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• Vampire Facelift Touted To Remove Wrinkles With Patient Blood

  By Dr. Jeffrey J. Roth Sun, October 03, 2010 3:00 pm MDT

  Dracula Smiles On Plastic Surgery's Latest Trend

  Vampires and the myths surrounding them have fascinated human culture for centuries. The popular Twilight book series and HBO's "True Blood" demonstrate the vampire genre is not dead, even if its icons are supposed to be. In fact, the vampires on "True Blood" survive and "mainstream" by living on artificial blood, something modern medical science has been trying to create for decades. Hopefully real life can imitate art in the future, at least in the sense of artificial blood being available for medical emergencies. In the meantime, it is not surprising that vampire pop culture has made its way into the field of plastic surgery.

  A new cosmetic procedure, known as the "Vampire Facelift," has been touted to plastic surgeons and their patients.  Recently, UBS Aesthetics released their patented SELPHYL system.

  Basically, when a patient arrives at their plastic surgeon's office, a vial of blood is drawn, similar to a regular blood test.  The plastic surgeon then uses the SELPHYL kit and a centrifuge to separate out a few of the components found in blood. These components are Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) and an activated Platelet-rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM).

  These components can be used for cosmetic procedures to correct skin depressions, wrinkles, and acne scars and to promote skin volume and rejuvenation.

  Although this is a new spin on an old cosmetic procedure, the facelift, it is not a new idea.  For years various blood components have been studied by scientists and physicians in hope of finding one that would aid in healing.  Different companies have provided kits to take blood from a patient, process and separate the components of the blood, and ultimately give the blood components back to the patient. The Cascade and CryoSeal Systems are two that come to mind.

  The literature on Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) and an activated Platelet-rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM) has been mixed.  Some clinical reviews say it helps, others say it does not.  Currently qualified, randomized, double blinded studies on the process are lacking.  Likewise, long term studies are hard to find on the effectiveness of PRP and PRFM.

  What is new is that SELPHYL is now being marketed to physicians and plastic surgeons as well as directly to potential patients as a cosmetic treatment.  Patients receive components of their own blood for augmentation, typically filling and volumizing, of skin tissues.  We lose volume in our face as we age.  By placing volume back into the face, we often see an improvement in appearance.

  It is not a facelift.  A facelift is a cosmetic procedure which surgically lifts the facial tissues back to where they used to be, or where the patient might like them to be.

  Intriguing may be a good word, both for the mystique of vampires, and for new takes on old modalities to help improve the way we look.  The modern use of blood may help us combat the age old process of getting old after all.

  Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.

  Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

  (702) 450-0777

  www.jjrothmd.com

  References:

  Platelet-rich therapies in the treatment of orthopaedic sport injuries. Sánchez M, Anitua E, Orive G, Mujika I, Andia I. Sports Med. 2009;39(5):345-54.

  Platelet Rich Plasma: Myth or Reality? Wang HL, Gustavo A. Eur J Dent. 2007 October; 1(4): 192–194.

  Platelet-rich fibrin matrix for improvement of deep nasolabial folds. Sclafani AP. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2010 Mar;9(1):66-71.

  Applications of platelet-rich fibrin matrix in facial plastic surgery. Sclafani AP. Facial Plast Surg. 2009 Nov;25(4):270-6. Epub 2009 Nov 18.

  Use of tissue sealants in face-lifts: a metaanalysis. Por YC, Shi L, Samuel M, Song C, Yeow VK. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2009 May;33(3):336-9. Epub 2008 Dec 17.

  Face and neck revitalization with platelet-rich plasma (PRP): clinical outcome in a series of 23 consecutively treated patients. Redaelli A, Romano D, Marcianó A. J Drugs Dermatol. 2010 May;9(5):466-72.

  Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Review of Biology and Applications in Plastic Surgery. Eppley, BL, Pietrzak, WS, Blanton M. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Volume 118(6), November 2006, pp 147e-15

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