HIV Infections Linked to Vampire Facelifts: CDC Warns of Unsanitary Cosmetic Procedures
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported three cases of women becoming infected with HIV after receiving blood cell injections for wrinkle removal and facelift procedures. This information was disclosed during a meeting on April 26. The method used in these procedures is known as the Vampire Facelift, which involves using plasma from blood cells for cosmetic purposes.
In 2018, the first case was identified at VIP Spa in Albuquerque, Mexico, where a patient underwent blood cell injections for facial rejuvenation. Despite denying high-risk behaviors such as drug use or sex with HIV-infected individuals, the patient tested positive for HIV infection. This incident led to the New Mexico Department of Health offering free testing to all clients who had received injections at the facility, which was subsequently closed.
Following this incident, the CDC and New Mexico Department of Health conducted an investigation into unsanitary practices at the spa, including unlabeled blood tubes stored in refrigerators next to food and improperly handled syringes. The spa owner was convicted of multiple health code violations and sentenced to prison in 2022. In total, 59 customers were potentially exposed to HIV infection, with 20 of them undergoing the Vampire Facelift procedure.
In 2019, two more cases of HIV infection were discovered in individuals who had received facial treatments at VIP Spa in 2018. One individual was diagnosed in the early stages of HIV infection while another was hospitalized with severe symptoms. The CDC found that the spa did not have a proper operating license and failed to implement appropriate safety measures.
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that there is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of this procedure. While some facilities use their own client’s blood to minimize risks others source blood from outside sources like hospitals or donor centers where they may not be fully screened for infectious diseases like HIV before being used for cosmetic procedures which can increase risk factor significantly . It is important that proper infection control measures are followed when performing these types of procedures to prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne pathogens.
HIV is primarily transmitted through contact with infected body fluids, specifically blood and semen. Proper infection control measures are essential in cosmetic facilities offering injection services to prevent the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne pathogens.
It’s important for consumers to do their research before undergoing any cosmetic procedure involving injecting foreign substances into their bodies
