BHRC BLOG
Microneedling & PRP Facial in West Hollywood — Cost & Results
BHRC · SKIN & LASER · MICRONEEDLING & PRP
The “vampire facial” got its nickname from a celebrity photograph and its reputation from a public health investigation — and neither of those tells you much about whether it works. What the research actually shows is more interesting than either: for atrophic acne scarring, adding PRP to microneedling has meta-analysis-level evidence behind it and adds no extra side effects. For generalized facial rejuvenation, the evidence is thin. This guide covers what a course costs at BHRC West Hollywood, how many sessions the research used, where the claims outrun the data, and the facility questions that the CDC’s 2024 investigation made unavoidable.
1 · What the “vampire facial” actually is
Strip the nickname away and it is two treatments performed together.
Microneedling creates controlled micro-channels in the skin, triggering a wound-healing response that produces new collagen. PRP is your own blood, drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, then either applied topically over the freshly-created channels or injected into the dermis.
The rationale is that the micro-channels give growth factors a route into the skin at the moment the healing response is being initiated. Platelet alpha-granules carry PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, EGF and IGF-1; release begins about ten minutes after application and at least 95% is released within an hour.
Two caveats belong next to those numbers. 40% of the included randomized trials were rated high risk of bias, and the trial sequential analysis — which asks whether enough patients have been studied to trust a result — confirmed adequate sample size for the ≥75% improvement endpoint but not for the ≥50% endpoint, despite it reaching significance.
And not every trial is positive. A 35-patient split-face study using topical PRP after microneedling found both sides improved significantly with no meaningful difference in satisfaction between them. That is worth knowing before anyone promises you a transformation.
2 · What it costs at BHRC West Hollywood
3 · Sessions, spacing and a realistic timeline
4 · Where the evidence is weaker than the marketing
Acne scarring is the strong indication. General facial rejuvenation is not, and it is worth being straight about that.
A 2024 umbrella review examined thirteen systematic reviews of PRP for facial rejuvenation covering 114 reports. Only one performed a meta-analysis, finding increased patient satisfaction with adjunctive PRP — graded low certainty. Four reviews found PRP combined with laser improved satisfaction and elasticity, at very low certainty due to imprecision. Twelve of the thirteen reviews were rated low or critically low confidence, and adverse events were a predefined outcome in only two of them.
The authors’ own conclusion: the available evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions about PRP for facial rejuvenation.
5 · The safety section that actually matters
The treatment itself is well tolerated. Expect erythema, mild swelling, pinpoint bleeding and grid-pattern marks for a day or two. In the meta-analysis, adding PRP did not increase any of them.
The real risk in this category is not the biologic. It is the facility.
It is the first documented cluster of HIV transmission through cosmetic injection services in the United States. The virus did not come from the platelets — it came from cross-contamination between clients. Which means the lesson is entirely actionable:
Contraindications
- Active infection at the treatment site, or sepsis
- Critical thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction; anemia with hemoglobin under 10 g/dL
- Active malignancy — relative, and coordinated with oncology
- Keloid or hypertrophic scarring tendency; slow or poor wound healing
- Active severe acne, active tan, or ongoing skin cancer treatment or radiation
- NSAIDs within 48 hours; corticosteroid injection within two weeks
- Recent isotretinoin — discuss timing with your provider
Anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy requires individual assessment with the prescribing physician — there is no single published threshold rule, and any clinic quoting one is improvising.
6 · Why no two PRP treatments are the same
A detail that explains a lot of the variation people report between clinics: PRP is not a standardized product.
A study comparing three commercial preparation systems on the same donors found no significant difference in platelet concentration — but significant differences in leukocyte content, and significantly higher PDGF and VEGF in the leukocyte-rich systems. Leukocyte-poor preparations contain roughly 0.2 ×10³ white cells per mL against 14.9 ×10³ in leukocyte-rich ones — a difference of about two orders of magnitude.
Leukocyte-poor is the conventional choice in dermatology, on the reasoning that fewer inflammatory cells suit facial skin. Ask your clinic which system they use and which preparation you are getting. A provider who knows the answer immediately is a good sign.
8550 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 101, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 859-1257 · Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Treatment by the BHRC clinical team
Serving Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Hancock Park and Fairfax.
Consultations are free and carry no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a microneedling and PRP facial cost in West Hollywood?
At BHRC West Hollywood, PRP is $750 for a single session, $2,000 for three or $3,800 for six. Exion RF microneedling is $1,200 a session or $3,200 for three, and the combined protocol starts at $4,800. Rejuvenation Club members take 20% off.
Does adding PRP actually make a difference?
For acne scarring, yes — and the evidence is better than for most things in aesthetics. A 2026 meta-analysis of 17 studies and 1,111 participants found that adding PRP roughly tripled the odds of an excellent response versus microneedling alone, with statistically identical adverse event rates. For generalized facial rejuvenation the evidence is much weaker.
How many sessions will I need?
The American Academy of Dermatology’s guidance for acne scars is three to five treatments every two to four weeks. Most published studies used three or four. Collagen remodelling continues for three to six months after the final session.
How much improvement is realistic?
The AAD reports that studies indicate microneedling can fade acne scars by 50% to 70%. That is a meaningful, worthwhile result. It is not erasure, and honest framing here matters more than almost anywhere else in aesthetics.
Is PRP applied on top or injected?
Both are used. Topical application over the fresh micro-channels is the classic technique; intradermal injection is a distinct approach. The published trials pool both, so the evidence does not establish that one route outperforms the other.
What is the downtime?
One to three days typically. Expect redness like a moderate sunburn, mild swelling, pinpoint bleeding and visible grid-pattern marks for a day or two. Periorbital areas bruise and swell more.
Is it safe?
The treatment is well tolerated. The risk worth taking seriously is infection from poor technique or an unlicensed facility — the CDC documented five HIV infections linked to PRP microneedling at an unlicensed New Mexico spa where syringes were reused and there was no autoclave on site. Ask whether the facility is licensed, whether disposables are opened in front of you and whether there is an autoclave.
Who should not have it?
Anyone with an active infection at the site, sepsis, critical thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction, or hemodynamic instability. Relative contraindications include active malignancy, anemia under 10 g/dL, keloid tendency, poor wound healing, active severe acne, an active tan, and recent NSAID or corticosteroid use.
Why do results differ between clinics?
Partly because PRP is not standardized. A study of three commercial preparation systems found significantly different leukocyte counts and growth factor levels from the same donors. Ask which system your clinic uses and whether the preparation is leukocyte-rich or leukocyte-poor.
What is the first step?
A free consultation. Your provider will assess your scarring or texture, tell you how many sessions is realistic, and be honest about what percentage improvement to expect.
Keep Reading
- PRP Therapy at BHRC West Hollywood
- Exion RF Microneedling at BHRC West Hollywood
- Microneedling — West Hollywood
- BBL Photofacial in West Hollywood: Cost, Results & Downtime
- Laser Hair Removal Cost in Beverly Hills — 2026 Guide
- Acne & Acne Scars at BHRC
- PRP Therapy at BHRC
- Rejuvenation Club Membership
Microneedling & PRP at a BHRC Studio Near You
Microneedling and PRP protocols are available at BHRC studios nationwide, including our main six. Tap your closest location to book a free consultation:
References & Further Reading
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / MMWR — Investigation of Presumptive HIV Transmission Associated with Receipt of Platelet-Rich Plasma Microneedling Facials at a Spa — New Mexico, 2018–2023. cdc.gov
- American Academy of Dermatology — Microneedling can fade scars, uneven skin tone, and more. aad.org
- Archives of Dermatological Research — Afreen S et al. Combined microneedling and platelet-rich plasma for atrophic acne scars: a systematic review, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis, 2026. link.springer.com
- Blood Transfusion — Cruciani M et al. Platelet rich plasma for facial rejuvenation: an overview of systematic reviews, 2024. bloodtransfusion.it
- Journal of Dermatological Treatment — Ibrahim MK et al. Skin microneedling plus platelet-rich plasma versus skin microneedling alone in the treatment of atrophic post acne scars: a split face comparative study, 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Biomedicines — Vladulescu D et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma in Dermatology: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Action, 2024. mdpi.com
- American Journal of Sports Medicine — Castillo TN et al. Comparison of Growth Factor and Platelet Concentration From Commercial Platelet-Rich Plasma Separation Systems, 2011. journals.sagepub.com
- American Society for Dermatologic Surgery — Microneedling. asds.net
- American Academy of Dermatology — Acne scars: Treatment. aad.org
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 21 CFR 1271.3 — definitions and exclusions, including blood components. ecfr.gov
Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center. This content is for general education and does not create a physician-patient relationship or constitute medical advice. There is no FDA-approved PRP drug; FDA clears the devices used to prepare PRP, and use for aesthetic indications is under a physician’s clinical judgment. Published improvement figures are study averages and not a guarantee. Prices shown are current standard rates and are not a quote. Candidacy, dosing, results and pricing vary by person and are confirmed at a free consultation. Reviewed by the BHRC clinical team.
