New Non-surgical Wrinkle Treatment Uses Your Blood to Smooth Skin

A new non-surgical procedure, termed “vampire facelift,” uses your own  blood to repair skin damage 

Society is always looking for ways to stay young. With no shortage of innovation in this multimillion-dollar industry, it’s no surprise that the latest secret to lasting youth may actually be found within your own body. 

The latest offering in the race against wrinkles is called Selphyl and uses a patient’s own blood to repair the damage caused by aging — leading to it being coined the “vampire facelift.” 

According to Vancouver cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Jason Rivers, Selphyl is a natural option for people who don’t want to “put anything foreign into their bodies.” 

How Selphyl Works

Simplistically, here’s how it works: A small amount of blood is collected from the patient. The sample is then put into a machine and spun to separate the cells, creating a concentrated solution of plasma that is rich in platelets. 

“Platelets contain growth factors that stimulate wound healing, so we are essentially healing wrinkles,” explains Dr. Anthony Sclafani, an American facial plastic surgeon. 

Once isolated, that plasma is then injected back into a person’s problem areas. Results are not immediate but seen over the following two to three weeks when the injected platelets trigger the body to produce new collagen and blood vessels to increase skin volume and fill out wrinkles. 

According to Dr. Sclafani, the result is fairly durable. “[It] tends to stay in a long-lasting way — maybe lasting up to a year-and-a-half or two years in certain cases.” 

Treatment with platelet-rich plasma has already been used in other areas of medicine to help heal chronic tendonitis, arthritis and sports injuries. Now, there’s interest in its cosmetic potential. “This is replicating the healing process and we are letting the body do what it normally does,” says Dr. Sclafani. 

Cost of the Non-surgical Wrinkle Treatment

The cost can range from $700 to $1,500 depending on the area being treated, a price that many people are willing to pay for a natural alternative to synthetic fillers. Compared to older types of cosmetic fillers, the incidence of skin hardening or thickening is uncommon. Theoretically, there is also less chance of inflammation because there are no synthetic components. 

In Canada, there are currently a few locations offering this technique, although it’s still in its early days, with few published scientific studies. However, more clinical trials are planned to further clarify the effects of this technology. 

Another interesting area for fillers and wrinkle relief is the technology of using one’s own body fat. Advances in this area are finding ways to produce long-lasting results. The quest for younger-looking skin will no doubt continue to drive research in this field for years to come.