From Botox to “vampire facials,” “tweaks” and the medical spas that offer them are everywhere you look. The number of these types of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increased by more than 70% between 2019 and 2022, according to the latest data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. But recently vampire facials have been in the headlines for their link to three cases of HIV, while health authorities warn that fake Botox It is causing botulismraising concerns about the safety of these popular treatments.
Here’s what you need to know about breakouts and how to stay safe if you’re getting a facial.
What’s going on with vampire facials?
Three women contracted HIV after getting so-called vampire facials at an Albuquerque spa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report confirmed Thursday. It is the first time the procedure has resulted in the transmission of HIV and raises concerns about the safety of vampire facials, also known as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) microneedling procedures, which aim to rejuvenate the skin.
The first case came to light in 2018, when a woman who had a vampire facial at VIP Spa, an unlicensed medical spa in Albuquerque, and who had no other likely sources of exposure, tested positive for HIV. The New Mexico Department of Health then offered free HIV testing to 59 customers who visited the spa and who officials deemed at risk. Two other women who received vampire facials tested positive for HIV.
Health officials also identified a former client of the spa, which opened in 2017, who had been diagnosed with HIV in 2012. The CDC has not said whether this person was the source of the HIV outbreak, but his viral sample was genetically very similar to the those in the other cases linked to the spa.
In fall 2018, an investigation of VIP Spa “revealed unsafe infection control practices,” including unlabeled blood tubes and injectables such as Botox and lidocaine, according to the CDC report.
Should you avoid vampire facials?
You don’t need to avoid vampire facials entirely, but you should look for a licensed, reputable provider to get one, experts warn. “In general, these procedures can be done very safely,” Dr.dermatologist and cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Union Derm in New York City tells Yahoo Life.
The vampire facial procedure itself is not particularly dangerous and is considered minimally invasive. The treatment has earned the nickname “vampire facial” because during a PRP microneedling procedure, the patient’s own blood is drawn from the forearm, then centrifuged to separate the platelet-rich plasma and injected into the patient’s face with a microneedling device equipped with . with a dozen or more tiny needles, depending on the American Academy of Dermatology.
“There are risks with any type of needle, even if you’re injecting Botox or injectable fillers or using microneedling,” says Black. “Any time needles enter the skin, there is always a risk of bloodborne pathogens, just from needlestick injuries.” Vampire facials are a little riskier because “the blood, which could potentially transmit a blood-borne disease, is separated from the patient and being processed, and that adds another element of risk because you don’t want to have problems with mislabeling or Contamination. ”
She says proper labeling of blood vials is crucial to ensure they are not switched and a client ends up being injected with someone else’s blood, which may be a different type than their own or contain pathogens such as HIV.
Black says the danger comes from unsafe and unsanitary practices, such as unlabeled vials of blood or the reuse of unsterilized needles. She says the safest way to get a vampire facial — or any cosmetic injection — is with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
What other beauty treatments should you look out for?
On April 23, the CDC issued an alert about Counterfeit and contaminated Botox being sold throughout the country. At least 22 people in 11 states have become ill after receiving unapproved counterfeit Botox at unlicensed medical spas or outside medical settings such as homes.
Botox is the brand name for botulinum toxin – a highly processed and purified version of the bacteria that causes botulism, which paralyzes muscles and prevents and smoothes wrinkles. “It is a very powerful toxin; can be used as a biological weapon”, Dr. Antonio Rossi, a dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, tells Yahoo Life. People who received contaminated Botox developed symptoms of botulism, including difficulty breathing or swallowing, blurred or double vision, slurred speech and droopy eyelids. At least 11 were hospitalized, according to the CDC.
“We see counterfeit products like this sometimes coming onto the market because the costs of these products are very high, so if people want to save money, they can try to import them” from countries with fewer regulations or from black market sellers, says Rossi. . “We see this not just with Botox; we see this with dermal fillers as well – unlicensed or even licensed suppliers trying to source cheaper products and getting sterile and improperly manufactured products.”
What’s the best way to stay safe?
Rossi and Black say the gold standard of safety is to go to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office and have the doctors themselves administer injectable treatments. “Typically, vampire facials will be done under optimal safety protocols, with a board-certified dermatologist specifically trained in these types of procedures,” says Black.
Rossi adds: “Sometimes marketing makes it seem like [cosmetic procedures] they are a lunchtime event of sorts. But these are medical procedures, so you really want to look for trained medical professionals.”
HIV transmissions occurred in an illegal and unlicensed spa, which was closed in 2018 after the first case was detected. The CDC said the contaminated Botox injections were all administered by “unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-healthcare settings, such as homes or spas.” In most states, only licensed medical professionals can legally perform cosmetic procedures, according to the American Med Spa Association. Even in those that do not have this requirement, a medical director must oversee the services of a medical spa.
Rossi “doesn’t try to discourage” patients from going to medical spas. But, he says, “you want to make sure the places are respectable, because not everyone is created equally.” He advises checking to see if any medical spa you’re considering visiting has a license and good consumer reviews. Black says it’s important not to be afraid to ask if there is a licensed doctor overseeing a medical spa and if that person is on site when you have your appointment.
You can also keep an eye on the products and methods used at the time of the consultation. You can ask for the Botox and dermal filler to be drawn from the vial onto the needle in front of you so you can see and be sure you’re getting the real product, suggests Black.
Likewise, if you’re getting a vampire facial, you can ask for a label with your name to be placed on the vial of your blood while you watch, and you can ask to see it again after it’s processed in a centrifuge. Questions are your friends, says Rossi. “It’s okay to ask someone for credentials; It’s okay to ask to see the bottle; If they are taking blood from you, you want to be sure that the blood they use is yours, and if your intuition tells you that this seems fishy, you should listen to that,” he says.
Low prices can be attractive, but if the price seems “too good to be true,” that could be a clue that something “fishy” might be going on, Rossi points out. Black adds, “Unfortunately, many patients are misled by advertising and end up going to facilities that simply do not have proper licensing and safety mechanisms in place.”
