As spooky as it sounds, a “vampire facelift” does not actually involve cosmetic surgery for fanged creatures.
The new procedure, which is rapidly gaining popularity and publicity, earned its colorful moniker from the fact that it involves drawing blood from the patient and activating the platelets to produce a potent and natural serum that is injected into the patient’s facial skin to create a more youthful appearance.
Drs. David J. Mozersky and Rene Jaso, board certified surgeons and founders of ContourLase Body Institute in San Antonio, refer to the procedure at their clinic as “G Factor Skin Rejuvenation.”
“It really is a revolutionary treatment that restores youthful skin with minimum downtime, little discomfort and a friendly price,” Mozersky said. “The ‘vampire lift,’ or G Factor facial, is the perfect answer for those fine lines and dull, old-looking skin that we all get when we enter middle age. It is an all-natural, non-traumatic way to rejuvenate your skin.”
Mozersky explained the G Factor procedure uses the naturally occurring proteins in the patient’s own blood to initiate the skin rejuvenation process at the cellular level. Cells are rejuvenated in the deep skin layers and stimulated to produce collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, which are the substances responsible for youthful-looking skin. He believes G Factor treats wrinkles and dry, irregular skin more effectively than any other non-surgical treatment.
“The dermal cells below the skin’s surface begin to regenerate immediately following the treatment,” Jaso noted. “Within a few days, the patient’s skin will begin to look and feel smoother [and] brighter and have fewer wrinkles. After a few months, evidence of the treatment is in full force, giving the vibrancy of a youthful face.”
In regard to side effects, patients may experience mild redness, swelling, bruising and minor discomfort following the treatment, he said. He advises patients they may need to have follow-up sessions annually.
G Factor is a naturally occurring blood protein that is critical for cell renewal and replacement, Jaso explained. It drives the regenerative process that occurs naturally and speeds healing after injury. He said the technique of producing G Factor on demand from the patient’s own blood has made possible various medical procedures such as dental implants, bone healing in orthopedic surgery, control of intra-operative bleeding and healing and grafting of open wounds.
“One of the most exciting discoveries for us at ContourLase is that intra-dermal G Factor injections are very effective in restoring youthful skin,” he said. “Most wrinkles and dry, irregular skin are the result of problems below the surface.
“Previously, most methods for treating these conditions involved inflicting a controlled injury to the deeper layers of the skin using laser or radio-frequency energy. In response, blood platelets are drawn to the treated area and release healing substances that initiate the regeneration of the damaged cells. One of the main substances released is, of course, G Factor.”
Mozersky said in the last few years, physicians working in skin rejuvenation have begun to use G Factor derived from the patient’s own platelets to stimulate new cell growth without the necessity of inflicting the injury caused by laser or radio-frequency. For the first time, patients are being offered what he believes is an effective, safe procedure with beautiful results, no significant down time and considerably less discomfort, and at a markedly lower per-treatment cost.
Should you decide to experience the procedure yourself at ContourLase Body Institute, here’s what’s in store for you: Prior to the procedure an anesthetic cream is applied to the skin and reapplied every 10 minutes for one hour. A small amount of blood - less than an ounce - is then drawn from the arm and spun in a centrifuge in order to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the other elements of the blood. The platelet-rich plasma is activated, and the G Factor is liberated from the platelets.
The plasma, now rich in G Factor, is injected into the dermal skin layer using fine gauge needles. The dermal cells begin to regenerate. As they develop, they begin to produce new collagen and elastin. Wrinkles are smoothed, the skin becomes tighter and you look younger.
ContourLase Body Institute is located 19141 Stone Oak Parkway, Ste. 307. The phone number is 210-494-8446, and the website is www.contourlase.com.
Dr. David Mozersky is a board certified vascular surgeon, as well as a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons (AACS). He is co-founder of Veintec – Varicose Vein Clinics and founder of ContourLase Body Institute, and he has received numerous professional and surgical honors.
