I TESTED KARDASHIAN’S VAMPIRE FACELIFT

Some people might view the Kardashians as irritating tabloid celebrities, but the content of Keeping Up with the Kardashians reflects the ideological issues evolving in American society today. The Kardashian sisters, particularly Kim, have contributed to today’s reality television mania by changing the perception of female beauty and the obsession with consumption and materialism.

When Kim Kardashian (36) had a blood facial on the reality television series, Kourtney and Kim Take Miami, and posted a picture of her bloodstained face on Instagram, she caused a sensation. Millions of people reacted with shock and fascination to Kim’s vampire-like skin treatment. Television shows ran reports on Kim’s ‘beauty secret’ and interviewed dermatologists and plastic surgeons about the effectiveness of this new rejuvenating treatment.

I TESTED KARDASHIAN’S VAMPIRE FACELIFT

As a beauty editor, I test new luxury beauty products and try new treatments at beauty institutes, spas and beauty clinics. Needless to say, I was looking forward to testing the vampire facial — the new therapy for facial rejuvenation. Doctors refer to it as cell therapy or Plated Rich Plasma (PRP), as it uses blood plasma. I chose to try the treatment at the Prevention Center, one of Switzerland’s leading centres for medical, aesthetic and cosmetic treatments. The centre is led by Dr Christian Köhler, a medical doctor who has completed many years of operational training and has experience in general surgery, vascular surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery.

I scheduled my appointment for 3.30 pm on a Thursday afternoon. Daniela, a highly professional, courteous and warm-hearted beautician, accompanied me to an elegant treatment room, removed my make-up and applied a numbing cream to my face. A few minutes later, another employee with 10 years experience in venipuncture came into the room and drew 15 ml of blood from a vein in my left arm. She then placed my blood in a special machine that isolates the platelets (thrombocytes). After a few minutes, the beautician took the phials out of the machine and began to inject the blood into the skin of my face (cheeks, chin, forehead and eye areas) to stimulate the body’s own regeneration process.

How does PRP work? The key ingredient, PRP, is taken from the patient’s own blood. The platelets contain growth factors that promote the production of cell-preserving substances. Specifically, these platelets release natural tissue-regenerating factors that support collagen production and the reconstruction of the dermal matrix.

Does the blood injection hurt? No, but like a micro-needling treatment, it itches a little. My beautician applied a numbing cream before she began injecting the blood, making the pain bearable.

Why did Kim Kardashian complain in the video that the injection hurt? Because she’s a drama queen who wanted to create more drama for her television series. She really wanted to impress her audience by giving a painful performance.

Do other celebrities get the vampire facelift? Yes, PRP is part of the beauty routine of many Hollywood actresses and models, even though hardly anyone will admit to it in public. Top model, Bar Refaeli (31) posted a picture of her vampire facial on Instagram.

How long did the treatment last? The part of the treatment in which blood was injected into my face lasted 10 minutes. The overall treatment (filling in the health questionnaire, removing the make-up etc.) lasted 30 minutes.

Was your face bloodstained when you left the medical centre? No, it was quite red, but this is normal. After the injection, the beautician cleaned my face and applied sunscreen. She also advised me not to apply any cream, foundation or make-up until the next day. If you use public transport to go home, I suggest that you put on some sunglasses to cover the redness around your eyes — that’s what I did when I took the train back home. The redness disappeared from my face within a few hours.

How much did the PRP treatment cost? My treatment at the Prevention Center cost CHF 500 (for 15 ml of blood). The centre also offers a special three-session package (for 3 x 15 ml of blood) for CHF 1200. A treatment with 15 ml of blood is suitable for men and women who still have a firm skin and only a few fine lines. Sessions with 60 ml of blood cost CHF 1,500 and are recommended for those who already have wrinkles and visibly lack volume and elasticity in the face.

Does the vampire facelift work? Yes, in my case it did. My face was a bit swollen immediately after the treatment; however, the following day, I noticed that my face was firmer and fuller, especially my cheeks. My nasolabial wrinkles had diminished. As I don’t have any wrinkles on my forehead, I didn’t notice any changes in that part of my face. The face looks very natural; thus, it’s the perfect treatment for people who want purely natural skin regeneration. According to the Prevention Center, the improvement should be visible for at least one year.

Do you get the same result with an expensive cream? No, you don’t. As a beauty journalist, I get to test the most expensive creams. Anti-ageing creams hydrate the skin and should be an important part of your daily skincare programme, but no cream in the world can give you more volume or change the contours of your face—that’s simply a marketing invention to boost sales.

Photos: Courtesy of Kim Kardashian (Instagram), Bar Refaeli (Instagram) and Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia