved.
3.  The procedure is fairly cost effective in comparison with some other anti-aging options.  The cost of the procedure can be anywhere between $800-1,200, depending on the practice and location.  (Esthetica MD charges $750 for Plasma Facial.)
4.  It is a great anti-aging prophylaxis and yields very noticeable and great results in the suppleness and texture of skin.

The procedure gained popularity in the last 12 months and has been performed for about 3 years. However, the use of Microneedling and PRP has been around longer.  Microneedling or Collagen Induction Therapy has been widely used in facial rejuvenation in Europe.  The use of PRP in cosmetic procedures gained popularity in the last few years, as the trend toward non-invasive facial rejuvenation has been on the rise. 
 

Dr. Rabkin, performs the blood or plasma facial, as well as many other natural-looking, age reversing aesthetic services including medical grade facials, peels, Botox, face tightening, and liquid rhinoplasty at Esthetica MD in Englewood, NJ, located just minutes from New York City.

(To the best of my knowledge Dr. Rabkin did not treat Kim Kardashian)