The Vampire Facial in Mallorca: How Your Own Plasma Renews Your Skin
In short: A vampire facial, also called a PRP facial, uses platelet-rich plasma taken from a small sample of your own blood. After a centrifuge concentrates the platelets, a doctor applies the plasma to the skin, often together with microneedling. The growth factors it contains stimulate collagen, improving texture, fine lines and radiance, with results that build over several weeks.
Every October, the name "vampire facial" seems to fit the season perfectly. Behind the Halloween-friendly nickname, however, lies a serious and well-studied medical treatment. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, has a long history in sports medicine, dentistry and wound healing. Today it is also one of the most natural ways to rejuvenate the skin, because it relies entirely on your own body.
At MD Aesthetics in Mallorca, we offer PRP as part of our regenerative approach to skin quality. In this guide we explain what a vampire facial is, how it works, what the research shows and how to choose a clinic you can trust.
What Is a Vampire Facial?
"Vampire facial" is the popular name for a facial treatment that uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The idea is simple: we take a small sample of your blood, separate the platelets and plasma, and return this concentrated, golden-coloured liquid to your skin.
Platelets do much more than help blood clot. They carry growth factors, proteins that tell the skin to repair itself, produce new collagen and renew its cells. A 2024 review in Cureus highlights the key ones, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). By concentrating these factors and delivering them where your skin needs them, PRP gives the natural repair process a powerful boost.
How Does a PRP Facial Work?
The treatment follows a few precise steps:
Blood sample: a nurse or doctor draws a small amount of blood from your arm, similar to a routine blood test.
Centrifuge: a medical centrifuge spins the sample and separates the platelet-rich plasma from the red blood cells.
Application: your doctor applies the plasma to the skin, usually with microneedling, or injects it into specific areas.
Microneedling and PRP make an excellent team. The tiny channels that microneedling creates allow the plasma to reach deeper layers of the skin, while the controlled micro-injury triggers its own collagen response. If you want to understand this process in more detail, read our guide to microneedling in Mallorca.
At our clinic we also work with PRF (platelet-rich fibrin), a related preparation that releases its growth factors more slowly. Your doctor may combine the two for the best result.
What Can a Vampire Facial Improve?
PRP suits many common skin concerns, especially those linked to ageing and sun exposure:
Fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes and mouth
Dull, tired skin that has lost its glow
Uneven texture and enlarged pores
Acne scars and other superficial scarring
Thin, crepey skin under the eyes
Many patients also appreciate that PRP is a natural option. Because it comes from your own blood, the risk of an allergic reaction is extremely low.
What Does the Research Say?
Scientific interest in PRP for skin ageing keeps growing. A 2025 meta-analysis in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum pooled nine randomised controlled trials with 358 patients. The authors found that treatment protocols including PRP led to higher patient satisfaction and better objective results than the comparison groups, with no significant increase in side effects.
The same authors also point out the limits of current research: most studies are small, follow-up periods are short and clinics measure results in different ways. In other words, PRP is a promising, evidence-based treatment, but results vary from person to person. We prefer to set realistic expectations from the start.
Why Autumn Is the Right Season for PRP
After a summer of strong sun on the island, autumn is the natural moment for skin repair. Redness and sensitivity after microneedling settle more comfortably when the sun is gentler. A course started in October also delivers its best results just in time for the festive season.
What to Expect From Your Treatment
Consultation first
Every PRP treatment starts with a medical consultation. We review your skin, your medical history and any medication you take, then design a protocol around your goals.
The treatment
The whole appointment usually takes about 60 to 90 minutes. We apply a numbing cream while the centrifuge prepares your plasma, so the procedure itself feels comfortable for most patients.
Aftercare and downtime
Expect redness similar to a mild sunburn for 24 to 48 hours, sometimes with light swelling or small bruises. We advise skipping make-up for the first day, avoiding intense exercise, saunas and alcohol for 24 to 48 hours, and using a high SPF every day.
How Many Sessions Do You Need?
Most patients benefit from a course of three sessions, about four weeks apart. Results develop gradually: the skin often looks fresher within a couple of weeks, and collagen continues to build for several months. A maintenance session once or twice a year helps keep the benefits.
Who Is PRP Not Suitable For?
PRP is safe for most healthy adults, but we usually advise against treatment if you:
Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Have a blood or platelet disorder, or take anticoagulant medication
Have an active skin infection, cold sore or acne flare in the treatment area
Are undergoing treatment for cancer
Your consultation covers all of these points, so you can decide with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a vampire facial hurt?
Most patients find it very tolerable. The blood draw feels like a standard blood test, and a numbing cream keeps the microneedling step comfortable.
How much is a vampire facial?
The price depends on the protocol and the number of sessions. You can find our current prices on our prices page, and your doctor will confirm the cost at your consultation.
When will I see results from a PRP facial?
Your skin usually looks brighter within one to two weeks. The main improvement in texture and fine lines appears gradually over two to three months, as new collagen forms.
Is a PRP facial the same as a vampire facial?
Yes. "Vampire facial" is the popular name for a facial treatment with platelet-rich plasma, usually combined with microneedling.
Discover PRP at MD Aesthetics
If you want a natural way to renew tired, sun-damaged skin, a PRP facial uses your body's own repair system to do exactly that. Our medical team will guide you from consultation to aftercare.
Get in touch today to book your consultation and give your skin a natural reset this autumn.
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