Nicknamed the “Vampire Facelift,” the FDA-approved procedure Selphyl is designed to minimize facial wrinkling without surgery using a patient’s own blood. After Selphyl physicians draw blood from the arm, they use a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the red blood cells, mix the platelets with a fibrin mixture, and inject the mixture into the wrinkled facial areas. The platelet mixture stimulates collagen growth and attracts stem cells to the target area, which then become new skin cells. The resulting skin should become smoother and appear less wrinkled within a few weeks.

Results can be comparable to injectable fillers, but what sets it apart from other facial injection treatments is the extraction and injection of a patient’s own blood. The blood drawing process can make some patients feel a bit uneasy, but many feel it is worth the effort since the procedure is much less invasive than facial plastic surgery. Some patients are also attracted to the natural aspect; since the blood comes from a patient’s body, there’s no worry about allergic reactions or other concerns related to animal or synthetic injectable materials.

Although many have reported positive results after Selphyl, calling it a “facelift” is a bit misleading. One word of caution: If you are scheduling your Vampire Facelift hoping to see dramatic results comparable to those of a surgical facelift, you may face disappointment. If you’re looking for long-term wrinkle reduction, Selphyl results typically only last around15 months and will need to be performed regularly.

Some physicians feel the nickname is a bit of a turn-off for potential patients, and many cosmetic surgeons are hesitant to offer a new treatment that hasn’t been around long enough to have a stable safety record. Another downside is the cost, which can set patients back as much as $1,500 per injection. For a more cost-effective, proven nonsurgical wrinkle reduction alternative, keep in mind that facial fillers like Juvederm®, Fat Transfer, Radiesse®, and Sculptra™ can give you results that last 6 months to a year or more.

Dr. Robert Aycock can perform a thorough skin evaluation and discuss a wide variety of anti-aging options to help you choose the best course of action. If you’d like to schedule a facial consultation, please contact Dr. Aycock at (925) 937-8377.

As the years roll on, you may notice signs of aging making their mark on your face, such as wrinkles, grooves, and sunspots. But growing older doesn’t have to mean compromising your appearance. Cosmetic surgery can help people over age 40 gracefully enhance their look with safe facial procedures tailored to individual needs.

With state-of-the-art techniques, experienced cosmetic surgeons are able to take years off your appearance. Surgical facial procedures like facelift and eyelid lift can dramatically reduce the signs of aging that tend to make men and women self-conscious or less confident.

If you’re looking to minimize premature aging or evidence of your true age, visit a San Francisco plastic surgery practice about procedures like these:

Facelift — A facelift is the most popular anti-aging facial surgery for 40+ patients. During this procedure, the facial skin is tightened around the scalp, creating a smoother, younger-looking appearance all around.

Mid Facelift — The mid facelift offers results in the central facial area with less invasiveness and downtime than the full facelift.

Neck Lift — The neck lift is perfect as a complement to the facelift or a stand-alone procedure to improve the look of sagging neck skin.

Brow Lift — A brow lift is a great choice for men and women who want to minimize forehead wrinkling, frown lines between the eyes, and eyelid sagging.

Eyelid Lift — Choose an eyelid lift to correct drooping eyelids and/or bags under the eyes.

Cheek Implants — Because aging involves a loss of volume and fullness in the cheeks, a cheek implant can be used to restore that youthful contour.

Lip Augmentation — Lip augmentation (or lip implants) combats the loss of volume in the lip area common in people over 40.

Discover the amazing transformations that are possible with cosmetic facial anti-aging procedures. From subtle to dramatic, you can choose the options that are just right for you. Take a look at a few  before and after images to explore the possibilities, and then contact Dr. Robert Aycock today for a personal facial cosmetic surgery consultation.

—Lindsey Kesel, Cosmetic Surgery Consultant