Welcome back to Serenity MedSpa’s Q&A blog series where we talk with some of our clients and practitioners to get the inside scoop on the latest cosmetic face and body medical spa treatments.
Who: A woman in her early 40s who works in a youth-driven industry
What: The Vampire Facial with Dr. Lisa at Serenity MedSpa
Why: To soften wrinkles, increase skin elasticity and improve skin tone
What are your main skin concerns at the moment?
When I turned 40, everything changed—practically overnight. I started to get hormonal breakouts and my skin looked so tired and dull. My melasma, which I’ve been battling for the last decade, also got a lot worse. So, I’m super interested in non-invasive treatments that address aging skin and pigmentation issues.
What made you want to try the Vampire Facial?
I had done a handful of Clear + Brilliant treatments at Serenity MedSpa and loved the results. They just didn’t last very long. My skin would look better for a few weeks and then the dullness returned. Clear + Brilliant is perfect for special events—it’s like having a facial that keeps your glow going for weeks instead of days—but I was looking for something longer-term and more cumulative. A friend of mine worked with the original creators of the Vampire Facial in LA several years ago, so when it became available at Serenity MedSpa I was already primed to try it.
It’s a potentially intimidating name for a treatment. Did you have any reservations?
Just a tiny bit, but not because I’m squeamish about needles. My skin is very sensitive and can be reactive, so I’m weary of aggressive peels and lasers. Having melasma just adds another layer of complexity. I have to go slow or I risk making it worse. Dr. Lisa also suffers from melasma, and the Vampire Facial is one of the only treatments she trusts not to exacerbate it. I knew if she could trust it, I could too.
Can you describe your experience?
It’s pretty quick and painless. After a staff member applies numbing cream, Dr. Lisa draws blood from your arm and puts it in a centrifuge to separate the plasma. After about 25 minutes, a staff member removes the numbing cream and Dr. Lisa injects your own plasma under your skin wherever you have pronounced wrinkles. It stings a little bit –more than filler—but it’s over pretty fast. Then another staff member begins applying the plasma to small sections of your face before going over them with the microneedling device. It sounds a bit like a mini sander, and that’s exactly what I imagined as it was happening: I was sanding away my wrinkles and dark spots.
How did you feel afterwards?
My face was definitely red and warm to the touch, like I had a sunburn. Straight away they whisk you into a quiet room where you lie down with a soothing gel mask and an icepack for about 15 minutes to help with the redness and swelling. You aren’t supposed to wash your skin or put anything on it until the next day for the best results. Serenity staff also sends you home with a free recovery kit from Epionce. The products are lovely—great ingredients and so moisturizing without feeling the least bit heavy. You are supposed to use them starting the day after your treatment and for the next week or so. I ended up buying more and still use them every day.
Did you feel okay going to work the next day?
Absolutely. My face was still a bit flushed looking, but thankfully one of the Serenity ladies color matched me for Oxygenetix Foundation. Whoa. I can’t recommend it enough. It instantly takes away any redness. I was so impressed! Plus you can layer it for whatever level of coverage you need—and it’s full of really good ingredients. It gives you this completely natural glow. I wear it every day now as my regular foundation. I’m embarrassed to admit that before I got color matched, I was convinced I had “warm” undertones. So for years I’d been buying foundation with a yellow base. It turns out I actually have “cool” undertones. Whoops! The whole experience changed the way I wear makeup for the better.
And…? Were the results what you had hoped?
After the very first treatment—I’ve now had two—I could see a subtle difference in the texture and tone of my skin. A few weeks after my second treatment, the results were more pronounced. Overall, my skin looks more even and youthful. I’ve had a few people say I look really “healthy.” I’m also using Triluma, which Dr. Lisa recommended after my second treatment, to help lighten my melasma. Since it contains Retin A, I was worried it might be irritating, but it’s not at all. I love what it’s doing to my skin! Getting rid of melasma is a slow process, but it seems to be helping a lot. I’m really looking forward to my third treatment.