Twilight Craze Brings The 'Vampire Facelift'; Selphyl

A new cosmetic procedure may just "eclipse" its competition. They're calling it the "Vampire Facelift", and it's increasingly available at medical spas.

It's not really a facelift, though, it's an injectable filler called Selphyl (get it? Sounds like cell-fill). It's generating lots of buzz.

It works by temporarily plumping up lines, much like its older cousins Juvederm and Restylane. But unlike the competition, Selphyl uses the patient's own blood to do the plumping.

Twilight enough for ya?

First, an amount of the patient's blood is extracted. Then, according to the maker, the platelets are separated from the red blood cells. The platelets are blended with a proprietary synthetic mixture and injected into your frown line.

This happens to coincide with all this fascination people have right now with blood - the whole vampire craze," says Dr. Tabasum Mir, who specializes in cosmetic dermatology and cosmetic laser surgery in Manhattan. Her patients are not requesting it, she ads, but inquiring out of curiosity. "I don't think my patients are interested in a two-step procedure when there are a lot of other fillers around that have been tried and tested."

Besides, one can't help but thinking that a real vampire wouldn't need Sephyl or any other wrinkle filler, because the undead stay out of the sun and never age. Anyway, is it safe for humans?

We certainly looked into it, but I think there probably isn't much of a problem when it comes to safety," says Dr. David Bank, President of the New York State Society for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. "And by now, if any of our members were coming in with problems or complaints they would be reported to the society and those reports would be then shuttled to me. I haven't heard anything bad. But that's not a guarantee. The jury is still out."

Comments

[Charles Runels, MD]

Very nice article. Thank you for getting the word out.

Just a couple of notes: First, the "blend" is actually just a few drops of calcium chloride. Calcium Chloride tricks the platelets into thinking there's been a tissue injury and that they should release growth factors to help repair (even though there's been not injury). Second, the Selphyl company talks about using the product to fill the nasolabial folds (the crease from the nose to the corners of the mouth). But, the Vampire Facelift (TM), which I trademarked, is a particular way of using the product in multiple places in the face to create an overall effect of increased beauty and youthfulness.

It's not for everyone. Sometimes, Botox or Juvederm will do a better job. But, in many cases, the Vampire Facelift can be like magic.

[Suzanne Slader, RN]

Too funny. I've started using the *vampire* tag in my Isolaz Acne marketing aimed @ the younger kids: Homework Sucks. Vampires Suck. Isolaz Acne Treatment Really Sucks. Yeah, Isolaz sure ain't for hair or teles but I get good acne results. Anybody got some Isolaz tips they want to sell? Flip side I have a pot load of PPx tips for sale....some superloaded with pulses.

[InnovaMed]

I know the kit to process the blood can be purchased from the company. Do they provide the training for the "vampire facelift"? or where does one go for the training? I've had a patient just call - apparently was on TV again recently.

[LH]

Yes they will train but I am not sold it is that great of a product. You have all of the preparation and time into it and the cost is not cheap. From the pictures I have seen the results are not that great. Right now it is just as easy to go to the cupboard and grab a pre-prepared syringe of one of the currently available fillers.

I do think there is some good theaory behind it and that should advance over the next couple of years. I may bring them in and have them show it to me. If I have them come in, I will let you know.

Lornell E. Hansen II, M.D.
LazaDerm Skincare Centre
www.LazaDerm.com