Following the 2018 discovery of the first case connected to the VIP Spa in Albuquerque, the New Mexico Department of Health decided to provide free testing to everyone receiving injections at the facility.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that three women were probably HIV positive after getting a “vampire facial” at a spa in New Mexico. These are the first documented instances of the virus spreading after a cosmetic injection technique. A vampire facial is thought to be a less invasive and more cost-effective alternative to a facelift. Blood is extracted from the patient’s arm for the facial, and platelets are then extracted and put to the patient’s face using microneedles. This procedure, while inexpensive, poses a significant risk to one’s health if carried out in an unhygienic manner.
When contemplating injections for either medical or aesthetic purposes, prospective clients should find out if a spa, clinic, or provider is qualified and licensed, and whether any products used are FDA-approved and sourced from a reputable company.