In a meeting on April 26, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported three cases of women becoming infected with HIV after receiving blood cell injections for wrinkle removal and facelift procedures. The first case was identified at VIP Spa in Albuquerque, Mexico, in 2018. The patient underwent blood cell injections at the spa, but denied engaging in high-risk behaviors such as drug use, blood transfusions or sex with HIV-infected individuals. This incident led to the New Mexico Department of Health offering free testing to all clients who had received injections at the facility, which was subsequently closed.
In 2019, two more cases of HIV infection were discovered in individuals who had received facial treatments at VIP Spa in 2018. One individual was diagnosed in the early stages of HIV infection while the other was hospitalized with severe symptoms. The CDC found that the spa did not have a proper operating license and failed to implement appropriate safety measures. An investigation by the CDC and the New Mexico Department of Health uncovered unsanitary practices at the spa, including unlabeled blood tubes stored in refrigerators and next to food as well as improperly handled syringes. The spa owner was convicted of multiple health code violations in 2022 and sentenced to prison. In total, 59 customers were potentially exposed to HIV with 20 of them undergoing the Vampire Facelift procedure.
The Vampire Facelift involves injecting platelet-rich plasma into the facial skin to improve its appearance. While some facilities use their client’s own blood to minimize risks others source blood from outside. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that there is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of this procedure. It’s important to note that HIV is primarily transmitted through contact with infected body fluids specifically blood and semen; therefore it’s essential that cosmetic facilities offering injection services follow stringent protocols for infection control measures to prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne pathogens.
The CDC emphasizes that following strict protocols is essential when performing such procedures, especially since these types of procedures involve breaking skin barriers which increases the risk for transmission if not done properly or using unsterilized equipment or products.
In conclusion, these cases highlight how important it is for cosmetic facilities offering injection services to follow proper infection control measures when performing procedures involving breaking skin barriers like those used during wrinkle removal and facelift treatments.
