Most branded facelifts include a benefit, or “hook,” for the consumer in their name: the Weekend Facelift, the Lifestyle Lift, the Quick Lift. But one branded rejuvenation option uses a different approach altogether, calling itself the Selphyl® Vampire Facelift.
Quite a twist on even the most catchy ways to attract the attention of those interested in looking younger, wouldn't you say? That unique brand name aside, what is the Vampire Facelift? And should you consider it?
According to the manufacturer’s website, www.selphyl.com, Selphyl technology allows a physician to use components of a patient’s own blood to create what’s termed a "Platelet-rich Fibrin Matrix." This mixture of blood (plus other ingredients that are hard to pin down) is then injected under the skin. The theory is that the preparation causes new cell growth and strengthens the tissues that support surface skin, smoothing wrinkles. Therefore, results Selphyl may offer are not really comparable to a surgical facelift; they’re actually comparable to those of hyaluronic-based fillers like Restylane and Juvederm.
It’s understandable that many patients would find Selphyl appealing. Because the treatment is based on your own blood, there’s no worry about side effects or downtime. And Selphyl has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for facial rejuvenation.
Is the treatment worthwhile? Discussing Selphyl on www.realself.com, patients and doctors alike seem to be mostly underwhelmed. One doctor said that it takes time to mix the preparation, it takes time to notice results and the effect is temporary. It’s no wonder Selphyl has failed to take away market share from the hyaluronic acid-based injectables.
But you can’t deny the marketing approach is interesting, and it does grab your attention. You may get a chuckle out of one plastic surgeon's reaction on RealSelf:
I must be the only one in the country who cannot understand the attraction to and preoccupation with Vampires. The whole Twilight phenomenon remains a mystery to me. But why let a perfectly good craze go to waste when there's a lot of money to be made.
There you have it—there’s the potential for money to be made. Just as there is with so many cosmetic treatments on the market today. When you run across treatments like the Vampire Facelift, take a close look and be prepared to wait to see what doctors and patients have to say over time.
If Selphyl—or any other new option—really proves itself, writers will be falling all over themselves to publish articles, consumers will be giving the treatment the thumbs up by the hundreds, and qualified plastic surgeons and aestheticians will offer it.
That’s not quite the case for Selphyl, at least not today.
References:
www.selphyl.com
www.realself.com/question/selphyl