The vampire breast lift is a procedure that uses your own blood to enhance your bust line. But does it produce real, long-lasting results or is it more of a drain on your wallet?
The answer depends on what you expect out of the procedure.
The vampire breast lift is not surgery. It’s a cosmetic procedure that uses injections of platelet-rich blood plasma (PRP) to improve skin texture and make your breasts appear fuller. The vampire breast lift is also known as the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) breast lift.
The platelet-rich plasma harvested from your blood contains proteins that promote blood clotting and help cells grow. PRP injections are sometimes used for medical conditions, too. It can help mend tendon injuries, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, and help you heal faster after surgery. It’s sometimes used to treat hair loss. It may also lessen the appearance of facial wrinkles – that’s referred to as the “vampire face-lift.”
What Does a Vampire Breast Lift Do?
Providers who do this procedure say it:
- Boosts elastin – a protein that allows tissues to stretch.
- Increases collagen that gives your body structure
- Stimulates cell growth
It may:
- Improve your skin’s tone and texture
- Lessen the look of stretch marks, scars, and wrinkles
- Make your breasts look fuller and perkier
- Be used to enhance the look of a surgical breast lift or augmentation
A vampire breast lift can’t:
- Completely lift saggy breasts
- Make your breasts smaller or bigger
- Reshape your breasts
- Remove excess skin
- Reposition your nipples
Reasons to Get a Vampire Breast Lift
A vampire breast lift will not give you dramatic effects like those seen from a surgical breast lift or augmentation. You will see a subtle change at best. It may be something to consider if you aren’t ready for surgery or can’t have it.
Since it’s not an operation, you won’t need anesthesia and there’s no scarring. Most likely, you’ll be able to return to your normal routine the same day.
What to Expect When You Get a Vampire Breast Lift
Before the procedure
Your doctor will:
- Review your health history
- Look at your breasts
- Talk about what you want to get out of the procedure
If you decide to do it, ask your doctor if you need to stop any medications.
Usually, you’ll need to stop taking drugs that can affect your blood platelets or blood clotting about a week before. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and aspirin.
Ask your provider if you should avoid alcohol before or after the procedure.
Do these things on the day of the breast lift:
- Wear comfortable, loose clothing.
- Leave jewelry or other valuables at home.
- Drink water and eat something so you don’t get light-headed.
During the procedure
The whole procedure should take less than an hour.
First, your provider will need to collect the PRP from you. Your doctor will remove blood from your arm through a vein.
It’s placed in a machine called a centrifuge, which spins very fast so that different parts of the blood are separated. Your blood is made of red and white cells, platelets, and plasma. The concentrated platelets and the plasma are what’s used in the vampire breast lift.
The provider will use a numbing cream to make you more comfortable while they inject the PRP into different areas of your breasts. This should take about 20 minutes.
After the procedure
Since the PRP comes from you, there’s little risk of an allergic reaction or rejection.
Side effects are often nonexistent or mild. You may have:
- Bruising
- Soreness
Less common side effects include:
- Tissue damage
- Nerve injuries
- Infection
When You Should See Results
Everyone doesn’t see noticeable results. But your breasts may gradually look firmer and smoother in a few weeks. Final results may take a month or two. Results (if any) can last anywhere from six months to two years. It’s not a permanent change because your body will naturally absorb the injected PRP.
You may need another vampire breast lift every year or so to keep your results.
Vampire Breast Lift Risks and Complications
Talk to your health care provider if you have a lot of pain, bleeding, swelling that doesn’t go away, or if there’s anything else that worries you.
Not a lot of research studies have been done on the vampire breast lift, so long-term effectiveness and safety are still unknown.
It’s also unclear whether the procedure can affect breast imaging. Tell your health care provider that you’ve had the vampire breast lift when you get a mammogram.
Who Shouldn’t Get a Vampire Breast Lift
Talk to your provider about whether a vampire breast lift can meet your goals.
If you have many concerns about your breasts, you probably will want to rule it out. For example, if you want to increase your cup size or correct a lot of sagging, your provider may suggest surgery. Setting realistic expectations will help avoid disappointment and wasted money.
Health issues you may have may make the vampire breast lift not an option, too. These include:
- Certain blood disorders
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)
- Anemia (low red blood cells or hemoglobin)
- Breast cancer or a high risk of getting it
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
How to Get a Vampire Breast Lift
Some plastic and cosmetic surgeons perform the procedure. They can help you decide if the vampire breast lift will meet your goals or if you should choose a surgical breast lift or augmentation.
Some dermatologists, gynecologists, and medical spa practitioners are trained in the procedure, too.
Consider these things before choosing your provider:
- Do you feel the provider is listening to your concerns and understands what results you want?
- How many times have they done this procedure?
- Can they show you before-and-after pictures?
- Are their online reviews generally positive?
- Is the office clean and neat?
- Do you feel at ease with the provider and the medical staff?
Vampire Breast Lift Costs
Most health insurance plans do not cover the cost of a vampire breast lift or any cosmetic surgery or procedures.
It may cost a couple of thousand dollars for each procedure, and prices vary depending on where the provider is located.
Ask your provider what the price tag will be. Also ask how often you will need to repeat the procedure to maintain results. Ask whether the office offers a payment plan if you can’t pay the whole tab at once.
The price tag for a surgical breast lift can soar way past $7,000. But the results last several years. That’s much longer than the vampire lift. So it may be a less costly option in the long run.
Takeaways
A vampire breast lift is a cosmetic procedure that may create a subtle lift to your bustline. It uses platelet-rich plasma taken from you and injected into your breasts.
There are no cuts, so you won’t have scars. You'll need multiple treatments to maintain results.
Vampire Breast Lift FAQs
Who is the ideal candidate for a vampire breast lift?
Someone who has almost no sagging but wants a more perky look. A woman who doesn’t want surgery or doesn’t want a bigger (or smaller) cup size. A person who is in generally good health and isn’t pregnant or breastfeeding.
What’s the recovery time?
You may be a little sore, but you should be able to go back to your regular activities the same day.
Is the vampire breast lift FDA-Approved?
The FDA approves PRP for cosmetic reasons as long as the provider uses an approved centrifuge and collection kit.
What’s the fastest way to lift saggy breasts?
If your main concern is how your bust looks under clothes, the right bra might give you noticeable lift. Many women don’t wear the right size, so go to a bra shop for a professional fitting.
