According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three women were likely infected with HIV while undergoing a ‘vampire facial’ at a spa in New Mexico, marking the first documented instances of HIV transmission during a cosmetic injection procedure.
The vampire facial, seen as a more affordable and less invasive alternative to a facelift, involves drawing blood from the patient’s arm, separating platelets, and applying them to the face using microneedles. However, this process can pose serious health risks if performed in unsanitary conditions.
Multiple individuals were likely infected with HIV through vampire facials at the now-defunct facility, according to a CDC report. “This investigation is the first to link HIV transmission with nonsterile cosmetic injection services,” the report noted.
The initial case linked to the VIP Spa in Albuquerque was discovered in 2018, prompting the New Mexico Department of Health to offer free testing to all individuals who received injections at the facility. The spa was closed down after investigators identified practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections. A former client of the spa tested positive for the virus last year, prompting the health department to reopen the investigation.
CDC report reveals cases of HIV transmission linked to spa’s practices
The recent CDC report sheds light on the affected clients and the spa’s practices. The first documented case was a middle-aged woman who tested positive for HIV in 2018 after receiving a vampire facial. The subsequent cases involved two other middle-aged women who also underwent the procedure in 2018.
The CDC found that the spa lacked appropriate licenses to operate and failed to implement proper safety measures. Additionally, unlabeled tubes of blood were discovered on a kitchen counter, and other injectables were stored alongside food in the refrigerator. The spa’s owner pleaded guilty in 2022 to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.
CDC and health department investigators identified 59 spa clients who may have been exposed to HIV, with 20 of them having received vampire facials. The source of HIV contamination at the spa remains unknown.
Individuals considering injections for medical or cosmetic purposes are advised by the CDC to inquire about the provider’s licensure and training, as well as the FDA approval and source of any products involved.