In the US, three women have been infected with HIV after undergoing blood cell injections for wrinkle removal and facelift procedures. The first case was reported in 2018 at VIP Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where a patient received blood cell injections for cosmetic purposes. This incident led to a joint investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New Mexico Department of Health, which found unlabeled blood tubes and improper safety measures at the spa.
Subsequent investigations identified two additional cases of HIV infection among individuals who had undergone the Vampire Facelift treatment at VIP Spa in 2018. One person was diagnosed with early-stage HIV in 2019, while the other was hospitalized with severe symptoms. The lack of proper licensing and safety measures at VIP Spa led to these cases of HIV transmission.
The owner of VIP Spa pleaded guilty to serious medical charges in 2022 and was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. The investigation identified 59 customers who may have been exposed to HIV, with 20 of them having undergone the Vampire Facelift treatment. The CDC emphasizes the importance of proper infection control measures in facilities offering cosmetic injection services to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens like HIV.
Vampire Facelift involves injecting platelet-rich plasma into the facial skin to improve its appearance. While some facilities use their own customer’s blood for this procedure, others may source it externally from donors or other sources. Despite claims of skin rejuvenation, there is limited evidence supporting this method’s effectiveness, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Proper handling of blood is crucial to ensure that these cosmetic procedures are safe for patients.
HIV is transmitted through contact with infected body fluids and can lead to serious health consequences if left untreated. The CDC advises individuals seeking cosmetic services from facilities that prioritize infection control measures to minimize the risk of blood-borne infections like HIV.
In summary, three women were infected with HIV after receiving blood cell injections for wrinkle removal and facelift procedures at a facility called VIP Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The CDC has emphasized that proper infection control measures are essential when providing cosmetic injection services to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
